Pedestrian involved in motorcycle accident recovering in hospital

A female pedestrian involved in a motorcycle accident that occurred last Saturday is recovering at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.

The pre-dawn accident happened at the junction of Woodlands Avenue 6 and 7.

The motorcyclist who hit her was arrested on the spot for riding dangerously.

A video of the accident, captured moments before the pedestrian was hit, has gone viral on the internet. The motorcycle which hit her had beaten a red light.

The woman was flung a distance on impact, with the motorcyclist involved eventually returning to the scene.

The pedestrian, who is in her late 40s, was conscious after the accident and brought to a hospital.

Police investigations are ongoing.

SOURCE

 

Why are Singapore roads getting so dangerous nowadays? It seems that no matter how long have the red light come on, there will still be idiotic drivers/riders wanting to dash through it. It is lucky that the lady survived. Hope she'll have a speedy recovery.

COE premiums for small cars hit S$81,889

Certificate of Entitlement (COE) premiums for vehicles rose in most categories, with the premium for small cars hitting another all time high, at the end of the latest bidding exercise today.

The premium for cars 1,600 cc and below (Category A) finished at S$81,889, up for the previous high of S$78,523 which was recorded at the last bidding exercise.

The COE premium for big cars (1,601cc and above) also rose by 3.7 per cent from S$90,200 in the earlier bidding exercise to S$93,501 while the premium for motorcycles increased by 5.5 per cent to S$1,701.

In the Open category, where COEs can be used for any vehicle type, the premium dropped by 1 per cent to S$95,990 from S$97,000 at the beginning of this month and the premiums for commercial vehicles also saw a 1.3 per cent dip to finish at S$62,201.

SOURCE

What a record breaking year we've had. In the final bidding exercise, Cat A broke the record again. Very soon, the COEs will be able to buy a HDB flat in Singapore.

Fare increase not just to raise salaries of bus drivers: Lui Tuck Yew

It's not just driver salaries, but the need to improve and maintain public transport systems for the long-term that necessitates fare revisions, said Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew in a message posted to his Facebook page today.

He was writing in response to the discussion generated over his comments made on the 6th of December. Then, he had said that increased salaries for bus drivers would be taken into account in future fare revisions for buses.

However, he said his comments were made in view of a "wider perspective".

"We need to go well beyond the one-time increase earlier this year which raised salaries by up to a few hundred dollars a month," Minister Lui wrote in the Facebook post. He cited the need to attract more local drivers as a reason for sustained increases of wages for bus drivers.

"Locals currently make up slightly more than half (57 per cent) of our 7,500 bus drivers, a sharp decline from almost 80 per cent just 6 years ago. Most local drivers are already in their 50s and 60s. Clearly we should continue to welcome foreign bus drivers within limits. But we also need to attract more locals to take up bus driving if we do not want to rely overly on foreigners." he wrote.

He also stressed that fare increases were not to boost the short term profits of public transport operators. Instead, they should be used "not just to improve salaries of bus drivers but to improve service to commuters while keeping public transport operations commercially viable." This includes the upgrading and maintainance of fleets, as well staff salaries.

PROPER BALANCE NEEDED

Minister Lui acknowledged that as fares increased, the Government would have an increasing role to keep public transport affordable. Examples he cited of Govenrment help included expanding the rail network, as well as the S$1.1 billion Bus Service Enhancement Programme introduced earlier in the year.

However, he said that even with Government help, improving public transport would be a costly endeavour. He wrote: "Somebody has to pay for these costs, either commuters in fares, or taxpayers in government subsidies, or the PTOs.

"The proper balance is something we have to study very carefully. But we should not simply take the populist approach of avoiding any fare increases completely, and just push it onto the PTOs or rely on more and more government subsidies. Not only would this require additional public money, but it would give operators no incentive to be efficient, or to provide good services to commuters."

Minister Lui emphasised that the Government is "fully committed to an affordable public transport system" for vulnerable groups, and he wants PTOs to consider what more can be done for such groups as part of the next fare adjustment.

He also said that there would be a fuller debate in Parliament about fare revisions, once the fare review committee completes its work early next year.

"It is a matter of all the stakeholders - the PTOs, the Government, and yes, commuters too - coming together to ensure we enjoy a reliable, high-quality and affordable public transport system," he wrote.

SOURCE

Singaporeans have come to a stage where whatever the minister say, we will rebut, especially so in the public transport factors. And who can blame them? Fare increment has become almost a yearly affair for the past decade and while the PTOs continue to make handsome profits, they continue to cry for help when it comes to providing better services and salaries.

However, there isn't much we can do once they have decided to raise fares. We can make all the noises we want but we still have to use the public transport and continue paying.

Lucky draw to attract more cabbies to airport

Cabbies who pick up passengers from Changi Airport this month stand a chance to win up to $1,888 in cash.

The weekly lucky draw has been introduced by the airport's operator, Changi Airport Group, in a bid to attract more taxis to its terminals as December is its busiest month of the year.

It hopes the incentive will draw about 10 per cent more cabs and keep waiting time at the taxi stands to no more than 10 minutes, said Mr Yeo Kia Thye, the company's senior vice-president for airport operations.

Last December, Changi handled 4.5 million passengers - an average of 146,000 a day.

The lucky draw from Dec 3 to Jan 1 will see one cabby taking home a grand prize of $1,888 each week and six others winning $88 each.

Every cab that enters the taxi holding areas at Changi is eligible for the contest.

Their in-vehicle unit number will be tracked by the operator.

Cabbies that make trips between 4pm and 6pm and between 11pm and midnight - the periods just before the start of fare surcharges - will triple their chances of winning.

Those who drive to Changi between the peak arrival period of 6pm and 11pm will earn two chances to win.

Said Mr Yeo: "We wanted to find something that appeals to drivers and is also fun. The prize had to be something that resonates with the drivers and is substantial enough for them to be interested."

He added that Changi Airport Group had mulled over other options such as raising the airport surcharge, which ranges from $3 to $5 depending on the time.

"But if we go down that route, what is going to stop the others from raising theirs as well?" he said, referring to the $3 surcharge passengers pay to take a cab at the two integrated resorts.

Cabby Quah Seh Hong, 55, estimates that he drives to the airport at least 20 times a week.

He is confident that the chance to win money will attract more cabbiesthere.

Agreeing, cabby Lee Yew Kiak, 54, said: "Having a chance to make extra money by picking up passengers is a good incentive."

SOURCE

This is interesting. Definitely a more creative way to draw more taxis to the airport during this festive season which will boost overseas travels and tourist visitors.However it is strong enough to pull the cabbies there? In fact the queue of taxi during the wee hours at the Changi Airport is already pretty amazing. But then this lucky draw will add extra incentive for cabbies to go there during other times.

If it works, i think CAG deserves a prize man.

Who wants to be a bus driver?

Driving a bus may be among the things young boys dream of doing, but everyone soon wakes up to the bleak reality.

Bus drivers are among the lowest-paid workers in Singapore, making more than cleaners but a bit less than factory operators - two of the lowest-paid groups of people here.

