Improved drone detection sought at Changi Airport; 3rd runway estimated to open around Q4 2027
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The three-runway system will help to support the anticipated growth in air traffic at Changi Airport.
ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
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SINGAPORE – An improved video surveillance and analytics system to detect unmanned aircraft systems, or drones, around Changi Airport is being sought by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).
Parts of the system must be ready when the airport’s third runway starts operations. This is estimated to be in the fourth quarter of 2027.
According to tender documents published on government procurement portal GeBiz on March 13, CAAS is planning to roll out a new camera surveillance system to automatically detect, classify and track drones around the airport.
This system should be able to track and classify drone movements in detail, provide wide-angle surveillance of the area for situational awareness, as well as offer a 360-degree perspective of scenes for video analysis.
The authority is looking for a system that uses electro-optic and infrared sensors. Electro-optic sensors convert visible light into electric signals, while infrared sensors convert heat into electric signals for the detection and tracking of data.
This is also the first time that the authorities have set out a specific period for the estimated opening of the airport’s third runway. It was earlier announced that the third runway would be operational in the latter half of the decade.
The third runway paves the way for a three-runway system at Changi Airport, and is part of the new Changi East development, which includes the future Terminal 5.
At present, Changi Airport operates with two runways. The third runway, previously used only for military flights, has been extended from 2.75km to 4km to handle larger passenger aircraft, according to information from the Changi Airport website.
Around 40km of new taxiways will be built to connect the third runway with the other two runways and the rest of the airport.
The three-runway system will support the anticipated growth in air traffic at Changi Airport, given that the future Terminal 5 will handle up to 50 million passengers a year. This is on top of the airport’s current capacity of 90 million.
In the first phase of its roll-out, the video surveillance and analytics system should be able to inspect and analyse the airspace around the first two runways at Changi Airport.
It would then need to be managed and monitored from the Singapore Air Traffic Control Centre in Changi and at the Bedok Non-Directional Beacon Building, said CAAS. A non-directional beacon is a ground-based radio transmitter typically used as a navigational aid for aircraft.
Following that, the system would need to be managed and monitored from two other sites – the locations of which will be determined after a review is done. This second phase has to be operational with the opening of the third runway in the fourth quarter of 2027, the authority added.
Sensors will also be installed across the four sites.
These sensors should be able to detect drones measuring up to 0.3m by 0.3m, at least 1.6km away for the sensors providing narrow fields of vision, and at least 0.5km for the sensors covering wider angles.
They also need to be able to operate in all lighting conditions, including complete darkness.
The system should be able to record and display the historical trail of drones detected, and continue tracking targets that may become temporarily obscured from the sensors’ field of vision.
To ensure its longevity, the system should be able to accept more images or videos from other camera systems and carry out video analytics using external footage. CAAS added that this allows the system to be expanded in future, and supports the airport’s evolving surveillance infrastructure.
When asked about the differences between the new and existing surveillance system for drones, Mr Tan Kah Han, chief technology officer and senior director of the unmanned systems group at CAAS, said on April 9 that the new system would allow the authority to leverage video analytics technologies to strengthen its surveillance and identification capabilities.
Mr Tan added that the airport is already equipped with surveillance capabilities to deter and prevent unauthorised drone operations for aviation and public safety, and minimise disruptions to airport operations.
He noted that the new system is part of CAAS’ continued efforts to keep Changi Airport safe and secure.
The tender for this video surveillance and analytics system at Changi Airport will close at 4pm on April 21.
Within several days in June 2019, unauthorised drones contributed to a series of flight disruptions at Changi Airport, with 37 flights being delayed another 25 being affected
In 2020, 20 drone operators were arrested in the span of three months for illegally flying their drones within 5km of the airport.
The flying of drones within 5km of airports without a permit is an offence. Those found guilty face a fine of up to $20,000 or a jail term of up to 12 months, or both.
