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Seletar Airport

Coordinates:01°25′08.4″N103°51′57.0″E/ 1.419000°N 103.865833°E/1.419000; 103.865833
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01°25′08.4″N103°51′57.0″E/ 1.419000°N 103.865833°E/1.419000; 103.865833

Seletar Airport

Lapangan Terbang Seletar(Malay)
Thật đạt sân bay(Chinese)
செலட்டர் வான்முகம்(Tamil)
Summary
Airport typeCivilian
Owner/OperatorChangi Airport Group
ServesNorth-East Region,Singapore
Location21 Seletar Aerospace Road 1, Singapore 797405
Opened28 February 1928;96 years ago(1928-02-28)
ElevationAMSL11 m / 36 ft
Coordinates01°25′01″N103°52′04″E/ 1.41694°N 103.86778°E/1.41694; 103.86778
Websitewww.seletarairport
Map
XSP is located in Singapore
XSP
XSP
Location inSeletar,Singapore
XSP is located in Southeast Asia
XSP
XSP
XSP(Southeast Asia)
XSP is located in Asia
XSP
XSP
XSP(Asia)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
03/21 1,840 6,023 Asphalt

Seletar Airport(IATA:XSP,ICAO:WSSL) is a civilianinternational airportserving thenorth-east regionofSingapore.It is located approximately 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) northwest fromChangi Airport,the country's main airport, and about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) north from the main commercial city-centre.

The airfield was originally opened in 1928 asRAF Seletar,a military airbase of the BritishRoyal Air Force(RAF). The base was handed back over to Singapore in 1971. TheGovernment of Singaporeintended for Seletar Airport and the surrounding areas to function as the operating aerodrome for their plan to expand Singapore's status as anindustrial aviation hub,today known as theSeletar Aerospace Park.[1]

Today, Seletar Airport mostly servesturbo-propand smaller-sizedprivate and business jetairlines and aircraft. It helps to serve as a secondary destination to Singapore for turbo-prop aircraft to decrease load from Changi Airport, which has heavy air traffic consisting of jet aircraft. Nevertheless, the airport's runway is capable of handling jet aircraft such as theAirbus A320 family(but not at full takeoff load).[citation needed]The runway designation is 03/21, where the precise headings on ground of the actual runway are 033° / 213°.[2]

History[edit]

RAF Seletar[edit]

RAF Seletar Badge

RAF Seletarwas aRoyal Air Forcestation inSingaporebetween 1928 and 1971. Plans for establishing an airfield, flying boat and naval base in Singapore were first agreed by the RAF in 1921. In 1923, two sites in the northern region of the island were approved. The first planes to arrive at the base were fourSupermarine Southamptonseaplanes on 28 February 1928.

RAF Seletar was also used for civilian flights from 1930 to 1937, whenKallang Airportwas opened.

Amy Johnsonlanded at Seletar in May 1930 on her UK – Australia flight in herGipsy Mothnamed 'Jason'.Amelia Earhartalso landed there in June 1937 on her world flight attempt in anLockheed 10 Electra.

World War II[edit]

With the threat of war in the area, the RAF started building up their forces in the Far East in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Seletar airfield was the target ofcarpet bombingwhenJapanese navybombers conducted thefirst air raid on Singapore,sometime after their ground forcesinvaded Kota Bahru.It was abandoned when the Japanese tookJohor Bahru,which brought their artillery in range of the airfield.

When the Japanese launched their invasion ofMalayaandSingapore,Seletar housed four RAF units.205 SqnoperatedConsolidated Catalinaflying boats, andNo. 36andNo. 100 Squadron RAFoperated obsoleteVickers Vildebeesttorpedo bombers (as well as fiveFairey Albacoresacquired by 36 Sqn to supplement its Vildebeests). These flying squadrons were serviced by 151 Maintenance Unit RAF.

21 Squadron,Royal Australian Air Forcewas also based at Seletar in 1941–42, and was in the process of converting from lightly-armedCAC Wirrawaytrainers toBrewster F2A Buffalofighters, when hostilities began.

