Contractors in military exercise: RSAF replies

We thank Miss Tan Yulin for her feedback on Exercise Torrent ("Don't rope in construction workers for military exercises"; Nov 17).

Exercise Torrent demonstrated the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) capability to generate air power from a public road, where multiple fighter aircraft took off and landed in quick succession using both Lim Chu Kang Road and the Tengah Air Base runway.

RSAF personnel were deployed in roles critical to air power generation, such as in deploying and operating airfield equipment, securing the area of operations, as well as in launching and recovering the aircraft.

As the dismantled public amenities had to be reinstalled for subsequent public usage, the Land Transport Authority's contractors had to be engaged during removal and reinstallation.

In times of emergency, the RSAF will mobilise its personnel to convert a public road into an operational runway.

Gan Siow Huang (Brigadier-General)

Commander Air Power Generation Command

The Republic of Singapore Air Force

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on November 21, 2016, with the headline Contractors in military exercise: RSAF replies. Subscribe