After this year's round of adjustments, the average Singaporean driver takes home between $2,000 and $2,500 monthly after overtime and allowance.

Drivers from Malaysia and China make even less.

Salaries aside, working hours can be daunting. They wake up as early as 4am if they are on the morning shift, and knock off after 1am on the late shift.

A split-shift system also means they can be rostered to drive during the morning and evening peak hours on the same day; and days off are not as predictable as those of, say, office workers.

It is no wonder then that SBS Transit and SMRT find it increasingly difficult to hire Singaporean drivers.

In the 1990s, they started sourcing from Malaysia.

Soon, with rising education levels and growing affluence, even Malaysians were hard to come by.

In 2008, the two operators started hiring drivers from China.

There are currently about 7,300 bus drivers between the two operators.

About half are Singaporeans or permanent residents, followed by Malaysians and Chinese.

Chinese drivers make up 11 per cent and 22 per cent of SBS' and SMRT's drivers respectively.

According to the two firms, drivers typically have secondary school education and are between 21 and 65 years old.

Prior to joining, they must have held a Class 3 (car) driving licence for at least a year.

An understanding of simple English is about the only other criterion needed for application.

Successful applicants undergo training of between 31 and 60 days, depending on their familiarity with Singapore roads.

On average, 15 per cent of the 7,300 drivers leave each year.

But some make a long-term career of it. SBS says its longest-serving Singaporean driver has been on the job for 44 years, while a Malaysian has been at it for 38.

While some used to be drivers in previous occupations, others have held various jobs, such as being cooks and policemen.

The Straits Times understands that those who leave usually go on to drive trucks.

Demand for truck drivers - who typically earn 60 to 70 per cent more - has soared with the construction boom.

Malaysians typically start their own businesses back home.

SOURCE

As a Singaporean, do you want to be a public transport bus driver? Or would you rather be a cabbie?

SUV in Orchard Road turns turtle on 7/12/12

What do you think? Recently there has been alot of such videos/accidents surfacing on Singapore roads; drivers dashing through red traffic lights. 

Volkswagen dominates small-car COE category

Almost one in four cars sold with Category A certificates of entitlement (COE) this year wore a Volkswagen badge on its grille.

In the first 10 months, the German mid-range manufacturer accounted for 2,352 of the total 10,142 registrations in Cat A (for cars under 1,600 cc). This was 23.2 per cent of the market share for this so-called small-car segment.

From January to October, the top VW model was the Jetta compact sedan, with 744 registrations, followed by the Scirocco sports hatch (416) and the Golf hatchback (408).

But in Cat B, VW is a small player. There, German luxury makes BMW and Mercedes-Benz take the top two spots.

In this COE category, VW has managed only 595 units or 4.5 per cent in a total big-car market of 13,327 new registrations.

VW's domination of the small-car COE category has come at the expense of the traditional Japanese favourites; for now, the German car has pushed them all out except for one - Toyota.

Japan's biggest carmaker was Singapore's best- selling brand between 2002 and 2010, before it was overtaken by BMW and Mercedes-Benz last year. Today, it is still the third most popular make here, with VW in fourth position.

VW sales could, however, expand further amid the tight COE quota, under which the popularity of premium and near-premium makes has risen in tandem with COE prices.

VW could also clock even better sales through its full range of diesel models, which make their debut next month to take advantage of the upcoming Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme (CEVS).

The 11 Volkswagen "TDI Clean Diesel" models are the Polo, Beetle, Scirocco, Touran, Jetta, Tiguan, Passat, Sharan, CC, Touareg and Phaeton.

Under CEVS, which comes into effect on Jan 1, buyers of cars with carbon dioxide emissions of 160 g/km or below are entitled to rebates of between $5,000 and $20,000.

VW is already in a strong position to benefit from this; in the first nine months of this year, 82 per cent of its cars sold already had emissions of 160 g/km or less.

So even though Euro V diesel models attract a diesel tax of 40 cents per cc next year - down from $1.25 per cc currently - the CEVS rebate may more than make up for this surcharge.

Volkswagen's PR manager Colin Yong said: "For most Volkswagen models, the additional CEVS rebate earned by the TDI models more than covers the slightly higher annual road tax, which includes the diesel surcharge."

For example, the road tax for the Jetta 1.6 TDI is $762 more a year than that of the 1.4 TSI model, but the Jetta 1.6 buyer will get $5,000 off upfront when registering the car - which equates to more than six years' worth of the road tax difference.

Mr Yong said: "Additionally, TDI cars also have even lower fuel consumption than our already economical TSI models, and customers pay less for diesel fuel at the pumps."

The TDI cars here will be sold at the same price as their equivalent petrol models. In Europe, diesel models usually cost 10 per cent more than their petrol versions.

Mr Yong said that VW expects Singaporean motorists to be curious about diesel technology and the potential savings, so it will open a TDI Clean Diesel Experience Centre in its Alexandra showroom.

Most motorists here have not had the opportunity to drive a modern TDI car, so the showroom will give them a shot at feeling the performance and the quiet running of a TDI Clean Diesel car for themselves, Mr Yong added.

SOURCE

When the CEVS scheme kicks in in 2013, diesel powered cars will be very popular and one of the first makers to benefit from this is definitely Volkswagen.

Diesel engines give high torque, good fuel efficiency and diesel prices are lower in Singapore. The only worry comes in when more and more people move into diesel cars and its price starts rocketing, causing our public transport to succumb to price pressures and the consumers will bear the extra fuel costs again.

20 arrested for drink driving

The Traffic Police's blitz against drink driving saw 20 motorists arrested early this morning.

In the pre-dawn operation, road blocks were set up at Ganges Avenue, Clemeanceau Avenue, Jalan Bukit Merah, Mountbatten Road and Sims Avenue from 1.30 am to 4.30 am.

More than 72 drivers were stopped and tested for alcohol consumption. Of these, 20 motorists - 18 men and 2 women aged between 23 and 53 - were arrested for drink driving.

The highest Breath Evidential Analyser (BEA) test result was 106 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath which is more than 3 times the prescribed legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Acting Commander of Traffic Police, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police Poh Lye Hin, said: "Drink drivers who failed the BEA test will be prosecuted in court. Pleading ignorance of our laws or having perceptions such as drinking two glasses of beer will be within the legal alcohol limit will not absolve you of the drink driving charge."

SOURCE

I urge all drivers to be responsible for your own actions. By the time you see that flashing red/blue lights, it's too late. Leave the vehicle at home if you're heading out for a drink.

Have a safe and enjoyable festive season.

Schumacher wrong to return, says Ecclestone

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone believes Michael Schumacher was wrong to return to the sport, claiming the German had severely damaged his legacy as a seven-time world champion.

The 43-year-old Schumacher quit the sport in 2006 before being tempted into an ill-fated return in 2010 at Mercedes where he spent three seasons being largely outshone by teammate Nico Rosberg.

He brought the curtain down on his second spell at last month's Brazilian Grand Prix where he finished seventh.

"I would rather he had stopped as a seven-time world champion than stopping now," Ecclestone told www.formula1.com.

"People new to the sport -- people who have joined the F1 fan fraternity just recently -- will remember Michael now, not as he was. They don't see the hero that he was but the human that can fail."

