February 06, 2020, 08:56 AM
The China's People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) aerobatics team is in Singapore and ready to perform at the Singapore Airshow happening from Feb. 11 to 16, 2020.
Airshow organiser Experia Events told Mothership and Defense News that the Chinese aerobatics team is allowed to continue its participation in this year's show "after careful consideration by the Singapore authorities".
The Chinese air force team that will put on the acrobatics show is christened "Ba Yi", meaning "August 1st".
Concerns raised in wake of virus outbreak
Concerns and questions about the participation of Chinese military personnel were raised on social media after Defense News reported on Feb. 5 that a PLAAF aircraft had landed in Singapore in the wake of the novel coronavirus outbreak that started in Wuhan, China in late December 2019.
Internet chatter followed the news of the Chinese team's arrival here in multiple planes carrying equipment and personnel:
I wonder if the organisers of the .@SGAirshow, .@mfasg and/or .@sporeMOH would like to comment on the decision-making process that allowed a PLAAF aircraft based 220km west of Wuhan to come into Singapore to attend an airshow?
— Mike Yeo 杨启铭 (@TheBaseLeg) February 5, 2020
I mean, I would usually be mad excited about the presence of August 1st and their support aircraft at the Singapore Airshow. But this are not normal times https://t.co/mx1ZRUJdfg
— Mike Yeo 杨启铭 (@TheBaseLeg) February 5, 2020
Tracking the PLAAF August 1st demo team and a supporting Il-76 on its final leg Thailand-SG for Singapore Airshow. In light of SG government's ban on all new visitors with travel history from PRC including PRC passport holders last week, this will be interesting. #nCoV2019
— Roy Choo (@RXRoy) February 5, 2020
Some of these comments are directed at the local authorities and they come after Singapore had already enforced travel restrictions to contain the outbreak locally.
The latest measures effectively prevent new visitors of any nationality with recent travel history to mainland China from entry or transit in Singapore.
Singapore permanent residents and long-term pass holders are allowed in here, but not those holding Chinese passports.
Based 220km west of Wuhan
Concerns regarding the Chinese aerobatics team's participation lasted throughout Wednesday, Feb. 5, following reports of a PLAAF aircraft landing in Singapore.
This tweet by Singapore-based defence technology journalist Kelvin Wong said the jets are operated by Chinese units based in Wuhan-Paozhuwan and Dangyang, both located in Hubei province, which is the hardest-hit region of the novel coronavirus outbreak.
The aircraft in question is a PLAAF IL-76 transport. According to @JanesINTEL World Air Forces database the PLAAF's IL-76 units are operated by the 38th and 39th Air Regiments based in Wuhan-Paozhuwan and Dangyang, respectively. This is getting quite interesting. @SGAirshow https://t.co/GW1awQIED8
— Kelvin Wong (@PENxSWORD) February 5, 2020
The concern is that a PLAAF aircraft based 220km west of Wuhan has been allowed into Singapore.
Chinese military personnel underwent health checks
The Singapore Airshow events spokesperson said the Chinese military personnel underwent temperature screening upon arrival and were subjected to "regular health checks" as they lived on military bases in China.
"These measures were in place even before Singapore imposed restrictions on travellers from Hubei," the events organiser said.
The spokesperson also said that the Chinese military personnel have “taken proactive measures like health checks and temperature screenings to ensure that they are healthy before they fly into Singapore".
The Chinese military personnel are "taking all necessary precautionary measures in line with existing guidelines while they are in Singapore", the spokesperson said.
The Ba Yi team is scheduled to perform at the show for the first time.
There will be five flying display performances from three countries, the event organiser last said, but it is uncertain if this is subjected to further changes.
Air forces from Singapore and the United States will also perform in the segment.
They have always been a crowd favourite, organisers said.
Pulled out of Singapore Airshow
The restrictions imposed by Singapore have already seen 10 companies from China withdraw from the air show, Defense News reported.
A number of participants from other countries, including Textron, Bombardier and South Korea’s Black Eagles aerial demonstration team, have also pulled out, citing fears over the coronavirus outbreak.
Due to the current situation concerning the #Coronavirus outbreak, #PiaggioAerospace prudently decided to cancel its participation in the Singapore Airshow 2020 to safeguard its employees’ well-being.
— Piaggio Aerospace (@PiaggioA) February 5, 2020
The South Korean air force’s aerobatic team confirmed it was pulling out of the airshow on Feb. 3, citing a government-wide effort to contain the virus.
The latest country to pull out is the Indonesian Air Force Jupiter Aerobatic Team which reportedly cancelled its performance, which was reported on Feb. 5:
Indonesian Air Force @_TNIAU Jupiter Aerobatic Team cancelled its performance in @SGAirshow
— JATOSINT (@Jatosint) February 5, 2020
No official explanation yet but it is probably due to health concerns for both pilots and ground crews regarding #coronaviruseshttps://t.co/V8c8Q2vqOm
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