I am very happy to join you at the opening of this 19^th Meeting of the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations (IFATCA) for the Asia-Pacific Region. First, let me extend a very warm welcome to the visiting delegates. I wish you an interesting and fruitful stay in Singapore.

The Federation has played an important role in developing international civil aviation by promoting the safety, efficiency and regularity of flights. Its meetings, like the one we are attending today, have been instrumental in bringing together ATC experts to exchange views and discuss ways to improve air traffic services. In our increasingly crowded skies, it has become all the more important for us to push through new measures and leverage on technological advances in aircraft avionics and ATC systems. Only then can we bring about a safer and more efficient air traffic management system.

It is therefore very apt that this meeting’s theme "RVSM – Towards a safer and smoother sky" will focus the attention of participants and familiarise them with the Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) system aimed at bringing about more efficiencies in air traffic control.

The application of RVSM halves the conventional vertical separation between aircraft operating at 29,000 feet (FL 290) and above from 2,000 to 1,000 feet. This is possible because of the enhanced height-keeping performance of today's aircraft. RVSM was first implemented in the North Atlantic Region in March 1997. In January this year, it was introduced over some parts of Europe. And in February, it was extended to the Western Pacific Region and the South China Sea area. Within the Singapore Flight Information Region, six additional cruising flight levels have been added. This will enable more aircraft operating in the area to obtain optimum cruising levels with minimal delay. Other States around the South China Sea such as China, Hong Kong, Laos and Indonesia are also set to implement RVSM by the end of October this year.

I am glad that the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), as Chairman of the ICAO RVSM Task Force, has been able to play a key role in ensuring the successful implementation of RVSM in the Singapore Flight Information Region. As a next step, the Task Force will drive the extension of RVSM implementation to the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea areas. With all these developments, we should be on target to introduce RVSM on major international trunk routes between Asia and Europe by November next year.

RVSM is just one example of how ATC experts in the region are collaborating to enhance the safety and efficiency of flights. Another example is the recent successful implementation of an improved airway structure over the South China Sea. This was achieved in November last year after ATC experts from Singapore and several countries met and cooperated under the auspices of ICAO to produce the final blueprint.

As air travel increases, ATC will have to gear up to handle significantly greater traffic volumes without compromising safety standards. The recent mid-air collision over the German/Swiss border is a stark reminder of the unforgiving nature of aircraft flight and the paramount importance of air safety.

In this regard, Singapore is committed not only to providing a safe and efficient ATC service, but also to keeping capacity ahead of demand. The Singapore ATC service will continue to invest in new technology and to provide pilots and airlines with new value-added services. For example, over the years, it has introduced tracking of aircraft by satellite and controller- pilot data link services.

Singapore is a key aeronautical telecommunications centre in the region. As part of the continuous effort to improve our services, we have embarked on tests on new Aeronautical Telecommunications Network, or ATN, technology to improve data flow between ATC and aircraft and among ATC centres. When implemented, the ATN will provide high-speed data communications. This will, in turn, pave the way for the implementation of more advanced air traffic management systems in the future.

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