But Ecclestone had some words of comfort for Schumacher, admitting that three-time champion Sebastian Vettel will find it hard to break his record of seven crowns.

"He is not half way there. It will be a question of how good his team will stay -- or how bad the others are," said Ecclestone.

"When Michael won his five titles with Ferrari it was because Ferrari did a better job than any other team -- that is the same with Red Bull at the moment. Whether they can continue, you don't know. Let's wait and see."

SOURCE

Schumi, as we affectionately call him, like all other sports greats, made a comeback in 2010. Still remember in 2009 when Massa had a life threatening accident, Schumi almost made a return for Ferrari as a backup. Suddenly everyone was buzzing about the prospect of the greatest F1 driver of all time getting into the cockpit again.

Sadly that didn't materialise due to a neck injury and Luca Badoer took over instead, to much dismay considering how crappy he is as a racer. But the comeback did arrive, not in Ferrari but at the newly formed team Mercedes GP.

We all thought they can make a huge challenge considering how Brawn GP blown everyone away with their maiden season in F1. Sadly, Mercedes GP failed to reproduce such performances with their many issues with the car.

I wouldn't say Schumi wasted the 3 years. Try putting yourself in his shoes. The temptation is always there, though the outcome isn't what as desired, it put to rest what's left in the basement, like how Rocky Balboa made a last hurrah in the ring.

I believe to all Schumi fans, he still is the best with 7 world titles. Vettel has the biggest shot at breaking that record but there's still a long long way to go for Schumi's fellow German.

COE for Open Category vehicles jumps to $97,000 in December exercise

Certificate of Entitlement, or COE premiums, for the first bidding exercise in December ended mixed on Wednesday, with the highest increase seen in the Open Category (Cat E) which jumped by $3,010 to close at $97,000.

Also up are rates for goods vehicles and buses. COE premiums for this category (Cat C) went up by $2,800 to $63,035.

Rates for small cars (1,600 cc and below under Cat A) closed at $78,523 - up by $1,232 from the last bidding exercise.

Going down though are rates for big cars (above 1,600 cc under Cat B) which dropped by $2,804 to $90,200.

Premiums for motorcycles closed at $1,612 - down by just $77.

Observers said car dealers could be bidding more aggressively due to a few factors.

Mr Ron Lim, General Manager of Tan Chong Motor Sales, said one of the factors is the rush for year-end registration.

"Basically you're looking at this month's registration to close off the year. Secondly, in anticipation of the expected further cut in quota come February. So everyone is rushing to get the COE and not take the chance to roll over," he said.

SOURCE

So, it's another new record for Category A COE. With impending quota cuts in February 2013, the worst is still not here yet. Breaching the S$100k mark for cars above 2000cc is only a matter of time. What is more worrying is the COE price for commercial vehicles. Such high prices will inevitably pass on to consumers and overall inflation will climb even higher for years to come.

Reliance on foreign bus drivers in sharp focus

Monday's action by 102 SMRT bus drivers brought into focus issues that have come with transport operators' growing dependence on foreign workers.

Bus operators began hiring bus drivers from China in 2008. They now make up 11 per cent of SBS Transit's pool of 5,300 drivers, and 22 per cent of SMRT's 2,000 drivers.

The pay gap between Chinese and Malaysian drivers was one catalyst for yesterday's protest. The former received much lower pay rises than the latter group, even though they perform roughly the same functions.

Veteran unionist and MP Halimah Yacob said this was probably because of SMRT's differing cost structures for the two groups of drivers.

For instance, SMRT has to pay for lodging for Chinese drivers, but not Malaysians, who typically commute to and from their homes across the Causeway.

She noted that the drivers should have sought proper avenues to address their grievances.

Even if they failed to reach a resolution with management, they could have turned to the Manpower Ministry, she said.

But Madam Halimah - who is also Minister of State for Social and Family Development - added that companies should be cognizant of changing circumstances facing Chinese workers.

"China is growing rapidly. Its economy is able to absorb many more workers, and they are also able to pay better than before," she said.

"So employers here have to factor that in."

Mr Kenneth Soh, a social worker at non-governmental organisation Transient Workers Count Too, said the larger issue may have to do with why there are not enough Singaporean drivers.

"Perhaps we need to relook at our salary policies, to attract more locals so as to have a lower reliance on foreigners," he said.

Active social commentator and former chief of union-backed insurer NTUC Income Tan Kin Lian also urged public transport operators to pay better salaries and provide better working conditions to recruit more locals.

"Locals will be more familiar with our roads and languages, and can interact better with commuters," he said.

Member of Parliament Cedric Foo, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport, said buses were an essential public service, and Singapore must guard against situations where such service providers are held hostage to protesters.

"There is always a balance to be struck between employee and employer interests," Mr Foo said.

"But conflicts do surface from time to time, and due process should be followed to address them.

"(Commuters) should not be penalised for this."

SOURCE

Definitely a wake up call for companies who think they can leech on cheap foreign labour, especially for those in service industries as they're more crucial than the others. Can you imagine waking up one day but can't get to work due to the absence of transport providers?

This is an issue facing Singapore as a whole. After the mass import of cheap foreign labour for the past few years, the government has finally come to realise that unlimited boosting of the workforce is not the best way to go and started controlling influx of such workers.

This change in policy suddenly caused many industry to face a manpower and profit crunch. After getting s used to readily available foreign labour, companies must now find ways to improve productivity and make salaries more attractive to locals.

It's ironic that after boosting the population, we need more workers to support this huge population but is finding big troubles in doing so.

Taxis must ply 250km daily from 2013

From January 2013, taxi companies have to ensure that 70 per cent of their taxis ply through peak hour and reach a minimum daily mileage of 250 kilometres. 

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced these measures at a briefing earlier today. The standards are aimed at ensuring there are more taxis are on the road during peak period, so passengers will find it easier to get a cab.

These standards will be upped to 85 per cent in three years but will be phased in progressively to give taxi operators time to adjust, said LTA.

LTA also said taxi operators would need to attain at least 4 out of 6 'Passes' over six-month periods of every year to expand their fleet in the corresponding period of the following year.

This means that results for the January 2013 to June 2013 period will be used to determine if the taxi company can grow its taxi fleet in the period of January 2014 to June 2014.

The growth will be capped at 2 per cent per annum - which was earlier announced as being the unconditional growth rate allowed for the transition period from August 2012 to December 2013, a growth rate roughly in line with the historical taxi ridership growth rate.

Measures for taxi drivers to complement standards

From January 1, 2013, taxis will be allowed to pick up and drop off passengers along all roads within the CBD, except those with bus lanes during their operation hours, and specific roads which are dangerous for all vehicles to stop at any time such as Finlayson Green, High Street, Orchard Link and Esplanade Drive.

These adjustments will also make it more convenient for passengers entering and leaving the CBD to hail a cab or alight near their destination.

In addition, LTA will set up an online portal so that hirers and relief drivers can exchange information to facilitate matching.

"This will make it easier for taxi hirers to find relief drivers, and vice versa, and will also be used to disseminate information relevant to Taxi Driver's Vocational Licence (TDVL) holders," said a spokesperson.

