{"id":14902,"date":"2021-09-07T10:56:06","date_gmt":"2021-09-07T14:56:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/?p=14902"},"modified":"2025-10-01T08:53:48","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T12:53:48","slug":"surviving-seletar-singapores-second-airport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/surviving-seletar-singapores-second-airport\/","title":{"rendered":"Surviving Seletar: Singapore’s Second Airport"},"content":{"rendered":"
Update Oct 2025<\/strong><\/h6>\n

OPSGROUP members can access an updated version of this guide, effective Oct 2025, on the members Dashboard here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Original Article from Sep 2021<\/strong><\/h6>\n

If you\u2019re planning to operate a business jet into Singapore, there\u2019s a good chance you won\u2019t be bound for WSSS\/Changi Airport at all. Instead you may be headed for the lesser known WSSL\/Seletar \u2013 Singapore\u2019s secondary commercial airport, and it can be a lot<\/em> more challenging.<\/p>\n

Here’s a basic rundown of just what to expect to keep you ahead of the game next time you are flying into Seletar.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/strong>The Basics<\/h4>\n

Seletar is a stone\u2019s throw (8nm) northeast of WSSS\/Changi. It has a single 6020ft\/1840m long runway and serves predominantly turbo prop and corporate jet traffic. It has fuel and good facilities for business ops.<\/p>\n

Just getting in there at all can be a pain – the airport is surrounded with prohibited and restricted airspace, noise abatement areas, training areas, military airports; as well as a bunch of buildings, cranes, boats, and other obstacles to the north of the airport on the Malaysian side – just across the Strait of Johor.<\/p>\n

And since Malaysia effectively killed the plans for ILS at Seletar<\/a> back at the start of 2019, there are no available instrument approaches at all<\/strong>, requiring visual approaches<\/strong> to be flown onto both runways.<\/p>\n

The Airspace Picture<\/h4>\n

Operations at Seletar are difficult because of the complicated airspace that surrounds it, and it is the reason why there are no instrument approaches. There just isn\u2019t enough room.<\/em><\/p>\n

Seletar is literally boxed in by a variety of restricted airspace. To the west lies the Sembawang airbase, and to the east the Payar Lebar airbase. Both are strictly military.<\/p>\n

Then just a smidge to the north is the boundary with Malaysian airspace, the WMFC\/Kuala Lumpur FIR. South of the airport is highly noise sensitive, with three noise abatement areas where hefty fines await.<\/p>\n

Throw these things together and you have the Seletar \u2018Fish Bowl\u2019 \u2013 a small bubble of airspace where there is precious little room to manoeuvre. Here\u2019s a picture of what this all looks like.<\/p>\n

\"\"

The Seletar ‘Fish Bowl’<\/p><\/div>\n

Arrival Procedures<\/h4>\n

To keep things simple, the end game is to join the circuit and fly a visual approach, without busting any airspace.<\/strong>\u00a0To help you with this there are a number of visual arrivals that require you to be in VMC conditions. If you can\u2019t get visual, you\u2019ll need to hold or divert to nearby Changi.<\/p>\n

There are essentially two arrival procedures \u2013 North\u00a0<\/strong>and South<\/strong>. And all arriving aircraft will join them through one of three feeder points \u2013 Jaybee NDB (JB), Sinjon VOR (SJ) or Kong Kong NDB (KK). From there you will either join downwind, straight in or even overhead if you need the extra track miles.<\/p>\n

You can view the current plates for those procedures in the Singapore AIP online<\/a>. But to make it easy, here’s a couple of pictures.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Arrivals onto Runway 03<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

Arrivals onto Runway 21 – make sure you have the ‘steel towers and silo’ in sight for an earlier approach clearance.<\/p><\/div>\n

Things to look out for<\/h4>\n

Day and night closures: <\/strong>The airport is closed every night between 22-07 local time except for medevac and SAR. And then during the daytime, there are several infuriating closures to accommodate training flights. So essentially, GA\/BA flights can only operate to Seletar at these times : 0700-0930, 1030-1200, 1300-1500, 1600-1700, 1800-2200 local time.<\/p>\n

The circuit is tight.<\/strong> It is always on the western side of the airport and you cannot fly your circuit wider than 1.5nm due to Sembawang’s airspace. Which means the turn onto final is also going to be tight.<\/p>\n

The profile is steeper than normal.<\/strong> 3.2 degrees on Runway 03, and 3.5 degrees on Runway 21. Which means you will need higher rates of descent than a standard visual circuit ‘outta the book’.<\/p>\n

You need to be visual.\u00a0<\/strong>If you\u2019re not VMC, you can\u2019t land at Seletar. Thunderstorms are common in Singapore with heavy rain, and they tend to be slow moving. The worst times are afternoons and evenings.<\/p>\n

‘Steel Structures and Silos’\u00a0<\/strong> – You’ll hear it on the ATIS, and you need to report you have them in sight if arriving on Runway 21. They’re on the Malaysian coastline north of Seletar. Spot them early and you’ll get an earlier approach clearance from ATC which will make your job easier.<\/p>\n

Mistaken Identity: <\/strong>Both nearby Sembawang and Paya Lebar airports have similar runway orientations to Seletar and it is easy to line up with the wrong one. Tune up Seletar\u2019s NDB (220) \u2013 the needle doesn\u2019t lie!<\/p>\n

Missed Approaches. <\/strong>Expect to re-enter the circuit for both runways – which means a prompt turn downwind and not above 1500ft.<\/p>\n

Ops on the Ground<\/h4>\n

You\u2019ll be pleased to know, pretty straight forward. Parking can become limited, and so it always pays to book a spot with your handling agent well in advance.<\/p>\n

Departures<\/h4>\n

Both runways have noise abatement. Just the standard stuff here \u2013 NADP 1 or 2. Your call.<\/p>\n

There are published visual departure procedures<\/a> for both runways. Essentially they involve a climb straight ahead to 1000ft, followed by a turn onto a radar heading.<\/p>\n

For departures downwind, the challenge is to stay within the \u2018Fish Bowl.\u2019 Which means keeping your turn tight, and your speed down. Ironically the noise abatement procedures help here.<\/p>\n

Your Layover<\/h4>\n

Assuming Covid isn\u2019t still ruining the party, Singapore is famous for food. Three words: Chilli Mud Crab. Jumbo Seafood Restaurant<\/a> in Clarke Quay is the place to go. And if you\u2019re beer inclined, Tiger is the perfect accompanying drop. For the time being, you may need to rely on Uber Eats. Don’t worry though, Jumbo also delivers.<\/p>\n

Handling<\/h4>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>There\u2019s a few good options to choose from. Here are some contacts:<\/p>\n