Singapore: - Asian Centre for Aerospace Capability Development ...

contents01 FOREWORD0402 SPECIAL FEATURE > Honeywell embarks on new repair development activities04 MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND OVERHAUL > Singapore Technologies Aerospace• SIA Engineering Company • Thales • Matsushita Avionics Systems• Rohr Aero Services Asia• International Aerospace Tubes-Asia • Auxitrol08 INTERVIEWS > John Horsburgh and Frank Walschot on managing their operationsin Singapore10 MANUFACTURING > Messier-Bugatti • Mil-Com Aerospace • Diethelm Keller Aviation• Eurocopter South East Asia1312 SERVICES / OTHERS > Global Aviation Hub • Singapore Airlines • Asian Aerospace• Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement • International Air Transport Association • Transport Canada• Singapore Airport Leasing Enterprise • asprecise16 R&D > Singapore research capabilities • Airport Systems Technology Research &Innovation Platform17 LOCAL SUPPLIERS18 MANPOWER > Training & Attachment Programme • Aerospace Training Courses20 SNAP SHOTS > Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore1018©Singapore Economic Development Board, February 2004. All rights reserved. Permission should be sought from EDB for the reproduction of the contents in wholeor in part. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all information in this brochure at the time of production.

ForewordGreetings! AA 2004 is an appropriate platform to launch a “new look” brochure forthe aerospace industry in Singapore. In it, we seek to bring you new perspectives ofthe aviation industry in Singapore – A Global Aviation Hub.Singapore’s aerospace industry has been growing strongly since it startedin the 1970s. It has consistently achieved double-digit compoundedannual growth rate, or CAGR, over the last 20 years. Despite thechallenges in the last two years, we saw continued growth from mostaerospace companies and several new companies starting up inSingapore. The industry employs over 11,000 people, and in 2003, registereda total output (excludes airport and aviation logistics activities) ofS$3.8 billion contributing to 1.3% of Singapore's GDP.TEO MING KIANChairmanEconomicDevelopment BoardAlong with the steady growth, the industry continues to expand itscapabilities and geographical reach to service a wider market. Many ofthe aerospace companies here have moved into design and engineeringactivities to take advantage of Singapore’s strengths in this area. Thiscontinued development and growth is a tribute to the work of allaviation industry practitioners in Singapore. With your strong support,we are confident that this healthy growth phenomenon of Singapore’s aerospaceindustry will continue to prevail.Other significant developments have taken place in the last two years. Because ofthe demand for more trained people, two institutes of higher learning - SingaporePolytechnic and Ngee Ann Polytechnic, successfully launched new diploma coursesin aerospace engineering. To seek greater synergy, two aerospace professionalassociations – Association of Aerospace Industries (Singapore) and Association ofAerospace-Focused Enterprises were established. With increasing private air travel,the Business Aviation Centre at Changi Airport was opened. In addition, the CivilAviation Authority of Singapore and the Federal Aviation Administration of the USAalso commenced work on a Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement that would enablemutual recognition of aerospace design, maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO)and manufacturing facilities and activities.Last year was the centennial of powered flight pioneered by the Wright brothers.In a century of powered flight, Man has not only shrunk the world, manifested bythe recently launched non-stop flight by Singapore Airlines from Singapore toLos Angeles, but reached the Moon and the galaxy beyond. As we look ahead, theglobal aviation industry will continue to face challenges. I am convinced, however,that in the true tradition of aviation since the times of the Wright brothers, theresilience of Singapore’s aviation industry will continue to take us to new heights.Here’s wishing you every success in the years ahead.>01