Active drivers will get a 50 per cent discount on their TDVL renewal fee and waiver on certain modules of the mandatory refresher course (e.g. street directory module).

These incentives and the new portal will be implemented in the first half of 2013.

The performance of the taxi companies will be measured on a monthly basis.

During the first six months, from January to June 2013, no financial penalty will be imposed on the taxi operators if they fail to meet the standards.

LTA will review this in June 2013.

SOURCE

Can these new measures solve the problem of "lack of taxis" in Singapore? In actual fact, we have no lack of taxis; we have almost twice the amount of taxis as compared to Hong Kong, but we're always facing trouble when getting taxis during peak hours.

The problem stems from the lack of drive from taxi drivers generally. However with this 250km minimum mileage per day, this will force the lazy bums to work or convert their taxis to double shift rather than single. I wonder what will LTA do to the operators if they fail the 70% and what will the operators do to drivers who refuse to clock the minimum 250km.

Traffic woes in Sentosa Cove

Created as an exclusive residential estate on an offshore island, Sentosa Cove's tranquillity has been disrupted by revving sounds of sports cars and driving misdemeanours by residents and visitors such as speeding, driving against the flow of traffic, not stopping at pedestrian crossings and overtaking in a single lane.

Complaints from residents about such "reckless and dangerous driving behaviour" have led Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) to put up a month-long tender to conduct a study to improve road safety and the regulation of traffic in the enclave.

Spelling out the transgressions, which "may be committed by residents, visitors, taxi-drivers and contractors", the tender document said: "Community tolerance and consideration can be fragile and easily threatened by inconsiderate conduct and unruly behaviour of motorists on the use of road space that meanders through Sentosa Cove, posing serious challenge to the safety and lifestyle of this community."

Responding to TODAY's queries, Ms Catherine Chew, General Manager of SDC subsidiary Sentosa Cove Resort Management, said that there are about 1,300 occupied households in the enclave as of last month.

By 2014, as new developments are built, the estate can accommodate 2,160 households in a mix of luxury condominiums and landed properties in its three precincts.

"As the population in Sentosa Cove continues to grow, the priority of the management has been to ensure safety within the residential precinct," Ms Chew said. She added that to this end, measures such as regulating strips, flexible road dividers, blinking pedestrian crossing signs and road humps have been installed on the roads in Sentosa Cove.

Referring to the tender, Ms Chew said: "As further precaution, we also intend to conduct a traffic and road safety review."

Similar to residential estates on mainland Singapore, the speed limit on the roads in the enclave is 40 kmh, Ms Chew said. The other roads on Sentosa Island have speed limits of between 40 and 50kmh.

According to the tender document, the consultant engaged for the study will need to look into areas such as enforcement measures including the use of speed cameras and suitable locations to install these.

The level of noise emitted by "high-performance vehicles" will also be reviewed to determine what "may be considered reasonable in a quiet residential environment, especially at night". The consultant will also need to review the current practice of allowing food delivery motorcycles into the residential precincts.

Sentosa Cove resident Michelle McDonald said that taxi drivers tend to speed, despite the placement of speed cones and bumps in certain zones.

Mrs Mia Lindbergh, who lives in a landed property along Ocean Drive, said she was concerned about the safety of children, given that Sentosa Cove houses are designed without gates.

However, resident Nancy Hawkes felt that some of the residents were over-reacting. "No matter where you go to, you'll hear a bit (of noise) here and there, when you stay in the city, you hear buses, traffic, everything," she said. Nevertheless, she added: "Occasionally, but very rarely, you get some people (from outside) who come in here, park their cars in the middle of the road and take photographs."

SOURCE

Oh my, what happens when the rich complains against the rich? It is no wonder the rich living in Sentosa is facing a pretty unique problem. With houses costing S$10m in minimum, it is no surprise that each household owns a super car. If you don't believe it, take a drive down Sentosa Cove in your humble BMW and you will feel so small even if yours is a 335i.

What can you expect from drivers behind the wheel of super cars? Rolling down the driveway at 30km/h?? I'm afraid that will cause their V12s to overheat and their million dollar machines will burst into flames.

Safety issues wise, there are ways to improve it. Examples are building A LOT more humps and installing speed cameras at strategic locations to curb speeding. At the end of the day, it isn't the car but the driver that is responsible for any form of reckless driving.

Korean GP racks up more big losses

The Korean Grand Prix racked up substantial operating losses last month, the third year running it has finished in the red, but organisers say the race will bring long-term benefits to the country.

The South Korean race, first run in 2010, returned operating losses of 39.4 billion won (S$44.6 million), local media reported today quoting race organisers.

One of nine Asian races on the 20-stop 2012 Formula One calendar, including the Asia-Pacific Australian Grand Prix, the South Korean event also lost an estimated US$50 million (S$61 million) in its first year.

"It's hard to say what kind of impact the loss has on next year," South Korean race organisers told Reuters. "Although there are many concerns regarding the operating loss, the loss for a third straight year is only a short-term effect.

"In the long-term the F1 event will bring more benefits to the country. It will not only pave the way for South Korean car industries in the future but also help foster new industries."

The Yeongam circuit, 400 km south of Seoul, has an initial contract of seven years, with a five-year option that could keep the race there until 2021.

However, it has been plagued by problems, even before opening in 2010, when construction of the circuit was only just finished in time for its maiden race.

South Korean organisers have expressed dissatisfaction at the terms of their contract with Formula One, particularly over the cost of race-sanctioning fees.

However, their complaints have fallen on deaf ears with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

The last two Korean races have been won by Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel, the current world champion.

The problems facing South Korea's race contrast sharply to the success Formula One enjoys in nearby Japan, where sell-out 120,000 crowds are commonplace at Suzuka.

"Compared to the boom years, things have become a little harder but we had 103,000 for race day this year," press manager Yoshihisa Ueno told Reuters.

"Last year with the (tsunami and nuclear) disaster, numbers were down but this year, operation-wise was a successful year."

The Japanese Grand Prix has been held at Suzuka almost exclusively since 1987, apart from 2007 and 2008 when it was held at Fuji Speedway.

SOURCE

The Korean GP had a difficult birth right from the start. It was a miracle that they even made it in time to hold their maiden race back in 2010. It's baffling as to why they build the track so far away from Seoul, making it very much inaccessible and the lack of entertainment around the track isn't helping either. After 3 years, it's still suffering from a loss, the Korean government has alot to do to turn it around anytime soon.

Two new highs in latest COE results

COE for cars in Category A, up to 1,600cc, ended at $77,291, slightly above the previous record of $77,201, from two weeks ago.

Prices for Commercial vehicles in Category C also reached new high of $60,235, up from $59,111 in the last bidding exercises.

Premiums for cars in Category B, above 1,600cc, closed at $93,004, up from $92,400 two weeks ago while the Open Category which can be used to register any vehicle but is usually used for big cars, ended at $93,990.

This is up from $92,100.

Motorcycles were the only vehicles that saw a decrease, finished $1,689, down from $1,959 previously.

