October 20, 2025
Meet the team: Darryl Woon, Flight Ops Manager, Singapore
Give me a quick overview of what you get up to as a Flight Ops Manager
I oversee all the flight operations happening in Singapore, and some of the wider projects in APAC. That’s everything from reservoir inspections to port surveillance and maritime deliveries to vessels.
My responsibility is to ensure that all operations are executed with absolute safety, precision, and efficiency. This is only possible through well-trained pilots, meticulous resource planning, and the seamless performance of our operational technology.
It is a continuous cycle of planning, execution, review, and learning — each mission building on the last to drive constant improvement. Ultimately, it’s about keeping our people supported, our operations dependable, and our customers confident and satisfied.
What’s been your favourite project you’ve worked on, and why?
So the most memorable project for me was a medical drone delivery project we conducted in Kaga City, Japan.
With our drones, we were delivering sample blood bags from a remote location and landing the drone on the rooftop of a medical centre.
It was also a big team effort from our regulatory team, making the project come to life within Japan’s regulatory environment. We were one of the few companies in Japan that was given regulatory permission to fly beyond visual line of sight, which is a pretty big achievement.
From a FlightOps point of view it was also pretty challenging owing to the terrain – we had to overfly power lines in some places, some of which were on top of a hill, which meant our pilots really had to keep an eye on extending the altitude whilst staying within the approved vertical limits of the flight boundary. The rooftop of the medical facility was also only 10 by 10 meters, which isn’t huge! So that definitely tested our pilots’ skills.
It was a challenging project, but it was super rewarding once it was done. Japan is a beautiful country, and we were treated to some great hospitality, so it was a memorable experience.
What does your typical week look like? Both whilst on a project and off
So in Singapore we run operations seven days a week for one of our customers, so I’m never “off” a project! So a big part of my role is managing resources to cover our continuous operations, and day to day I’m addressing operational concerns and solving complex problems, which typically spans from resourcing to technical issues.
I also work closely with the safety and regulations team, to make sure that our operations are running as safely as possible.
If we’re starting a new project, I coordinate the creation of the operational documents, workflows and implementing processes with the team to launch the operation safely and effectively.
Is there anything unique about drone operations in Singapore?
Operating in Singapore presents unique challenges. With one of the world’s busiest airports and ports, finding suitable airspace for drone operations is complex. We’re effectively sandwiched between the maritime and aviation domains, requiring us to fly within a narrow altitude band, high enough to stay clear of maritime activities, yet low enough to remain safely below military and commercial air traffic.
As it’s a densely populated city, it’s also a very tightly regulated environment. It therefore means we have to be innovative in how we plan and execute our flights, ensuring that our flights operate to the highest standards of safety and compliance.
What was your personal career journey that led you to Skyports?
So I started my career in the Republic of Singapore Air Force as an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) pilot. My 12-year military career was a fulfilling one, but I ultimately felt that I didn’t want my aviation career to be limited by military operations. I felt that there was so much more that drones could be used for.
When I learned about Skyports, and what they were doing, I was immediately drawn in – seeing drones give real world impact and help improve peoples’ lives.
What do you find most rewarding about working in the Advanced Air Mobility space?
I love working in a space that’s right on the leading edge of emerging tech. Whilst some people think it’s super futuristic, it’s happening right now.
These new technologies are transforming the entire logistics and transportation ecosystem, redefining how infrastructure is built and how different modes of mobility connect. In the future, both ground and air networks will be managed in entirely new ways, shaping how societies function. I’m proud to play a meaningful role in that transformation.
The industry is evolving at an incredible pace, and I’m energised by being part of it. At Skyports, every day is an opportunity to learn, adapt, and explore new ways to apply drone technology that bring real value to people and businesses alike.
