Singapore - U.S. Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement And Memorandum of Cooperation in Aviation Training Signing Ceremony

February 24, 2004

Ambassador Frank Lavin and Singapore Minister of Transport Yeo Cheow Tong

Minister of Transport YEO, FAA Administrator Blakey, Singapore Government colleagues and industry friends, thank you for joining us today on this auspicious occasion. Last May in Washington we saw the signing of the US-Singapore FTA, America’s first FTA in Asia and an agreement that will lead to expanded trade and investment between our two countries.

Today, we will sign another agreement that should bring more good news to Singapore and U.S. companies. While I was very pleased to be at the FTA signing -- my face was one of the smiling one in the background – I have to say that I get a bit of personal satisfaction to get to sit in the chair today and actually sign for the United States and bring this new opportunity to fruition. I will still have that same smile on my face, however.

The signing of the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) is truly an enabler. This BASA will open additional opportunities for the Singapore-based aerospace design and manufacturing companies. A step in the certification process has been removed – a step that added time and money to the process. When a BASA exists, one government accepts the other government approval, without a second review. Namely, the requirement to ship locally developed aircraft parts – let’s say seat belts – back to the certifying country, has now been removed for specific items. The reason for the removal of the step is based on the mutual respect and demonstrated capabilities demonstrated by the government oversight authorities of Singapore. The FAA and Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore have a long and mutual trustworthy relationship that has developed over many years of working together. This BASA recognizes that trust and demonstrated expertise. Singapore has a reputation around the world as a leader in most every nuance of aviation. Singapore Airlines, Changi Airport, Singapore’s Maintenance and Repair facilities – all are recognized as symbols of excellence and quality. Today we get to recognize that aerospace design and manufacturing belong on that impressive list.

A BASA consists of two parts – the Executive Agreement (EA) and the Implementation Procedures for Airworthiness (IPA). The EA is a State Department/ Ministerial level agreement between the two countries to cooperate in aviation matters. I’ll leave it to my friend Marion Blakey to comment on the second. Let me just say again how pleased I am to be able to sign the BASA Executive Agreement on behalf of the United States.