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| Executive Travel: Singapore |
Private Aviation
Michelle Seaton
09/01/2005
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Changi Airport
Changi is Singapore’s commercial hub. Constructed on a
landfill on the eastern tip of the island, Changi’s two runways have instrument
landing systems and are long enough for the largest commercial or business jets
to take off fully loaded with fuel.
But pilots who flew routinely to
Singapore in the 1980s and 1990s are generally reluctant to land at Changi
because handlers there have had a reputation for ignoring private jets in favor
of the many regular commercial flights. Once on the tarmac, these business jets
had to negotiate a maze of taxiways to deplane passengers at a location that was
inconvenient to the terminal. Also, there was no facility
for securing a
private jet at Changi overnight—or even for a few hours.
In the past three
years, however, Changi officials have worked hard to change the airport’s
reputation among private jet pilots in hopes of attracting more business
travelers. The airport has set aside an area for private jet passengers to
disembark. Cars wait to take them to the terminal, where the airport has created
a special lounge area called the Business Aviation Centre. Here passengers on
private flights can pass through VIP customs and hold business meetings in
relative privacy. To use the business center, travelers must make advance
reservations (+65.6541.2107) and pay a $1,000 fee. For additional ground
handling services, including catering and ground transportation, travelers can
contact Changi International Airport Services at +65.6511.0288, www.cias.com.sg.
Seletar Airport
Seletar is the smaller of Singapore’s two airports and is
located in the north-central part of the island. Because this airport is
dedicated to private aircraft, it is the first choice for most pilots. Seletar
has no instrument approach system, however, which can be a hindrance during poor
weather conditions. Seletar has a single 5,000-foot runway, which is long enough
for large business jets to land, but too short for many larger jets to take off
with a full load of fuel. Those who fly in a Gulfstream IV or V or in a Boeing
Business Jet for a long-range trip must get permission to reposition to Changi
the day of departure to take on fuel and use its longer runway.
Despite these
inconveniences, Seletar offers every other service that private travelers might
need. In addition, the airport is small enough that the fixed-base operators all
know each other and their customers. As a result, security is a relatively minor
issue. Several fixed-base operators provide 24-hour customs, ground handling and
hangar facilities, maintenance, catering, aircraft cleaning and ground
transportation. These providers work comfortably with each other, so if you want
one company to handle maintenance and another to provide fuel, feathers will not
get ruffled.
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