Special FeatureSingapore is the Asia-Pacific headquarters for Honeywell Aerospace. Through its four facilities here, HoneywellAerospace has a broad range of activities in Singapore, from design & development, manufacturing, repair & overhaul,and procurement, in the areas of avionics and engine components. Bob Johnson, in an interview with the Singaporepress in August 2003, said that strong government support, an educated work force and recent free trade agreementswith the US and Australia, have made Singapore a “more efficient base” to develop, build, test and export technologydirectly. “Over time, instead of just manufacturing things here, we would like to bring more R&D and technologydevelopment to Singapore, so that’s happening,” he said.Honeywell embarks onnew repairdevelopment activitiesHoneywell Singapore is enhancingits cutting-edge technological expertisein Repair Development Engineering(RDE), tapping on EDB’s Training andAttachment Programme. Five talentedprofessionals and engineers willu n d e rgo training in advanced repairdevelopment technologies and skills inH o n e y w e l l ’s state-of-the-art re p a i rfacilities in the US.RDE will drive down airline customers’cost of ownership substantially.It is estimated that RDE activities in AsiaPacific will deliver savings of overS$2 million in the next two years. Beingan original equipment m a n u f a c t u re r,Honeywell has access to specialisedtechnical product data, enabling itto develop economical and re l i a b l eadvanced repairs. This move from apredominantly manufacturing base toa technology and knowledge-basedbusiness is in line with Honeywell’scorporate direction.Singapore: AviationAftermarket HubSince its inception as a pioneer MROfacility in 1978, Honeywell (Singapore)has rapidly expanded its productrange and service offerings to becomea leading service provider and partsdistribution centre in the region.It is Honeywell’s Regional Centre ofExcellence (COE) for auxiliary powerunits and turbo propulsion engineswith a world-best repair turnaroundtime of less than 25 days for smallgas turbine engines. Over the yearsit has continuously augmented itss e rvices and enhanced its range ofrepair capabilities to better serve itscommercial transport, general aviationand military customers in the region. From an a rrow manufacturing base, the companyhas evolved into a vibrant service org a n i-sation of more than 250 employees.Since 2001, it has also been designatedthe Regional COE for aircraft systemscomponents and accessories.During the last decade, HoneywellSingapore also expanded its regionalp resence through joint ventures inChina and Malaysia, with Singapore asthe Asia-Pacific hub for coordinating itsaviation aftermarket activities.Honeywell’s response to globalparts repair trendA e rospace parts are often costly toreplace, as the industry has to abide byexacting airw o rthiness re q u i re m e n t sdefined to ensure passenger safetyin the skies. As aircraft operatorsworldwide face increasing cost pressures,there is an increasing demandfor part repair & overhaul instead ofoutright parts replacement.R e sp o n d in g t o t h i s n e e d,Quality and customer focusA relentless focus on quality throughSix Sigma Plus has become u n m i s t a k a b l yassociated with Honeywell service.This programme has resulted in 6%p roductivity growth year on yearfor Honeywell (Singapore) since theearly 1990s. The company is also atthe fore f ront of digital innovatione ff o rts, collectively re f e rred to as“DigitalWorks”. Honeywell (Singapore)also manages the Singapore Honeywell& Airline Reporting Exchange Database,or SHARED, which is an extensionto Honeywell’s global aviation aftermarketportal. SHARED is a secure ,c o m p rehensive online repair ando v e rhaul transaction and status trackingsystem, off e red as a free valueadded service to Asia-Pacific airlinecustomers. It seamlessly links customerto information, thus reducing administrativecosts and turn a round time,while improving transaction flows andreliability management. ●02>

Special FeatureHoneywell Avionics launches C e n t re of ExcellenceT h e 150-man strong HoneywellAvionics (S) Inc., (HASI), has expandedthe scope of its activities in Singaporebeyond manufacturing and intern a -tional procurement to include avionicsh a rd w a re design. This Centre ofExcellence for Avionics Hard w a reDesign and Manufacturing was off i c i a l l yopened in May 2002.Value manufacturingIn the area of manufacturing, thecompany perf o rms final assembly andtest operations for a wide range ofBendix/King line of avionics pro d u c t smeant for the business, regional andgeneral aviation markets. These pro d-ucts are used for communication,navigation, identification and safetyoperations of airc r a f t .Procurement &OutsourcingHASI is also the Centreof Excellence for globalo u t s o u rcing of circ u i tcard assembly, mechanicalsub-assemblies andraw components forthe Aerospace ElectronicSystems SBU of HoneywellAerospace. Through their internationalp ro c u rement office in Singapore ,Honeywell Avionics is keen to expandthe level of outsourcing to the