During my 24-week internship at Singapore Airlines (SIA), I was attached to the Quality Department in the Engineering Division. I was given the opportunity to take on key responsibilities that directly supported the department’s role in upholding safety and regulatory standards across the fleet.

One of my main tasks was updating and maintaining the Airworthiness Directive (AD) master list. This list is crucial in ensuring that SIA’s aircraft remain compliant with requirements issued by aviation authorities such as the FAA and EASA. My work involved carefully tracking which directives applied to different aircraft types and ensuring that the latest updates were accurately reflected in our internal records. This required attention to detail and a strong awareness of how changes impacted operational safety.

Beyond the AD master list, I was also involved in consolidating important safety documents for regulatory inspections and compliance checks. These included engineering bulletins, aircraft modification records, and other technical documents. I helped prepare for both internal audits and external regulatory reviews by organising evidence packages and checking for consistency across documentation for various aircraft and systems.

I had the privilege of working closely with experienced engineers and quality professionals who guided and mentored me throughout the internship. Through this exposure, I gained a much deeper understanding of quality management systems, regulatory compliance, and why rigorous standards are essential in the aviation industry. My contributions supported SIA’s continual efforts to maintain fleet airworthiness and operational excellence. This experience has strengthened my interest in aviation quality assurance and equipped me with practical skills and confidence to pursue a career in this field.

Another significant project I worked on was updating and supplementing audit evidence in preparation for the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA). By referring to findings from the previous IOSA cycle, I helped ensure that SIA could demonstrate compliance with current safety and operational requirements. I sourced aircraft-specific documentation that verified the presence of required systems and equipment across SIA’s fleet. This involved referencing materials such as the Flight Crew Operating Manual (FCOM), Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM), System Description (SD), aircraft drawings, and other technical documents. In total, I extracted more than 280 pieces of evidence to satisfy 40 IOSA requirements covering seven aircraft types. This project took over four weeks and helped me develop strong skills in document management, regulatory interpretation, and systematic verification.

Outside of work tasks, I really enjoyed spending time with my colleagues and supervisors during lunch and company events. The team was warm and welcoming, and I felt very much at home working in the company.