Singapore Airlines maintains its commitment to safety and premium service through its state-of-the-art SIA Training Center in Singapore, plus a new addition to its fleet, the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner. The privileged few who are able to enter the SIA Training Center in Singapore get a glimpse of the “behind-the-scenes” training for safety and service of one of the world’s best airlines to date.
Buckle Your Seat Belts
The insider tour starts in a huge hanger filled with retired aircrafts cut midsection to expose their interiors. State-of the-art simulators are used for all types of emergencies, while on-going training is conducted to the flight crew on how to handle each one. At the center of the hanger are A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft exteriors with emergency slides blown up. This is where the flight crew train for emergency landings.
A visitor seeing this for the first time, and an anxious traveler at that, cannot help but feel queasy at all the situations of “what-ifs.” But as the guide mentions more than once, the safety training in Singapore Airlines is top-notch. Indeed, seeing what the crew must each go through before they are deemed capable of flying or serving onboard the carrier is quite reassuring. The Training Center goes as far as having a simulated wave pool, large enough to fit an aircraft on its banks plus several emergency slides and rafts. Since different aircrafts have different emergency equipment, crew members are trained to handle each one, depending on which aircraft they are assigned to. To prepare for all sorts of water landings, the wave pool can go from calm waters to monsoon waves.
RELATED READS: Of Truffles and Tomatoes: Eating My Way Through Tuscany (by Ina Yulo)
You May Now Recline Your Seats
After the safety training area comes a tour of the pleasurable side of traveling—the service. If the carrier’s safety protocols are tightly in place, the service is taken just as seriously. Without a doubt, Singapore Airlines is well known for its friendly and efficient service. This can be seen in the upper floors of the Training Center, where more mock-up airplanes occupy the floors so crew members can train along actual aisles and seats. They take turns serving and being the passengers themselves.
The interiors are fabricated to resemble different areas in an aircraft, as well as the different seating types—Suites, First Class, Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy—as well as which aircraft it belongs to, an Airbus or a Boeing.
Training hours differ per flight crew of course, but just the same, each one is exhausted to full capability, ensuring passengers that flying Singapore Airlines get their destination safely, comfortably and pleasurably.
RELATED READS: You Can Now Go on Safari…in Cebu
The Newest Dreamliner
To top their fleet of aircrafts is the newest Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner, which boasts of new cabin features, more space and convenience for travelers. Seats on Business Class recline directly into a 76” fully-flat bed, even on short flights. The new seats also provide more personal space with its retractable armrests, while adjustable dividers at the center seats provide privacy. With a one-two-one seat configuration, each Business Class passenger is assured of an aisle seat.
A new feature of the aircraft is the absence of window shades. Aside from reducing the aircraft’s weight for better fuel efficiency, it also adds to passenger comfort. Taking the place of the window shade is a button controlling a filter, which goes from bright to completely dark, regardless of what time it is. Now, sleeping passengers will not be bothered if someone’s window shade is up and it is still bright outside.
RELATED READS: Why New Orleans Should Be On Your Bucket List
Premium Passenger Comfort
“Book the Cook” is available for all Business Class passengers, wherein a wide array of gourmet choices can be selected from up to 24 hours before flying from Singapore. Economy Class customers can enjoy travelling in comfort on seats with an ergonomically-designed contour backrest, together with a six-way adjustable headrest and foldable wings to provide more neck support. All KrisFlyer members can log onto the in-flight entertainment system and their viewing history can be remembered on their next flight.
The fuel efficiency of the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner allows it to fly long-haul flights non-stop. However, to maintain its commitment to premium passenger comfort, Singapore Airlines will only use the aircraft for flights up to eight hours, ensuring that their passengers are given the best service regardless of flying time. It’ll be used for services between Singapore and Osaka, Perth and Bali for now.
Manila customers will not feel left out. They too can experience the Dreamliner on the SQ915/SQ918 flights to/from Manila. The inaugural flight to the Philippines was greeted by water cannons in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, as well as festivities attended by dignitaries and special guests.
For flight bookings, visit <singaporeairlines.com>
RELATED READS: 5 Awesome Things to Do in Siem Reap: Cambodia Through the Eyes of a Millennial Traveler