Nov 2012 - First bidding
Category	Nov 21 prices	Nov 7 prices
Cars (1,600CC below)	$77,291	$77,201
Cars (above 1,600CC)	$93,004	$92,400
Commercial vehicles	$60,235	$59,111
Motorcycles	$1,689	$1,959
Open category	$93,990	$92,100

SOURCE


It simply wouldn't stop climbing, and with the commercial vehicle category getting crazier in pricing, this will eventually pass the cost to consumers. Ended up everything else is just going to be even more expensive. Why is our inflation rate so high? COE is a huge contributing factor other than housing.

8.7% hike for small car COEs

SINGAPORE - Prices for Certificates of Entitlement (COE) saw yet another surge in the latest bidding exercise that ended at 4pm today.

Small cars below 1,600cc saw the biggest hike of 8.7 per cent. Prices ended at $77,201, up from $71,001 previously.

Premiums for big cars jumped by about 7.7 per cent, from $85,801 in Oct to $92,400 in the current bidding.

COEs for commercial vehicles climbed up slightly to $59,111 from $57,889, while the increase for motorcyles was marginal.

In the Open category, which is usually used for cars and is transferable, premiums ended at $92,100, up 5.9 per cent from $87,000.

Nov 2012 - First bidding
Category	Nov 7 prices	Oct 17 prices
Cars (1,600CC below)	$77,201	$71,001
Cars (above 1,600CC)	$92,400	$85,801
Commercial vehicles	$59,111	$57,889
Motorcycles	$1,959	$1,920
Open category	$92,100	$87,000

SOURCE

Record breaking COE prices once again. This is just the prelude. Coming January 2013 there will be another round of quota adjustment. Singapore, the most expensive country in the world to own a personal car.

Ferrari speeding at 178kmh before fatal crash

SINGAPORE - The driver of the Ferrari involved in the horrific crash in May was speeding at 178kmh before smashing into a taxi at Rochor Road.

This is almost three times the speed limit of 60kmh set at that stretch of road.

The Ferrari's speed was determined from three videos that were shown today at the coroner's inquiry into the accident which left three people dead. Those killed include driver of the Ferrari Ma Chi, a Chinese national who was working as a financial advisor here in Singapore, taxi driver Cheng Teck Hock, 52, and the taxi's passenger, a Japanese female passenger in her 40s.

A motorcyclist and a female passenger in the Ferrari were also injured.

One of the videos that were played in court today was taken via a video recorder installed in the Ferrari. It showed the supercar speeding towards the junction of Victoria Street and Rochor Road. This is despite the traffic lights turning red, reported a local broadcaster.

The ComfortDelgro taxi then appeared on screen from the right.

Both Ma Chi and the woman passenger had seat belts on, the court heard.

The Straits Times reported that an autopsy indicated that Mr Ma had traces of chlorpheniramine, used to treat flu, in his urine.

The inquiry is adjourned till Friday.

SOURCE 

Finally, the truth is out. A whopping 178kmh on a road like Victoria Street at 4am in the morning. Ma Chi is indeed very brave, and very crazy. His actions were seriously very irresponsible. Being at that kinda speed, it is very hard for him to react in time if there is any changes to the road. He isn't Fernando Alonso I reckon.

This cabby earns $6k and is his own boss

Former sales manager Mark Leow took a pay cut to become a taxi driver but still considers it a good move.

"I can do more for myself as a taxi driver than working for other people," said the 32-year-old Institute of Technical Education graduate in automotive repairs.

Mr Leow, who used to work in sales at a multinational company, declined to reveal his previous salary, but said he now earns more than $6,000 a month as a cabby.

As a MaxiCab driver with transport giant ComfortDelGro, he earns mainly from shuttling corporate clients, hotel guests and airport passengers in his seven-seater van. He says it is not impossible to earn a decent living from driving a cab - it is all about having the right attitude because the demand for taxis is always there.

"You go out on the street and you can see so many people waving their hands for a taxi," he said. "There is no downtime for us."

Mr Leow said making money as a cabby is all about knowing where to go.

For instance, there is no point for a cabby to wait for a fare in the city after going there in the morning, because hardly anyone will be heading out of town at that time.

"You have to go to where the people are," he said, adding that he would usually head to nearby neighbourhoods or stop at hotels looking for passengers heading to the airport after dropping a fare off in the city.

A typical day for him starts at 6am and ends around 6pm, though on some days he pulls a longer day and ends at 9pm. On Sundays, he rests.

On average, he earns about $300 a day after paying $155 for rental and $40 for fuel. He said although he earned more in his previous job, he also spent a lot of time away from home because of business trips overseas.

One of the perks of the job is that he can take time out during his work hours to meet his family for meals.

"Now, how much time I put in is how much I earn," said the father of a two-year-old girl.

He said being a taxi driver is similar to being an entrepreneur; he's his own boss without needing to pump in a lot of start-up capital.

"If you own a business, you have to be creative, advertise and worry about expanding," said Mr Leow, who lives in a five-room Housing Board flat in Choa Chu Kang. "Now all I'm doing is selling my service and my hard work."

As for taxi drivers not having such benefits as annual bonuses, medical leave and Central Provident Fund contributions, Mr Leow said he has to look after his affairs on his own.

"I have my own medical insurance and set aside money for retirement like I would if I was given CPF," he said. "It's just all about managing my money well."

Having observed more young men and women choosing to be cabbies, he said it is an attractive option for those who want to avoid the rat race.

"It's a renewal of the industry," he said, referring to the rising number of people like him who choose to be cabbies over regular jobs. "Just like in the 1960s when many young men joined the business."

For him, becoming a cabby was a career choice and not a stepping stone to another job or just something to do to pass the time. He said: "It is a fantastic industry to be in and I see a good future here."

SOURCE

What do you think? I agree with him totally. How well a cabby earns really depends on how hard he works and what kind of mindset he adopts. Sadly, there aren't much cabbies like him around in Singapore. Looking at the statistics, Singapore has almost double the number of taxis as compared to Hong Kong, but the amount of passengers we carried still lags behind our counterpart.

Why is that so? Alot boils down to the attitude of the cabbies here. Most of them are middle-aged  ex-PMEs who lost their jobs or couldn't find jobs in their original industry and ended up being a cabby. How often you see cabbies relaxing half a day away at home or coffeeshops, earning enough just to pay off the daily rents and diesel costs? Productivity is lost whenever the taxi isn't on the road. In addition, one of the most ridiculous things discovered few weeks back about lack of taxis during rainy conditions was that cabbies stop their vehicles due to fear of accidents.

The taxi industry needs more people like Mark Leow above to spruce up the scene. If not it will simply continue to be sluggish and no matter how many taxis are added to our already very congested road, it will never be enough.

Grey Subaru Hit & Run

Looking at the way the car was driven towards impact, that female driver obviously didn't have any sort of control on the car; going too fast and unable to keep up with the steering. From the looks of it, it's an automatic transmission Subaru Impreza 1.6L.

Location: Blk 347 Clementi Ave 5 open carpark, 20th Oct about 12am according to video timestamp.

If you saw the accident or you know the white Mercedez cab driver, please alert the video uploader by adding your contact details to a comment on the video.

