Instead of letting such valuable talent leave and face the risk of rivals snapping them up, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has set up a new advisory group to absorb such old guard.

Former CAAS director-general Wong Woon Liong and two former deputy directors-general, Mr Ho Beng Huat and Mr Chiang Hai Eng, are the pioneer batch of the Changi Airport Advisory Group - which started work on July 1, almost immediately after they retired.

They have, between them, more than 100 years' experience in different areas of running and managing a major airport.

Mr Wong was director-general for 15 years. Mr Ho mainly looked after airport management and commercial matters. Mr Chiang is well versed in operational matters, including air traffic issues.

Among other tasks, the group will now work on mentoring younger talent and helping Changi Airports International (CAI) - the consultancy and investment arm of CAAS - expand its reach in Asia.

The chairman of the advisory group is aviation veteran Sim Kee Boon, adviser to CAAS and former permanent secretary of the then Ministry of Communications which was tasked to build Changi Airport in the early 1980s.

CAAS chairman Liew Mun Leong told reporters yesterday, at the official launch of the new advisory group, that good people - critical to Changi's future growth - are hard to come by.

He noted that 'there will be other airports that will be willing to double or triple their current salaries to attract them'.

Setting up the new advisory group was a 'very clever move' to 'make sure people do not pinch them away', he said.

As more top officers retire, those among them who can help beef up Changi's strengths will be invited to join the team, Mr Liew said.

This retention of talented old guard is important for Changi Airport, which has lost more than 10 senior and middle management, primarily to rivals in India, China and the Middle East.

Noting that the 'talent war' is severe, Mr Liew said: 'If you want to employ an investment banker, there are many financial people, but aviation is a much more specialised field.'

Addressing staff yesterday, he said it will not be easy for Changi, which handled 35.03 million passengers last year - 8 per cent more than in 2005 - to move into double-digit growth. This is something airports in China and the Middle East, for example, enjoy.

For Changi to grow, it must export its resources and expertise, and make strategic investments in other developing airports in the region. This is where CAI, which has so far gone into China, India, Vietnam, Russia and the Middle East, comes in.

Its chief executive officer, Mr Chow Kok Fong, is glad to have the four on board. He said: 'It gives us a very strong advantage over our competitors.'

karam@sph.com.sg