Noise Disturbances from Relocation of Paya Lebar Airbase

Mr Alex Yam asked the Minister for Defence with the proposed expansion of Tengah Airbase to accommodate the partial relocation of Paya Lebar Airbase, how will the Ministry (i) ensure that residents in the vicinity of the airbase will not be affected by any changes in operations resulting in increased noise and (ii) assure residents of the safety precautions for training or operations with increased air traffic.

The relocation of Paya Lebar Airbase (PLAB) is scheduled for 2030 and beyond. It is a complex undertaking and, therefore, the timeline cannot be fixed exactly now. But when implemented, it will free up 800 hectares of prime land in the north-east region. While the available land on PLAB can house a new town larger than Ang Mo Kio town, the positive effects will extend far beyond this. Within a five-kilometre radius around the periphery of PLAB, more than one million people now live and work. After relocation, many more will be able to do so. Buildings all the way to Marina South can be built higher to provide for more homes, offices and retail in the central, eastern and southern parts of Singapore. The relocation of PLAB will have enormous positive impact on countless families but, most importantly, Singapore as a whole will benefit. But as we relocate from PLAB, we must never and will not compromise the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF's) operational readiness to defend our skies. Government agencies will do all they can to minimise and mitigate the effects of relocation but we will not trade our continued peace and security for comfort and economic gains. That will be short-sighted and negligent.

The relocation of PLAB is complex because it now houses one third of the RSAF's fixed wing squadrons. These assets, together with the operational infrastructure, will need be built up in or moved to the expanded Tengah and Changi Airbases with relatively less built-up and urban environs. The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Ministry of National Development (MND) have been working closely with other relevant agencies to minimise inconveniences to residents in the vicinity and ensure that public safety is not compromised. But the scale of the PLAB relocation will, from time to time, cause some inconvenience and even disruption for affected parties. I hope that Singaporeans will bear with these inconveniences as we improve our city dramatically and that MPs here will help their residents understand these changes.

Let me first elaborate on measures to mitigate the noise inconvenience around airbases. First, we have moved about 50% of our flying training overseas. The remaining 50% of flying training is done locally and is judged necessary for the RSAF to maintain its operational readiness and responsiveness to safeguard our skies here.

Secondly, most of the local flying training is conducted over waters rather than over land. When RSAF flies over populated areas, it is primarily for taking off and landing only. RSAF deliberately flies at higher altitudes and lower air speeds when over land, so as to minimise noise to housing estates. Any deviations from these are usually for operational reasons.

Where it is possible and does not compromise operational effectiveness, RSAF does adjust its flying schedule in response to public feedback. For example, RSAF reduces flying activities and cease night flying earlier during examination periods so that our students can better concentrate and rest well. So, the Ministry of Education (MOE) is very grateful about this. RSAF will inform the public of periods where the frequency of flights is increased, such as rehearsals for the National Day Parade (NDP) and events, such as the RSAF Open House. RSAF will publish prior notice on the MINDEF website for public awareness.

For Tengah Airbase (TAB) expansion, Government agencies like the Housing and Development Board (HDB) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) are aware of the noise environment that surrounding homes, offices and other premises will be subjected to. A noise study was conducted by NEA which will guide the planning of new residential developments to minimise the impact of aircraft noise upfront. But we ought to be fair to residents who are moving into new premises built near the expanded TAB and let them know that while some noise reduction can be achieved through mitigation measures, it is not possible to reduce it completely.

Next, let me elaborate on how public safety remains a top priority for MINDEF and RSAF. Our airbases and flight profiles are carefully designed to adhere to international norms, such as those prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organization. These norms govern the minimum flying altitudes to ensure the safety of residents living in close proximity to airbases or civilian airports in densely-populated cities.

RSAF imposes stringent training requirements to ensure that our pilots are well-trained and flying operations are conducted safely. Our pilots are trained to handle a wide range of operational scenarios through live and simulator training. They are also trained to steer away from the populace to minimise harm to civilians in the event of an emergency, even at the expense of their own safety. Singaporeans can, therefore, be assured that flying training and operations will continue to be done safely when TAB is expanded.

As we relocate PLAB to Changi Airbase and TAB, RSAF will continue to regularly engage residents living near the airbases and continue to explore new ways to minimise the inconveniences to the public while meeting its operational and training requirements.