Road Rage?

It's the talk of the local forums now that this driver(SFY1668P) is a pretty hard driving person after being caught on camera a few times by other road users.

To be fair, this video doesn't show the full story. We have no idea what happened before the Subaru went crazy and started doing dangerous maneuvers as shown. It's not helped by the fact that the video uploader " MrGooddriver" is quite a paranoid driver himself finding fault in every single move not to his liking as judged by his other uploaded videos on YouTube.

COE prices for cars up sharply

SINGAPORE: Certificate of Entitlement (COE) premiums rose across the board at the end of the latest bidding exercise on Wednesday. 

The sharpest increase was in Category A (cars 1,600cc and below and taxis). Here, the premium rose 15.5 per cent or S$9,235 to S$68,656. 

This was followed by Category B (cars above 1,600cc), where the premium rose nearly 10 per cent or S$8,212 to S$90,501. 

In the Open Category, where the COEs can be used for any vehicle type but which are used mostly for cars, the premium rose nearly 7 per cent or S$5,701 to hit S$92,700. 

The COE prices for both commercial vehicles and motorcycles also moved up. The premium for commercial vehicles went up S$249 to S$55,805 while the premium for motorcycles increased S$99 to S$1,859. 

This latest round of bidding will be the final exercise before the new quota numbers for the next six months (August to January 2013) take effect.

The Land Transport Authority announced on July 12 that there will be 3,226 COEs available per month in the next six months, which are 12.7 per cent fewer than the number for the last six months.  

Motor dealers said the tightening of quota is likely to lead to higher car prices in the near term.
Ron Lim, GM, Tan Chong Motor Sales, said: "Take Category A for example. At S$68,000, this is a historical high... I suppose a lot of distributors would have to factor higher COE prices in their new pricing."

SOURCE

Just as expected, Cat A COE skyrocketed even before the massive quota reduction kicks in. It makes you shudder thinking about what's gonna happen in the next bidding two weeks later. Will it raise another ten grand? Do you think this is getting out of hand?

Nearly 13% fewer COEs for next 6 months

SINGAPORE: A total of 19,351 Certificates of Entitlement (COE) will be made available between August this year and January 2013. 

This is a cut of 2,809 or 12.7 per cent from the 22,160 certificates available in the previous six-month period from February to July 2012. 

The cut comes mainly from the small cars category, where the quota will see a drop of 36.6 per cent. The category will now have a monthly quota of just 786 certificates, down from 1,239 between February and July this year. 

The COE quota for the open category also dropped significantly. It will now have a quota of 485, a 21.3 per cent drop from the previous six-month period. 

The COE quota for big cars will be 701 per month. This is comparable to the monthly quota of 699 between February and July 2012. 

For goods vehicles and buses, the COE quota has been increased to 360 per month, a 12.85 per cent increase from the previous six-month period. 

There will also be more monthly COEs for motorcycles, at 894 - up from 820 in the previous six-month period. 

Market watchers said they expected smaller quotas due to a fall in the number of vehicles de-registered over the past six months. 

It fell by 8.7 per cent, compared with the second half of last year. 

Triangle Auto's director Michael Wong said: "If you compare this scrap rate to the last six months - which is July last year to December - the total number of scraps for Category A has actually fallen. So that is why you have a lower Cat A COE, and that's one of the main reasons for the reduction." 

Market watchers expect COE premiums to go up for small cars, testing the recent highs of S$67,000. 

Tan Chong Motors' general manager Ron Lim said: "The issue on hand is that demand has sort of cooled off following the announcement that Land Transport Authority (LTA) or the government itself is going to review what they can do to curb this COE crunch.  

"There are quite a number of customers who have been holding back and this is building up a pent-up demand. And now with this cut, you're going to see COE prices moving up quite sharply, at least in the short term." 

Bidding under this quota will start with the August 2012 First Open Bidding Exercise.
LTA said the COE quota for August 2012 to January 2013 consists of two components. 

These are: the provision for a one per cent vehicle growth, based on the vehicle population as at December 31, 2011; and the replacement COEs for vehicles de-registered between January and June this year.  

The next COE quota announcement for the COE bidding period from February 2013 to July 2013 will be made in January 2013. 

In May this year, LTA had announced that the vehicle growth rate will be reduced to 1.0 per cent per annum from August 2012, before being further reduced to 0.5 per cent each year from February 2013 to January 2015.  

In addition, a total of 4,789 remaining adjustments for over-projections in Quota Years 2008 and 2009 that were scheduled to be spread over bidding months from August 2012 to January 2014 will now be deferred for one year from August 2012 to July 2013.
They will resume from August 2013 to January 2015.

SOURCE

It is going to be crunch time in the COE bidding from August 2012 to January 2013, especially for Category A which cars up to 1600cc uses. This category will see a massive decrease in quota from the current 1,239 to a much lower 786.


So what do buyers of this category face? Intense competition and skyrocketing Cat A COE prices which will spill over to Cat B buyers. Taxi companies putting in bulk bids into Cat A is not going to make things any better. Current Cat A COE price is S$59,421. With a decrease in quota, its price may shoot up to above S$70,000.


Bread and butter Japanese cars will face even stiffer competition from its continental counterparts with C&C and Performance Motors bringing in small engine turbocharged Benz and Beemers. One of them is the new and improved Mercedes-Benz C180, which is already a very popular model today.


Buckle up guys, 'cause the COE is going on a trip to the moon on a rocket.

Bugis Ferrari Fatal Accident

The coffin of Ma Chi, the Ferrari driver who was involved in Saturday's three-vehicle pile-up, arriving at Mandai Crematorium on Monday afternoon. (Yahoo! photo/Elizabeth Soh)

Relatives and friends of deceased Ferrari driver Ma Chi, who was involved in a three-vehicle pile-up on Saturday, gathered for his cremation at Mandai Crematorium on Monday afternoon.

About 18 people, including Ma’s younger brother, attended the cremation. Visibly absent were Ma’s pregnant wife as well as his mother, although both were at Ma’s wake at Mount Vernon earlier in the afternoon.

According to Chinese customs, an elderly person should not show respect to someone younger and, similarly, it is considered bad luck for Ma’s pregnant wife to attend his cremation.

Ma, a financial advisor from Sichuan, was behind the wheel of a red Ferrari on early Saturday morning when it slammed against a taxi, which subsequently cut into the lane of a passing motorcycle at the intersection of Rochor Road and Victoria Street in Bugis.

The three-vehicle accident killed two others -- taxi driver Cheng Teck Hock and his passenger, believed to be a 20-something Japanese woman.

A young woman reportedly from China was with Ma in the Ferrari during the crash and she suffered head injuries and fractured her right leg.

According to AsiaOne, Ting Ting, 28, Ma’s wife, was surprised when reporters asked her about the identity of the female passenger.

Motorcyclist Muhammad Najib Ghazali escaped with a spine injury, dislocated right arm and a rib fracture.

Ma's younger brother (in white) walking out after the cremation (Yahoo! photo)



Friends of Ma reportedly flew in from China on Monday morning just to attend the cremation, which lasted less than an hour.

