Singapore Aerospace Supplier Guide - Spring

OVERVIEW OF SINGAPORE’S
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY
The Aerospace industry is an important
contributor to the Singapore economy. Since
1990, the industry has grown at a compounded
annual growth rate of 12%. In 2008, the industry
achieved a record output of more than S$7
billion and employed about 19,000 people.
Singapore is today a global leader in Aerospace
Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO),
accounting for a quarter of the Asia Pacific
market share. More than 100 international
companies carry out a comprehensive range of
MRO activities in Singapore, including airframe
maintenance, engine overhaul, component
repair, structural and avionics systems repair, as
well as aircraft modification and conversion. This
comprehensive “nose-to-tail” suite of capabilities
has established Singapore as a preferred onestop
solution provider for MRO needs.
There is also a sophisticated base of aerospace
manufacturing activities in Singapore. Many of
these involve complex precision machining of
engine and aircraft parts. Our strong engineering
capabilities and reputation for quality, reliability
as well as timely delivery have anchored worldclass
companies such as Hamilton Sundstrand
and Rolls-Royce here. Rolls-Royce’s Trent
engine assembly and test plant will be the first in
Asia to assemble engines for large commercial
aircraft, and deploy advanced techniques in
a “Facility of the Future”. This facility will be
supported by a production facility for Wide Chord
Fan Blades utilising some of the company’s
most sophisticated technologies.
The Seletar Aerospace Park
The Seletar Aerospace Park (SAP) is 300 hectare
site developed with a secondary airport at its
heart. The SAP will host a cluster of aerospace
activities comprising MRO, manufacturing,
training as well as aviation services. Companies
setting up in SAP will benefit from the worldclass
infrastructure as well as synergies arising
from cluster integration. The SAP has received
strong interest and support from companies
such as Eurocopter, Jet Aviation, ST Aerospace
and Rolls-Royce, which will be setting up
facilities there.
Development work at SAP has progressed
unabated over the past year. The runway
at the Seletar Airport is being extended to
accommodate larger aircraft. JTC is also
launching a Business Aviation Complex and
a General Aviation Centre to provide hangar
space, office space as well as warehousing
facilities for tenants.
Developing Aerospace-related Manpower
A key enabler of Singapore’s aerospace industry
is its high quality workforce equipped with strong
engineering and technical skills. The number of
aerospace professionals graduating each year
from Singapore’s universities, polytechnics and
technical institutes has more than tripled, and
is expected to reach more than 1,000 this year.
In addition, Singapore also launched a S$76
million initiative in 2007 to train more specialists
in precision engineering, the foundation of
manufacturing.
Conclusion
The aviation sector in Asia is poised to grow,
presenting new business opportunities to
aerospace companies. Singapore will continue
to strengthen its aerospace capabilities, develop
its infrastructure, and build up its talent pool.
This will enable Singapore to be the essential
hub and ideal home for aerospace operations
in the region.
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