No aerial activities allowed around The Star Vista on Feb 7 due to military exercise with low-flying aircraft: Mindef

SINGAPORE — Aerial activities such as kite-flying and drone-flying will be banned around The Star Vista mall in Buona Vista next Monday (Feb 7) night to the following morning, due to a military exercise involving low-flying aircraft and other aerial and ground elements.

In a press release on Thursday, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said that a Temporary Restricted Area for aerial activities will be established over the mall adjacent to the Buona Vista MRT Station from the start of the exercise at 9pm on Monday to 1am the following day.

“The establishment of the Temporary Restricted Area is to ensure the safety of the public and low-flying aircraft in the area,” Mindef said.

“Aerial activities such as kite-flying, hoisting of captive balloons and flying unmanned aircraft such as drones will not be allowed within the Temporary Restricted Area.” 

The military exercise by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) involving “ground and aerial elements, which include low-flying aircraft” will conclude at 5am next Tuesday.

The Temporary Restricted Area will border the stretch of road along Dover Avenue to Ghim Moh Link as well as North Buona Vista Road. 

Besides The Star Vista, other areas where aerial activities will be restricted include Rochester Park, Ghim Moh Valley, Ghim Moh Edge, Dover Ville, parts of Dover Heights and Buona Vista MRT Station.

In response to TODAY’s queries, Mindef said that more details of the exercise will be released at a later date.

An urban exercise involving aerial elements such as Super Puma helicopters took place at the F1 Pit Building at Marina Bay in August last year.

The counter-terrorism exercise led by the SAF's Special Operations Task Force required the deployed forces to respond to a simulated hostage situation within the F1 Pit Building. 

Under the Air Navigation Order, those found guilty of conducting unauthorised aerial activities within the Temporary Restricted Area face a fine of up to S$20,000.

Repeat offenders face a fine of up to S$40,000 or a jail term of up to 15 months, or both.