High-level Delegates to Gather at Singapore Airshow 2014 Strategic Conferences

SINGAPORE, 19 December 2013 – The Singapore Airshow returns in February 2014 with three strategic conferences – the Singapore Airshow Aviation Leadership Summit (SAALS), the Asia Pacific Security Conference (APSEC) and the A*STAR Aerospace Technology Leadership Forum, which will address the latest developments and challenges in civil aviation, defence and technology sectors. The invitation-only conferences will bring together industry leaders, military and government officials, regulators and academia from around the world.

The fourth edition of SAALS, themed “Shaping the Next Century of Commercial Aviation”, will bring together government leaders, airline chiefs, aircraft manufacturers, airport operators, air navigation service providers and regulators to discuss the future of the industry as we mark the second century of commercial aviation. There will be three panel sessions covering a range of issues including the role of regulation in the future of commercial aviation and what that role should be, the next steps to grow global connectivity and their implications on the aviation value chain, and the next steps towards carbon neutral growth following discussions at the 38th International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) General Assembly in September 2013. It will be held on 9 and 10 February 2014 at Raffles City Convention Centre.

Jointly organised by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Singapore Ministry of Transport (MOT) and Experia Events, the conference will feature key speakers, including:

More than 300 senior transport ministry and civil aviation officials, airport operators, as well as top airline and aerospace executives are expected to attend.

The seventh edition of APSEC, themed “Asian Security Dynamics and the Role of Airpower”, will gather defence experts, military officials, academics, analysts and industry leaders on 10 February 2014 at the Raffles City Convention Centre in Singapore, to participate in discussions shaping peace and security worldwide. Panel session topics include “Rethinking Sino-U.S. Strategies: Implications for Regional Security” and “Airpower Modernisation Trends: The Impact of New Technologies”.

Jointly organised by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies and Experia Events, APSEC will feature prominent speakers such as:

Delegates attending APSEC 2014 can look forward to discussions on the emergence of China as regional military power and its impact on the East Asian security environment; the growing volatility in the East and South China Seas; the ongoing nuclear crisis in the Korean peninsula; and the as-yet unknown repercussions of the U.S. rebalancing toward Asia. The conference will also look into the modernisation of airpower with the entrance of fifth generation fighters into many regional air forces and how this would affect regional military match-ups.

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) will be also be hosting its third A*STAR Aerospace Technology Leadership Forum on 10 February 2014 at the Ballroom of the Marina Mandarin Hotel in Singapore. Themed “New Technologies which could change Aviation and Managing New Technologies Implementation”, the invitation-only forum will gather speakers from the A*STAR Aerospace Consortium, whose members are amongst leading companies in aviation, to discuss technologies that will lead to the next leap in aviation as well as how to manage the potential risks. Panel session topics include “Overcoming Technological Impediments to Further Advancement in Aviation” and “The Balance to Strike between Performance and Risks”.

Jimmy Lau, Managing Director of Experia Events, said: “Singapore Airshow has always included a strategic conference component. This gives our delegates the opportunity to go a step beyond networking and doing business to updating themselves on the latest trends and challenges facing the industry and exploring solutions with other industry experts. These conferences span the range of aviation issues from civil aviation to strategic defence issues and even aerospace technology. Conferences such as SAALS, APSEC and the A*STAR Aerospace Technology Leadership Forum provide a timely opportunity for industry leaders and government officials to gain a holistic perspective on the challenges facing the aviation industry and to define its course in the years ahead.”