Most of them appeared well-heeled and sported branded bags and stylish clothes. Ma’s bespectacled and small-built brother who looked to be in his 20s was seen with an unshaven face and shoulder-length hair.

When contacted by Yahoo! Singapore, the undertaker in charge of Ma’s funeral processions was not sure whether the family’s planned to have Ma’s ashes sent back to China. He added that the family is still mourning and has not made a decision yet.

Ma’s relatives and friends refused to speak to the media.

According to The Sunday Times, Ma had relocated to Singapore with his wife and child four years ago and was said to be applying for permanent residency in the city-state.

It is not known whether his family will continue staying in Singapore.

SOURCE

Biggest traffic news in Singapore for the past two week. Many condemn the irresponsible attitude of the Ferrari driver, Ma Chi, for dashing through a red light, killing himself and two other innocent victims. That car, by the way, is a S$1.3m Ferrari 599 GTO.

Please drive responsibly. Having so much power in your foot doesn't give you the right to abuse it. If you want to speed, please do it in the racetrack

RIP to the innocent deceased.

SIA's voluntary no pay leave

Singapore Airlines said it had asked its pilots to volunteer for unpaid leave for up to two years as it struggles with a slowdown in the aviation sector.

SIA's offer to pilots below the rank of captain comes after it last month said profits had fallen by more than half in the final quarter of 2011 due to rising fuel costs, and weakening passenger and cargo demand from Europe.

The call, which will allow the pilots to join SIA's rivals, was made to "help address a temporary surplus of senior first officers, first officers, second officers and cadet pilots," spokesman Nicholas Ionides told AFP on Friday.

He stated that SIA was "not able to provide specific targets for how many pilots may take up the offer" as it was a voluntary scheme.

Despite the move, Ionides said SIA has no plans to reduce flights and downsize its operating fleet in the near term.

The announcement comes as the global industry is hit by soaring fuel prices and low demand.

The International Air Transport Association in November cut its forecast for the sector's profits this year by a quarter to $3.5 billion, but warned of losses of more than $8 billion if the global economy suffers another downturn.

SIA announced net profit plunged 53 percent year on year to Sg$135.2 million in the October-December quarter, while it said last week it would raise fuel surcharges by up to $28.

About half of SIA's 2,335 pilots were not of captain rank as of 31 March last year, SIA's 2010/2011 annual report stated.

"To the question of why we are offering the scheme, the global financial crisis in 2009-10 was a factor and resulted in some excess capacity at the time. Growth was also slower than anticipated after that," Ionides added.

"We view the resultant surplus pilot situation as temporary, and are therefore managing this by introducing the voluntary scheme."

SIA did not halt pilot recruitment and training during the financial crisis as it takes three years to train a first officer, resulting in the current pilot surplus as the aviation sector struggled to take off, Ionides said.

Pilots who take up the offer will be allowed to work for other airlines, including SIA's long-haul budget carrier arm Scoot, which will begin flying by the middle of this year. SIA also owns almost 33 percent of budget carrier Tiger Airways.

"Should there be positions available at Scoot, pilots on voluntary no-pay leave may apply for them," he said.

However, if the pilots were to join a rival carrier they could find themselves starting at the bottom of the ladder while the fact they would only be available for two years at most might work against them.

Captain P. James, president of the Airline Pilots Association Singapore, questioned why pilots were being asked to go on leave when there's a need for them in other airlines with the SIA Group.

"We can understand that there's a downturn but what we cannot understand and cannot accept is why pilots are being asked to go on leave where there's a need for them in other airlines within the group," James told the Straits Times.

SIA shares were slightly down in early trade, shedding 0.37 percent to Sg$10.85 as of 0215 GMT.

-- Dow Jones Newswires contributed to this story --

SOURCE

VOLUNTARY NO PAY LEAVE (VNPL) FOR SENIOR FIRST OFFICERS, FIRST OFFICERS, SECOND OFFICERS AND CADET PILOTS

The capacity cuts during the 2009-2010 economic downturn and the persistent weak market conditions thereafter have resulted in a pilot surplus situation, especially with regard to First Officers. Even though we reduced Cadet Pilot recruitment when the economic downturn occurred, we had to carry the surplus Cadet Pilots who were recruited earlier, as Cadet Pilots are recruited on a 3-year lead-time basis. The VNPL scheme will allow staff to take leave for personal reasons and also help the Company manage excess manpower.

2 The voluntary no-pay leave scheme is now being offered as a means to ameliorate the excess crew situation. The situation of excess First Officers is particularly acute on the B777 fleet. The scheme is open for application from now to 31 March 2012.

3 The VNPL shall be for a continuous period of 1 week up to 2 years.

4 The conditions for the VNPL are in Annex 1 and the FAQs are in Annex 2.

5 Those who wish to apply may submit their requests via e-mail, as follows:
Senior First Officers/First Officers :
Second Officers :
Cadets :

6 Applications submitted after 31 March 2012 would not qualify for the
VNPL benefits, and would be treated as normal no-pay leave.

7 Dialogue sessions have been planned to address any queries you may have.
The date and venue will be posted on Waves.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------

VOLUNTARY NO PAY LEAVE (VNPL) FOR SENIOR FIRST OFFICERS, FIRST OFFICERS, SECOND OFFICERS AND CADET PILOTS

The following conditions will apply under the scheme:

1. APPLICATION WINDOW
This Voluntary No Pay Leave scheme is open for applications from now till 31 March 2012.

2. DURATION OF NO PAY LEAVE
The no pay leave shall be for a continuous period of 1 week up to 2 years.

3. ELIGIBILITY
This Voluntary No Pay scheme is open for applications from Senior First Officers, First Officers, Second Officers and Cadet Pilots. Applications will be subject to approval, taking into account operational requirements and, for Second Officers, your stage of training.

4. CLEARING OF ANNUAL LEAVE
The employee should clear any annual leave earned up to the start of his no pay leave period.

5. EMPLOYMENT OUTSIDE THE COMPANY
Employment outside of the Company is permitted subject to the prior written approval of the Company.

6. SUSPENSION OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
The employee shall not enjoy any of his current terms and conditions of service during the no pay leave period. The following exceptions would however be granted:
(i) The employee will be allowed to avail himself of concessional travel during the period of no pay leave. In addition, he will be allowed to use any privilege ticket, which has been earned but not yet used, provided it is used within its validity period.
(ii) Outpatient medical and dental benefits under the Company’s scheme will apply if the aggregate of your no pay leave is less than 30 calendar days per year. If the aggregate of your no pay leave is 30 calendar days or more in a year, the outpatient medical and dental benefits will only apply for the first aggregate of less than 30 calendar days.

7. PAYMENT OF SERVICE INCREMENT, BONUS (IF ANY), ANNUAL WAGE SUPPLEMENT, LEAVE ENTITLEMENT, ETC
The period of no pay leave will not be counted for any payments or leave entitlements if the aggregate of no pay leave taken adds up to 30 calendar days or more in a year.

8. MONTHLY FIXED ALLOWANCES
All monthly fixed allowances (as applicable) shall be pro-rated to take into account the period of no pay leave.