Asia-Pacific region.T h rough the EDB-supportedLocal Industry Upgrading Programme,Honeywell Avionics will outsourceto Singapore-based suppliers andhelp to upgrade their technical andoperational capabilities.Avionics designP e rhaps the most technologicallyadvancedfocus of HASI is avionicsdesign. The initial 20-man R&D team,which is the only Honeywell avionicsdesign facility in Asia, will design anddevelop advanced avionics systems forthe next generation business, regionaland general aviation aircraft. ●Honeywell sets upengine componentdesign centre in SingaporeHoneywell Aerospace has beenoperating a new engine componentdesign centre in Singapore since 2003.This design centre undertakes designand development of engine fuelc o n t rol systems components. Thesemission-critical systems regulate theflow of fuel into jet engines, whichpower the flight of all commercialpassenger airc r a f t .25 years ofmanufacturing historyHoneywell (Singapore) Pte Ltd, orHSPL, was established in 1978 as amanufacturing and assembly centrefor an extensive range of aerospaceequipment systems. Since then, thecompany has grown to become one ofthe best in Honeywell's network ofmanufacturing stations worldwide.Expanded manufacturingHSPL today has 250 employees and a5,200 sq m facility, and manufacturesa wide range of aerospace precisionparts such as butterfly shafts, actuatorvalves, backing plates, body housing,splines and gears. It assembles manytypes of check valves and variable bleedvalves for aircraft engines and components.The company continues to growits manufacturing portfolio, by addingnew product lines such as enginefuel controls and mechanical systemaccessories for civil aircraft.Competitive underpinningsIn HSPL, lean manufacturing is thekey ingredient for success. It boastsof a skilled, cross-functional workforcewhich delivers high-quality pro d u c t sspeedily and at a reasonable cost. HSPLalso performs all of the integration andtesting activities in-house, adding tothe facility’s competitiveness. HSPL issupported by some 10 local suppliers,for investment casting, machining andrubber insulation products.Design capabilitiesHSPL is not stopping here. Last year,it sent 20 Singaporeans to the US foron-the-job design training. This designteam will initially focus on fluidc o n t rol sub-systems, with expandedresponsibilities later. “Once we haveramped up our design capabilities,the Singapore facility will be ableto perform both design and manufacturingfor key mechanical and fluidcontrol components and sub-systems,”said Mr Ng Khoon Lye, ManagingDirector of HSPL.Integrated OperationsIndeed, once HSPL acquires the designcapabilities, it will have the full valuechain of activities in Singapore, fromdesign, local and regional raw materialsp ro c u rement, complex machining,coating, to assembly, test and directshipping to customers. The tightlyintegrated supply chain means real savingsfor Honeywell, which makes itscosts in Singapore substantially lowerthan its sister plant in China. ●>03

Maintenance, Repair and Overh a u lVa l u e without compromisesWith almost 30 years in the business,Singapore Technologies Aero s p a c e(ST Aero) is today a global companyemploying over 5,000 staff worldwide. Itboasts of a global customer base whichincludes many advanced military forces,seven of the world’s eleven largestairlines and all three of the world’sleading freight carriers.Ranked as the world’s largest thirdp a rty airframe maintenance company inthe world by the Overhaul & Maintenancemagazine in 2003, ST Aero hasre d e l i v e red more than 3,500 commerciala i rcraft, 6,000 engines and 600,000components over the last two decadesto customers.Reshaping Total AviationSupportST Aero ’s ‘Maintenance-By-the-Hour’(MBH) programme bundles engineeringservices in the areas of maintenanceplanning, maintenance reliability engineeringand work process improvementwith its broad range of airf r a m e ,engine and component maintenances e rvices to provide its customerswith integrated support while alsooffering customisable solutions to meettheir needs.Advancing Innovation for theNational FrontST Aero continues to harness the latesttechnology and leverage its re s o u rces inre s e a rch and development to developinnovative yet affordable UnmannedAerial Vehicles (UAV). Designed byST Aero, the F a n Tail, a shrouded miniv e rtical take-off and landing UAV is onesuch example.A c c o rding to Mr Tay Kok Khiang,P resident, ST Aero: “Unmanned AerialVehicles are fast gaining incre a s i n gp rominence as surveillance platform s ,which are vital elements in gatheringaccurate and time critical data in bothmilitary and commercial applications.We believe that