This is a short guide describing the procedures for flying from Malaysia to Singapore (in Malaysian registered aircraft). It was originally written by Steven Luys, a Belgian who lived in Kuala Lumpur and learnt to fly with the Royal Selangor Flying Club. It was updated by Joe Harrison based on a trip in January 2008.

Since the flight time from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore with no wind is close to two hours, a re-fuelling stop will be required. As a stop in Subang or Johor Bahru is required in any case for immigration, that’s best combined with re-fuelling. We planned to stop in Subang on the way down (for immigration), then at Senai (Johor Bahru) on the way back (for immigration and fuel). In practice, our fuel consumption was lower than expected, so we stopped at Subang in both directions (re-filed enroute, to skip Senai).

Two obvious routes are available, either inland (Subang, VFR route 2, Tampin, Tangkak, Renggam, Kulai, JB, Seletar), or coastal (Seletar, JB, Kulai, Benut, Batu Pahat, Muar, Melaka, Alor Gajah, Rembau, VFR route 2, Subang). We took the inland route south (watch for WMD-222, WMR-239A, WMR-225/226, WMD-231, and WMD-230), and the coastal route north (watch for WMR-239A, WMR-237). Both routes took practically the same time. Establishing communications was tricky in the mid-section for the inland route, and we found it useful to contact Malacca Approach when we couldn’t raise Lumpur Info.

Pre-work:

1)    Prepare a flight plan and submit at least 2 hours before your arrival in Singapore. Note that flight plans at Simpang can also be submitted by fax (03 2117 4488), provided you sign each flight plan, and check by phone to the tower that they have been received. The flight plan should include the phone numbers of the PIC and instructor (if any). If you are planning a full stop on the way (see immigration information under point 4 below), then remember to indicate this on the plan. We filed four flight plans, to fly WMKF to WMSA, then WMSA to WSSL, stop for lunch, then fly WSSL to WMKJ (Johor Baru) and finally WMKJ to WMKF.
2)    Prepare 13 copies of aircraft manifest and include all details of aircraft, crew and passengers. 7 manifests for arrival, and 6 for departure.
3)    Remember to bring all (valid) passports!
4)    All crew and passengers need to pay the Malaysian Immigration office (often called the Customs & Immigration Department (CID)) a visit before entering Singapore. This can be done in any airport with immigration services. If your departure airport does not have such (e.g. Simpang), then plan your route with a stop in one that has (I’d suggest Subang (WMSA) in KL or Senai in Johor Baru). The immigration desk will need a copy of the manifest. Rumour has it that immigration formalities are much faster to complete at Subang.
5)    Identify and make yourself familiar with the following reporting points:

a.    East of Johor Bahru town
b.    The Sultan of Johor’s palace (by the big polo field in east Johor Bahru) is restricted area (no overflying at any time. The Sultan is very particular about this).
c.    Point X-ray (reporting point) at N1.47500 E103.83333
d.    WMD-222. A danger area for ground-to-ground shooting.

6)    Closely study a map of Singapore and become familiar with the airfield locations here. There are 5 airports in total. They are all very close together and all runway headings are more or less similar, so it can look quite confusing from the air. Changi and Seletar are civil airports, where all the other are military so you really don’t want to land there by mistake! The Singapore AIP has a good selection of VFR approach charts, e.g. WSSL-AD2-27, the visual approach chart for Seletar from JB, for runway 21, and WSSL-AD2-33, Seletar aerodrome joining procedure (VFR) from JB. We used GPS to be sure of passing over point X-Ray on the way in (see later).

Arrival procedures:

Around Johor Bahru you will be speaking with Johor Approach on 124.7 MHz (these guys are always very friendly, so please talk to them if you are uncertain of any of the below).

Once established east of JB town (do not overfly the Sultan’s palace!) you will be handed over to Paya Lebar Approach, on 127.7 MHz, to track for Point X-Ray. If you require it, they will radar vector you to overhead Seletar.  Else, at Point X-Ray, you will be able to see Seletar airfield at 12 O'clock.  When you do, they will pass you to Seletar Twr 118.45 with instruction as to what the joining procedure is (Overhead, downwind for 03 or base for 21).

Once clear of the runway (via taxi-way W1, W2 or W3) you will be given a bay to park the aircraft, probably just in front of the tower building. All these taxi ways will lead you to the main apron area. Once clear of the runway, you will be handed over to Seletar Ground on 121.6 MHz who will direct you to your parking bay, if needed.

Paper work upon arrival:

Once you have parked and shutdown your aircraft, you will need to go into the terminal building for the following:

1)    Immigration checks (handover 2 copies of the signed aircraft manifest). Any passengers will need to fill in the Singapore Immigration form, and crew will have to show passports.
2)    Handover 1 copy of the manifest to the policeman.
3)    Handover 1 copy of the manifest to the customs department
4)    Handover 1 copy of the manifest to the security office

One thing I would like to highlight here is that the staff at Seletar airport are all very friendly. Right from immigration, police, customs, security and ATC, they are all very helpful and if you are uncertain of anything, just ask.

Just outside the terminal building on your right hand side, you will see a soft drink vending machine. Here is also the Airport Control office where you need to handover one more manifest and fill in the parking form as well as a “commercial/non-commercial” declaration form. These forms will be handed to you, so you don’t need to bring any for your flight.

Finally, there is a fee to pay, at the Airport Control office: Just under 10 Singapore dollars for parking/navigation charges, and 15 Singapore dollars for every passenger aboard the plane. These charges are now payable only by credit card.

There’s a taxi stop just outside the terminal with a phone to use if there’s no taxi waiting. A taxi from Seletar to Orchard Road would usually take 15 minutes.

Paper work on departure

Once you are ready to leave Seletar, report back at the Control room to ensure that all paper work and charges are settled. If necessary, you can borrow the phone here to call the ATC staff to confirm your flight plan details and startup info. Remember to handover 1 copy of the departure manifest.

Then you move into the departure area where the following is needed:

1)    Immigration: Handover 2 manifest and show passports
2)    Handover 2 copies of manifest for customs and security
3)    Walk through security check before entering the apron area

Departure information

Call Seletar Ground on 121.6 MHz before startup. These guys will provide the ATC clearance first, with subsequent startup permission. Taxi instructions are provided when requested. Once at holding point, you will be handed over to Seletar Tower on 118.45 MHz.

If departing from runway 03 then be very aware of the large chimney and the tall cranes on the runway heading.

Once departed you will track for Point X-Ray and contact Paya Lebar Approach, 127.7 MHz, when handed over from Seletar Ground. Paya Lebar Approach will direct you for Point X-Ray, followed by East of JB town. Again, you will be instructed to keep clear of the Sultan’s palace in JB.

Once handed over to Johor Approach, 124.7 MHz, you are likely to be cleared to the east of the airfield for subsequent passing of active, or landing. Unless, of course, you are heading for the beautiful Tioman island on the east coast of the Peninsular instead (highly recommendable!).