Singapore’s Drone Dilemma: Turbulence on the Ground
With drones popping up everywhere, folks are saying: “Let’s set some rules before these gadgets start hijacking our skies!”
What happened at Changi?
On Wednesday, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) reported a chaos sequence: 37 scheduled flights went on hold, all because some rogue drones decided to party near Changi Airport.
One of the airport’s two runways was put on pause for a good chunk of time—from 11 pm Tuesday to 9 am Wednesday—and a multi‑agency squad (CAAS, Changi Airport Group, Singapore Armed Forces, and the police) sprang into action to locate those airborne troublemakers.
Why drones are NOT welcome near airports
- Flying within 5 km of an airport or military base or above 61 m without a permit is a crime.
- Penalties? Up to $20,000 fine, 12 months in jail, or a combo of both.
Global context: Bumping in the “air rush”
Think of London’s Gatwick – it saw a three‑day drone disruption that rattled 140,000 passengers and 1,000 flights last December. Heathrow and Newark in the U.S. were also brushed by drone drama in January.
Industry experts weigh in
Priveen Raj Naidu, aviation consultant, claims there’s a massive community of drone pilots who dabble in everything from hobby to commerce.
“If we don’t tighten the safety perimeter, these unauthorized stitches in restricted airspace will keep happening,” he says. “From a safety standpoint, a drone colliding with an aircraft on approach or take‑off could be deadly.”
Mark Yong, CEO of Garuda Robotics, is optimistic:
“Drones are getting cheaper and people want them more. The future of safe flight depends on rules, tech, and edu‑cation.”
Tech solutions on the horizon
- Nationwide “unmanned aircraft system traffic management” platform could track drones in real time.
- Nanyang Technological University is exploring this idea.
- Mandatory registration + onboard tracking modules would let authorities quickly spot legal operators.
- The SAF’s arsenal includes a jammer gun that throws off drone controls.
- But beware: jamming can also interfere with aircraft radar and ATC, so it’s a double‑edged sword.
Other tactics: missiles, nets
- All carry collateral damage risks.
- Emerging tech promises to tame drones and land them safely in designated zones.
- Yoram Oron of Vertex Ventures warns about jamming’s side effects.
Mark Yong adds, “Operators must be trained, licensed, and adopt a hardcore aviation safety mindset.”
Bottom line
As our skies get busier, regulations, tech, and education are the three pillars to keep drones from becoming the uninvited attendees at airline parties.
Original piece from The Straits Times. Reproduction requires permission.
