Singapore is rolling out a series of initiatives to expand its air traffic control workforce in anticipation of rising air travel demand and the opening of Changi Airport Terminal 5, scheduled for the mid-2030s. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) aims to increase the number of air traffic controllers by about 40 percent, from approximately 500 currently to around 700 over the next decade.
Central to the recruitment drive is a new sign-on bonus of S$20,000, introduced on June 1, which will be disbursed in two equal installments: one after recruits complete a 10-month theory and simulator training program, and another upon obtaining their air traffic control license, typically around 18 months after joining. Fresh university graduates can expect starting salaries near S$64,000 annually, rising to about S$120,000 after five years of experience and licensing, while fresh diploma holders start at approximately S$49,000. Once licensed, all new controllers will enter the same career track and salary scale, regardless of educational background.
In addition to financial incentives, CAAS has launched an undergraduate scholarship scheme in March to attract young talent. The scholarship covers tuition fees, compulsory course fees, a monthly living allowance, return airfare for overseas students, and allowances for expenses such as winter clothing. Eligible recipients include students pursuing most fields of study at local and reputable overseas universities, excluding medicine and dentistry. Scholarship recipients studying locally commit to a four-year bond, while those studying abroad serve five years if in a non-English-speaking country and six years if in an English-speaking country.
To further enhance entry pathways into air traffic control, CAAS is introducing a management associate program this August aimed at recent graduates with up to two years of work experience who seek aviation careers. Collaborations are also underway with a local university to develop a specialized undergraduate program combining academic studies with professional air traffic control training, allowing students to qualify for licensing more rapidly. Details on this program will be announced in due course.
The expansion forms part of a broader investment of S$500 million over 15 years to recruit, train, and compensate approximately 200 additional air traffic controllers. This effort is embedded within a larger S$4 billion plan to upgrade Singapore’s air navigation services to meet future demands.
CAAS director-general Han Kok Juan emphasized the enduring potential of aviation growth beyond current global uncertainties. “The outlook for this year remains uncertain, given what is happening around the world. But beyond the immediate uncertainty, the future of aviation is bright, and we are confident that aviation will continue to grow in the years ahead,” he said.
Beyond human resource initiatives, CAAS is also bolstering its engineering and research capabilities by establishing an engineering development center focused on air navigation services. As part of this effort, the agency is enhancing support for local PhD students by providing a stipend top-up of S$1,500 under the Nanyang Technological University Research Scholarship scheme to strengthen air traffic management research and development.