These units stayed until Jan–Feb 1942, soon before the surrender to the invading Japanese.[3]

During the Japanese occupation, Seletar as was in the case ofSembawangcame under theImperial Japanese Navy Air ServicewhileTengahfell under the jurisdiction of theImperial Japanese Army Air Force.From 1942 through 1945, a number of IJN squadrons were based or transited through Seletar mainly, for training. Among the units known to be based at Seletar during this time were936thKōkūtai(B5N Kate,D3A ValandE13A1 Jake),381st Kōkūtai(A6M ZeroandJ2M Raiden). The601st Kōkūtaiwas also stationed there for training early before its destruction on board Japanese aircraft carriers during theBattle of the Philippine Sea(Marianas Turkey Shoot) in June. Seletar's present runway was built during the Japanese Occupation.

Post-World War II[edit]

Royal Navy and RAF officers watch as Vice Admiral Kogure appends his signature to the document marking the formal takeover of Seletar airfield from the Japanese, 8 September 1945.

After World War II, the base went back to the RAF and, in the late 1940s and 1950s, the base was heavily involved in theMalayan Emergency,withBeaufighters,SpitfiresandMosquitosbased there while operating against Malayan Communist insurgents. Among the many squadrons based there during this time were Nos60,81 and205Sqns of theRAF.[4]The base was also the home of 390 MU – the Maintenance Base for the whole of theRAF Far East Air Force- FEAF.

During the 1960s, RAF Seletar was home base to No's103and110 Squadrons,both of which were equipped withWestland WhirlwindMk 10 helicopters and to34Squadron, which was equipped withBlackburn Beverleytransports. All three Squadrons (among several others) were involved with support of operations inNorth Borneoduring theIndonesia-Malaysia confrontation.From June 1962,66 Squadron(led by Sqn Leader Gray) with theirBristol 192 Belvederehelicopters were also based at Seletar, and were sent on frequent tours and detachments toKuching,Brunei,LabuanandButterworthas part of the Borneo hearts and minds campaign (the squadron was later disbanded in March 1969).[4]The helicopter squadrons provided a search and rescue service for the Singapore area. The station was also, at that time, home to209 Squadron,equipped withSingleandTwinPioneer aircraft.65 Squadronbased at Seletar operatedBloodhoundMk II surface-to-air missiles as anti-aircraft defence from 1 January 1964 until the squadron was disbanded on 30 March 1970 with the equipment and role handed over to 170 Squadron,Republic of Singapore Air Force.[4]Austeraircraft were flown during the Emergency and Confrontation periods in troop/enemy spotting patrols.

In December 1966, threeAndoverCC Mk1 arrived to replace the ageingVickers ValettaC1 aircraft of52 Sqn.52 Squadron was later reformed in March 1967 after the arrival of a further three aircraft. By now, Confrontation had finished and with no purpose the squadron moved to Changi in 1968 before being disbanded in January 1970.[4]

The RAF station closed at the end of March 1971 (seeEast of Suez) and Seletar was handed over to Singapore'sDepartment of Civil Aviation.[5]

Several aircraft types flew their last RAF operational sorties from Seletar including theShort Singaporeflying boat (Mk.IIIK6912ofNo. 205 Squadron RAF14 October 1941, aircraft transferred toNo. 5 Squadron RNZAF),[6]Supermarine Spitfire(PR.XIXPS888of 81 Sqn 1954),De Havilland Mosquito(PR.34RG314of 81 Sqn 1955),Short Sunderlandflying boat (GR.5ML797"P"of 205 Sqn, 15 May 1959) andBristol Beaufighter(TT.XRD761Station Flight 1960). The Short Sunderland flying boats started in RAF service fromSeletaron 22 June 1938 with230 Sqn,[7]a sister squadron of 205 Sqn.

Seletar Airbase[edit]

The formative years of the SADC (later the RSAF) was established at Seletar Airbase in September 1968, with the setting up of the Flying Training School (FTS) utilising threeCessna 172G/H on loan from the Singapore Flying Club. The subsequent arrival of eight new Cessna 172Ks in May 1969, took over the duty from the former and contributed to the increase of training tempo for more selected trainees to participate in the basic flight-training course.

