Singapore’s SATS opens new immersive training centre

SATS has opened its SATS Immersive Centre, a next-generation training facility designed to strengthen safety, operational readiness and workforce capability as airport operations become increasingly complex and technology-enabled. Located in SATS Airfreight Terminal and launched today by Ms Sun Xueling, Senior Minister of State for Transport and National Development, the facility uses advanced simulation technologies to recreate realistic operating environments and scenarios for both new and experienced aviation professionals. This allows teams to practise critical tasks, decisions and responses repeatedly in a controlled environment before encountering them in live operations—enabling faster learning, stronger situational awareness and greater operational readiness. The Immersive Centre supports both individual and team-based training through high-fidelity simulations of aircraft turnaround coordination, airside safety procedures and cargo handling operations. It also enables teams to experience complex, unusual and potentially high-risk scenarios that can be difficult to reproduce safely in live operations, helping them strengthen judgement, communication and team decision-making alongside technical proficiency. Developed in conjunction with Singapore Polytechnic and with grant support from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), the initiative reflects a shared commitment to advancing aviation workforce capabilities through technology-enabled training. The Centre will also serve as a centre of excellence for immersive learning to accelerate sector-wide goals in aviation workforce transformation, safety, and training innovation. The Centre also reflects SATS’ approach to workforce transformation, where technology is used to augment human capability—enabling people to learn faster, make better decisions and operate safely and confidently in increasingly complex environments. Beyond workforce training, the facility will be open to students pursuing careers in aviation by providing early exposure to airport operations and helping them develop job-ready skills before they enter the industry. The SATS Immersive Centre forms part of the SATS Singapore Hub’s Hub Handler of the Future (HHOTF) programme, which brings together workforce redesign, new operating concepts and emerging technologies to build safer, smarter and more resilient aviation operations. Henry Low, CEO of SATS Singapore Hub, said: “As aviation operations become more complex, how we prepare our people must evolve with them. Immersive simulation allows our teams to experience situations that are difficult to recreate safely in live operations, practise their responses, learn from mistakes and build confidence before they operate on the ground. For us, technology is about strengthening human judgment and capability. Better preparation enables better decisions, and better decisions make operations safer. The SATS Immersive Centre is another important step in building the skills and capabilities our people will need for the future of aviation operations.” Angela Ng, Director (Aviation Industry), Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), said: “The Singapore air hub will grow strongly in the coming years and require a larger pool of skilled workers to meet rising demand for air travel. CAAS supports the SATS Immersive Centre as a good example of how aviation companies can leverage technology to better support our workers and equip them with new skills to benefit from the sector’s growth.” Soh Wai Wah, Principal & CEO of Singapore Polytechnic, said, “Developing a strong pipeline of aviation talent is critical to Singapore’s position as a leading global aviation hub. Our partnership with SATS reflects a shift toward more immersive, hands-on training, from VR-based sessions for airside operations to advanced simulation projects. By combining applied research with student innovation, we are giving future professionals the practical skills they need to support the sector as it grows and evolves.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]