SINGAPORE - The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) will implement flying restrictions during national examinations in response to noise concerns, several MPs announced in Facebook posts.
From the day before four national examinations - the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), and the GCE O, N and A level examinations - until the end of the examination period, the RSAF will reduce flying frequency and end its night flying activities earlier.
The restrictions will be implemented according to an examination schedule provided by the Ministry of Education (MOE), with the exception of emergencies or flights for national security reasons.
This year's national examinations are scheduled to begin on Sept 14 and will end on Dec 2.
The RSAF's decision was announced by MPs Yeo Wan Ling (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC), Lim Biow Chuan (Mountbatten SMC) and Lim Wee Kiak (Sembawang GRC).
Ms Yeo and Mr Lim had separately mentioned on their Facebook pages concerns residents expressed about the noise from aircraft during the examination period.
Noting that RSAF's operations are crucial for national defence, Ms Yeo, who represents residents of Punggol Shore, said the planes that her residents hear are either taking off from or landing at the Paya Lebar Air Base.
She added that the flights are part of their training to maintain the air force's operational readiness.
This is not the first time aircraft noise concerns during the exam period have been raised.
In a 2011 response to a Forum letter to the Straits Times titled "Silence please, at least for PSLE", the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said that it coordinates with the MOE to ensure that RSAF training would not cause disruption to all national level examinations, including the PSLE.
Citing flight records from Sept 16, 2011, it said "all training flights from Sembawang, Tengah and Paya Lebar Air Bases were conducted outside of the PSLE listening comprehension examinations period".
"We will continue to work closely with the MOE to ensure school exams are not disrupted while RSAF maintains its operational readiness and proficiency," Mindef added then.
Dr Lim and Ms Yeo added that such arrangements have been made by RSAF for years.
"We have always been concerned that the helicopters from Sembawang Airbase should not be flying during examination periods, especially during the oral and listening comprehension exams," Dr Lim said.
"If the noise is too loud when the helicopters fly past, yes it might affect some students unfairly. But it (the adjustment of flight schedules around the exam period) has been a common practice."
Mindef said the RSAF needs to continue flying in local airspace to keep its pilots proficient and maintain operational readiness in order to safeguard Singapore's skies.
"While a significant proportion of RSAF flying training is conducted with simulators and overseas, local flying training is still necessary," it added.
The ministry also said that the RSAF conducts most of the local flying over waters rather than over land to mitigate the impact of aircraft noise to the public.
It has also reduced flight routes over populated areas where possible and minimised the number of aircraft per flying window.