On 29 October 1977, four armed Vietnamese hijacked a domestics Air Vietnam flight fromSaigon,Vietnam toPhu Quoc islandwest of Saigon, and forced the aircraft, aDouglas DC-3,to land at Seletar Airport.[5][8]The hijackers killed two Vietnamese crew members and seriously wounded a third.[8]The hijackers were seeking political asylum in Singapore and eventually surrendered themselves to Singapore authorities.[8]

Changi Airport Group management[edit]

Changi Airport Grouptook over the management of the airport from theCivil Aviation Authority of Singaporeon 1 July 2009.[9]

As part of the Seletar Aerospace Park programme, therunwaywas extended to 1,840 metres in 2011 to enable larger and heavier aircraft to use the airport.[10]The airport'savionicssystems were also upgraded.[11]

The airport underwent refurbishment in 2015 as part of plans to relieve pressure on Changi Airport by increasing Seletar Airport's capacity and move smaller and slower aircraft from Changi to Seletar airport.[12]

A new passenger terminal building opened on 19 November 2018, replacing the previous passenger terminal.[13]The terminal houses four check-in counters, six immigration lanes, two security screening stations and a gate holdroom that can accommodate 200 passengers.[14][15][16]

Instrument Landing System (ILS) usage[edit]

In 2018, the use of theInstrument Landing System(ILS) at Seletar Airport by Singapore was disputed by Malaysia, saying that the flight path used by the system may encroach into its airspace.[17]In 2019, an agreement was reached between the two countries whereby Malaysia will immediately suspend its permanent restricted area in the airspace overPasir Gudang,while Singapore will similarly suspend its implementation of Instrument Landing System (ILS) procedures for Seletar Airport.[18]

Current operations[edit]

Seletar Airport now operates as ageneral aviationairport, mainly for chartered flights, private aircraft operations and training purposes. The airport is currently open for arrivals and departures from 07:00 LCL until 22:00 LCL. It has a single runway with 27 aircraft stands, 100 square metres of warehouse space and can handle 840 tons of freight per day. In 1998, the airport recorded receiving a total of 7,945 scheduled flights, handled 23,919 passengers and 6,025 tons of cargo. The airport fire service, AES Seletar, is provided by Changi Airport Group. AES Seletar has 1 station housing 6 apparatus (water tender, foam tender and others) and provides Level 7 protection.[19]

The Republic of Singapore Flying Club andSeletar Flying Clubare situated at Seletar Airport. The renownedSingapore Youth Flying Clubhas its headquarters built on western side of the airport'srunway.Completed in June 2003, the clubhouse also has its own parking bays for its fleet ofDiamond DA40.In addition, the rotary training unit of Republic of Singapore Air Force – 124 Squadron, has a training detachment at the civilian airport although it is normally headquartered atSembawang Air Base.

Previously,Berjaya Airoperated scheduled flights toTiomanandRedang.The Berjaya Air service ended on 31 October 2010 and relocated toChangi Airport,though was discontinued after four years.[20]Berjaya Air has since returned to Seletar from Redang on a charter basis.[21]

Due to theCOVID-19 pandemic,the number of daily commercial flight operations at the airport have severely declined. Airport operations are also subjected to new processes and rules laid down by the Singapore governmentMinistry of Healthand according to the Infectious Diseases Act.[22][23]On 13 June 2022,Fireflymarked the resumption of flights to the airport since the suspension of commercial flights due to the pandemic.[24]

Airlines and destinations[edit]

Passenger[edit]

AirlinesDestinations
FireflyKuala Lumpur–Subang[25][26]
Berjaya AirCharter:Redang[27]

Photo gallery[edit]

Ground transportation[edit]

Bus[edit]

Two bus services (services 103 and 117) are available from the old airport terminal.

Since 14 October 2018, Service 102[28]also serves the new airport terminal of Seletar Airport, with a bus stop within the Passenger Terminal Building. Service 102 allows access to theNorth East LineviaSengkangandHougangstation.

Passengers heading to Changi Airport can alight at Jalan Kayu roundabout and transfer to 858. Connections to Tampines, Pasir Ris & Serangoon via services 168, 39 and 103 are also possible here.

Rail[edit]

While there are currently noMass Rapid Transit(MRT) services in the vicinity, passengers may transfer to service 103 at Aft Baker St bus stop to head toYishun MRT stationon theNorth South Line.[29]Geographically, the closest MRT station isSengkang MRT/LRT stationon theNorth East LineviaThanggam LRT stationon theSengkang LRT line's West Loop.