9. LENGTH OF SERVICE
No pay leave in the aggregate of 30 calendar days or more in a year will not count towards service with the Company.

10. INCOME TAX CLEARANCE (FOR NON-SINGAPOREANS)
If your no pay leave period is more than 3 months, the Company will withhold payment of monies due to you for the month prior to the commencement of your no pay leave until you have obtained tax clearance from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS). Payrolls Department will therefore be submitting the IR21 form to IRAS for your tax clearance one month prior to the No Pay Leave period. Should you have any queries, please contact Payrolls Department.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

A What is the reason for implementing VNPL?
�� The capacity cuts during the 2009-2010 economic downturn and the persistent weak market conditions thereafter have resulted in a pilot surplus situation, especially with regard to First Officers. Even though we reduced Cadet Pilot recruitment when the economic downturn occurred, we had to carry the surplus Cadet Pilots who were recruited earlier, as Cadet Pilots are recruited on a 3-year lead-time basis. The VNPL scheme will allow staff to take leave for personal reasons and also help the Company manage excess manpower.

B Can I apply for VNPL in blocks of say 1 week per occasion over a period of 3 or 4 months, or in some other combination, rather than a full stretch?
�� Yes you can do so, subject to approval.

C How do I apply for the VNPL?
��

D How do I apply for alternative employment while on VNPL?

�� If you wish to take up outside employment during VNPL, whether part-time or full-time, please send an email to your Chief Pilot, copied toFLT_HRA@singaporeair.com.sg stating the following:

o Your Staff Number.
o Your name.
o The alternative employer’s company name.
o The alternative employer’s nature of business.
o The job/title/position you will hold in the other company.
o Your duties in the other company.
o The period of the alternative employment (from and to dates).
�� You will be informed by DSD (Crew HR Admin) if your application is approved.

E What are the general guidelines on the approval of alternative employment during VNPL?
�� Factors of whether there will be a conflict of interest will be taken into account.

F Will there be conflict of interest if I work for another airline?
�� The Company will assess your job duties to determine whether there is conflict of interest.

G If I take up alternative employment with another airline, the minimum engagement period may be 3 years.
This exceeds the 2-year maximum period stated in the VNPL Terms & Conditions. Will my VNPL application for 3 years be approved?
�� For as long as manpower strength continues to be surplus to operational needs, applications for a 3-year VNPL period will be considered favourably for this purpose on a case by case basis.

H If I take up alternative employment with another airline, will my flying hours and sectors be recognised?
�� Yes, your hours and sectors will be recognised up to the maximum limits stated in the CAM for flying experience outside SIA as follows:
o Hours - maximum limit of 230 light aircraft hours, and 2,500 hours on aircraft exceeding 5,700 kg. all-up weight.
o Sectors - maximum limit of 500 sectors and 165 P1 U/S sectors on aircraft exceeding 5,700 kg. all-up weight.

I If I take up alternative employment with another airline, will my seniority be affected and will my VNPL period count towards years of service with SIA?
�� Your seniority in the company will not be affected. However, your VNPL period will not count towards years of service with SIA, and therefore all benefits and payments based on years of service will be pro-rated, such as Service Increment, Bonus, AWS, leave entitlements, etc.

J If I take up alternative employment with another airline, will my VNPL period count towards service of my bond period?
�� Yes, the VNPL period will count towards service of the bond period. For example, for a pilot who has served 5 years of a 7-year bond before going on a 3-year VNPL period, the bond will be considered fully served upon return from VNPL.

K Will my Cadet Pilot Training Repayment Sum be waived if I go on VNPL?
�� No, it will not be waived. The Company will work with you towards the payment details.

L If I take up alternative employment with another airline, how will my performance during my VNPL be taken into consideration by SIA?
�� We will need to assess your performance based on existing SIA criteria, for both fields of technical competence and personal qualities, upon your return from VNPL. Criteria specifically for this purpose have yet to be developed but it will be formulated so as to make a suitable assessment of your performance.

M Can First Officers from all fleets apply?
�� Yes, but each application will be treated on a case-by-case basis, subject to individual fleet requirements. The current large excess of crew is predominately on the B777 fleet.

N Will the Company recall me while I am on VNPL, if the business picks up and additional manning is required?
�� If the Company requires you to come back before the end of the VNPL period, it will be on a basis of mutual agreement.

O If I am on VNPL and I am not able to respond to the early recall by the Company due to personal reasons (e.g. half way through a training course), will the company terminate my employment?
�� No, the company will not terminate your employment during VNPL.

P Will I be allowed to extend the VNPL beyond the 2 years period and if so, will it be on the same terms and conditions of current VNPL?
�� Extension beyond 2 years will normally not be permitted but if there are any unique circumstances, they can be considered separately.

Q Will I be allowed to cut short the VNPL and return to work before my originally approved VNPL end-date?
�� This will be assessed based on operational requirements.

R Will my dependents continue to be covered under the QBE dependents medical scheme while I am on VNPL?
�� You will continue to be covered by the QBE medical insurance scheme until the end of the medical insurance policy year. The annual QBE medical insurance policy year ends on 31 Aug 2012. Staff on VNPL may, if they so wish, renew their policy by paying the full premium charged by QBE to continue their insurance from 1 Sep 2012. When they subsequently return to work on completion of their VNPL, the Company will re-commence its subsidy of the premium from the date of their return to work.

S Will I continue to be covered under the Group Term Life Scheme and Personal Accident Insurance while I am on VNPL?
�� No. The GTLS and Personal Accident Insurance will be suspended for the period of the VNPL.

T Will I continue to be covered under the Loss of License Insurance while I am on VNPL?
�� No. The LOL Insurance will be suspended for the period of the VNPL.

U Must I surrender my Staff ID and SQ e-portal token before going on VNPL?
�� Yes, if your VNPL exceeds 3 months.

V How can I make use of the employee medical and dental benefits that I’m eligible for during the first 29 days of my VNPL if I do not have my Staff ID?
�� If your VNPL exceeds 3 months or more, you will be issued a Letter of Guarantee (in view that your staff ID will be returned to the Company), which you can use to identify yourself as an employee of Singapore Airlines at any SIA-appointed clinic. The Letter of Guarantee will cover you for the first 29 days of your VNPL.

W Without my SQ e-portal token, how do I apply for Staff Travel tickets while on VNPL?
�� Please email staff_travel@singaporeair.com.sg with the following information:
o Your staff number.
o Your name.
o Indicate that you are on VNPL.
o Indicate your seat bookings and ticketing needs.

X Will my paid childcare leave be pro-rated if my VNPL is approved?
�� If you are eligible for paid childcare leave, it will be pro-rated if your aggregated NPL for the calendar year is 30 or more days.

This isn't the first time SIA has done this. Question is, what if no one volunteers? What will they resort to doing? Just a few weeks ago, Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew was talking up about aviation in Singapore, but it seems to be otherwise with the case of SIA.

Cadets and S/Os will feel the most vulnerable while F/Os will not want to stop working when they're getting paid fairly well for the job. Joining a rival airline like Jetstar Asia will be an option, but how many are willing to do it voluntarily?