STAMP ISSUES RELATED TO ICAO (1994-1995)

Singapore : 50^th Anniversary of ICAO

Issue date: 05/10/1994
		Shows a globe with the 50^th anniversary logo of ICAO.
		Features an aircraft of the future, Airbus A3XX, a double-decker plane set against the familiar Singapore’s Changi Airport control tower. The design of the future aircraft seems to be closer to the preliminary design specifications of the Aerospace or Deutsche Airbus, although the philatelic notice mentions Boeing 747‑X.
		Depicts the hypersonic speed aircraft, another aircraft of the future.
		Features the sophisticated future air navigation system, known today as the ICAO Communications, Navigation and Surveillance and Air Traffic Management systems concept (CNS/ATM), which will improve air traffic management in a cost‑effective manner. It captures the nature of the aviation industry: fast-paced, sophisticated and technology driven.
Upper pairs.
Lower-left pairs.
Lower-right blocks of 6 stamps.
Yearly collection: front page and ICAO page.
Cancelled to Order (CTO):
Presentation folder of this issue: Page 1:
Page 2:
Page 3: Page 3 with Designer’s autograph (Nicodemus Loh Fook Chee):
Page 4 with 50^th anniversary emblem watermarked (not visible on the scan):
Envelope containing the presentation folder (Front and back). Front cover with the Designer’s autograph (Nicodemus Loh Fook Chee):
Official First Day Cover (Front and back).
Background: The four stamps reflect the progressive, high‑tech and futuristic nature of the aviation industry. For all stamps of this issue, the Organization’s name is printed with s instead of z. The correct name is: International Civil Aviation Organization. Note of the 35-cent stamp. Challenges In 1987, Airbus launched the project of its two largest aircraft, the Airbus A330 and A340. The latter wanted to challenge the Boeing 747, with two specific assets: a long operating range and a lower cost of exploitation. But the A340 has a more reduced capacity of carrying. The Airbus A340-300, the largest at the time, could transport 295 passengers in 3 classes and up to 440 in configuration charter, whereas the Boeing 747-400 had 440 seats in three classes and up to 600 in charter mode. Thus for Airbus, launching a new program even more ambitious than the A340 would make it possible to supplement its range and to occupy a sector which was the monopoly of Boeing. At same time, a market research undertaken between 1991 and 1992 revealed a keen demand from the airline companies for an aircraft of 600 to 800 places, thus larger than the Boeing 747. Preliminary studies Several projects of airplanes with two superimposed bridges emerged early in the 90s. 1. Aerospace ASX 600 and ASX 700 or Deutsche A2000 Airbus: It was an airplane with the cockpit being on the higher bridge (see picture on the opposite left). This solution was based on a cell of Airbus A340 surmounted by that of an Airbus A320. 2. Boeing 787 or 797:  It was an airplane having the cockpit located in front of the lower bridge. 3. McDonnell Douglas MD 12: Of all the projects, the MD 12 was the least ambitious. It was a plane with a cockpit located half-way between the two bridges. On the picture of the 35-cent stamp and the presentation folder, the cockpit is located at the level of the top bridge; thus, the aircraft design is closer to the future A3XX than to the Boeing design (see additional details on the philatelic notice shown hereafter). The Airbus A3XX At the Paris air show of 1995, Airbus presented for the first time a model in three dimensions the A3XX, which was named A380 later. Singapore Airlines Singapore Airlines was the first company to operate the super-jumbo A380. The Airbus A380 accomplished its first commercial flight on 25 October 2007 between Singapore (Changi International Airport) and Sydney (Australia). For this first world, Singapore Airlines had decided to put at the biddings the 471 places available on board. Philatelic notice.