Taxi[edit]

Taxis are available at thetaxi standslocated outside the departure hall. There is an additional airport surcharge for all trips originating from the airport.[30]

Private transportation[edit]

All pick-ups by private transportation occur at the arrival pick-up point.[30]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"JTC | Seletar Aerospace Park".jtc.gov.sg.Retrieved19 June2021.
  2. ^"wp-AMDT-2021-03"(PDF).
  3. ^Shores et al. 1992, p. 146.
  4. ^abcdJefford 2001, pp. 48–49.
  5. ^ab"So long, old Seletar Airport".AsiaOne.13 July 2015.Retrieved1 April2022.
  6. ^"New Zealand Military Aircraft Serial Numbers – Short Singapore Mk III".adf-serials.
  7. ^Rawlings 1969, p. 242.
  8. ^abc"Hijackers Take Vietnamese Plane, Kill 2".The Washington Post.
  9. ^"Our Story".Changiairportgroup.sg.Archived fromthe originalon 26 November 2015.Retrieved3 March2017.
  10. ^"Extension of Seletar Airport runway completed".Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore.Government of Singapore. 14 September 2011.Retrieved3 December2019.
  11. ^Karamjit Kaur (27 June 2007). "Seletar gets ready for makeover as aerospace hub".The Straits Times.
  12. ^"Expansion Plans for Singapore Airport".Airliner World:14. February 2015.
  13. ^"Seletar Airport commences operations at new passenger terminal".changiairport.Retrieved19 November2018.
  14. ^"New Passenger Terminal Building to Be Constructed at Seletar Airport to Support Aviation Growth".Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS). 19 May 2016.
  15. ^"New Passenger Terminal Building To Be Constructed at Seletar Airport To Support Aviation Growth".Changi Airport Group. 19 May 2016.
  16. ^"New passenger terminal building at Seletar Airport in the works".Channel NewsAsia. 19 May 2016.
  17. ^Straits Times (4 December 2018)."MOT releases documents on consultations with Malaysia on proposed new flight paths over Seletar Airport".The Straits Times.Retrieved23 December2018.
  18. ^"Singapore withdraws Seletar Airport ILS, Malaysia suspends Pasir Gudang restricted area".CNA.4 April 2019.Retrieved4 January2022.Both countries said in a joint statement that the agreement was made "in the spirit of bilateral cooperation".
  19. ^"Our Expertise".Changiairportgroup.Retrieved3 March2017.
  20. ^https://scuba-do /article/tioman-island-7-ways-get-singapore/#Ultimately_Can_I_Fly_to_Tioman_from_Singapore
  21. ^https:// ttgasia /2022/04/18/berjaya-air-connects-singapore-redang-with-new-service
  22. ^"Infectious Diseases Act 1976 - Singapore Statutes Online".sso.agc.gov.sg.Retrieved18 March2022.
  23. ^"ADVISORY ON COVID-19"(PDF).
  24. ^Grace Yeoh (13 June 2022)."Seletar Airport reopens to first commercial flights since COVID-19".CNA.Retrieved13 June2022.
  25. ^Ian Cheng (23 May 2022)."Low-cost Malaysian carrier Firefly Airlines to resume flights to Singapore from June".CNA.
  26. ^"Malaysian carrier Firefly resumes flights to Singapore as first plane lands at Seletar Airport".CNA.Mediacorp. 21 April 2019. Archived fromthe originalon 20 April 2022.
  27. ^Kaur, Sharen (24 March 2024)."Berjaya Air eyes network expansion with imminent arrival of new ATRs".New Straits Times.Retrieved2 June2024.
  28. ^"TransitLink eGuide - Bus Service Information".transitlink.sg.Retrieved19 June2021.
  29. ^"TransitLink eGuide - Bus Service Information".transitlink.sg.Retrieved19 June2021.
  30. ^ab"Transport".Seletar Airport.

Works cited[edit]

  • Wing Commander C. G. Jefford (2001).RAF Squadrons: A Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of All RAF Squadrons and Their Antecedents Since 1912.Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988.ISBN978-1-84037-141-3.
  • Rawlings, J.D.R. "History of 230 Squadron".Air Pictorial,July 1969. Vol. 31 No.7. pp. 242–244.
  • Shores, Christopher, Brian Cull and Yasuho Izawa.Bloody Shambles: Volume One: The Drift to War to the Fall of Singapore.London: Grub Street, 1992.ISBN0-948817-50-X.

External links[edit]