UAVs will be one of theimportant next growth area for theaviation industry. The FanTail UAV is oneof the products ST Aero has developedto place ourselves in this growth market.The development of the FanTa i l / U AVp rogramme attests to ST Aero’s capabilitiesto provide total aviation support,f rom conceptualisation to design, analysis,system integration and prototyping.”Tooling Up for QualityST Aero continues to add to its comprehensive airframe capabilities bybuilding up capabilities on the A330,A340 and B777. All three capabilitiesLow Cost Carriers Find Appeal in ST AeroWhen AirAsia signed a 10-year programme with ST Aero for the airframe and enginessupport in July 2003, it marked an important step ahead for ST Aerospace Engines (STA Engines)and ST Aerospace Engineering (STA Engineering), wholly owned subsidiaries of ST Aero.“We are pleased to extend our relationship with ST Aero. We are confident that as a leaderin the aviation MRO industry, ST Aero will provide us with a quality maintenance programmethat will help us to maintain the reliability of our aircraft, which aligns with our safety commitmentto our passengers,” said Mr Tony Fernandes, CEO, AirAsia.From the early stages of planning and acquisition of the aircraft, STA Engineering workedclosely with AirAsia in preparation for the programme launch and shared ideas on improving theend product to be delivered. Under the contract, STA Engineering will perform maintenancechecks on AirAsia’s four narrow-body aircraft to configure them to meet the latest airworthinessdirectives, outfit with the latest avionics equipment and single class seats, and painting works.Engine overhaul specialist, STA Engines, will provide complete engine MBH services over 10years for the eight CFM56-3 engines used on the aircraft, including engine condition monitoring,repair and overhaul, field services support, engineering support and spare engine support.This agreement was in addition to AirAsia’s agreement with Airline Rotables Limited, STAero’s wholly owned UK-based subsidiary. Signed since Nov 2002 to provide complete rotablecomponent management and support services for AirAsia’s fleet of five Boeing 737-300 aircraftover a period of seven years, this agreement was worth over US$7.5M (about S$13.0M) andcould potentially be expanded to support 20 aircraft.Converting for ValueIn November 2003, ST Aero andBoeing completed a joint programme toc o n v e rt Boeing 757 Special Freighter toDHL Worldwide Express. The conversionprogramme involved removal of the passengerfurnishings, installation of a side cargodoor, strengthening of the main deck floorstructures and installation of a new cargohandling system.This B757-200 Passenger-to-Freighterp rogramme began at ST Aero in July 1999when it entered into the agreement withBoeing Airplane Services to jointly developan engineering solution and obtain a SupplementalType Certification from the US FA A .In addition to co-developing theengineering solution, ST Aero performedconversion work on part of the fleett h rough its subsidiary, Mobile Aero s p a c eEngineering (MAE), in the US.Today, ST Aero continues to improvethe turn a round time on its MD-11P a s s e n g e r- t o - F reighter conversion programme.In 2001, ST Aviation Services Co(SASCO), a subsidiary of ST Aero aircraftbase and line maintenance, and Boeingd e l i v e red the first MD-11 convert e df reighter to United Parcel Services. Theentire programme including design, conversionand maintenance was successfullyconverted in less than 12 months.Said Mr Bob Avery, then President,Boeing Airplane Services: “MAE and SASCOhave proven their capabilities on variousfreighter conversion programmes and haveset exemplary standards for other membersof Boeing’s international network of maintenanceand engineering facilities.”are already set up and approved inSASCO, Singapore, and will be extendedto other companies within the Groupon a need basis.ST Aero also enhanced the scope ofits B737 capabilities with the addition ofB737NG maintenance support in July 2002.It has also launched its A320 maintenanceservices in Asia in August 2003.In the US, ST Aero continues toi m p rove the turn a round time on the B757Passenger-to-Freighter conversion programmeat its Mobile facility in the US.The company consolidated its positionas the leading McDonnell Douglaswide-body maintenance and modificationfacility in the world, with over50 MD-11/DC-10 heavy maintenance redeliveriesaccomplished during the yearfor Federal Express, Northwest Airlines,UPS and Biman Bangladesh Airlines.On component support, ST Aeroalso increased its wide range of componentrepair capabilities on commercialand military aircraft. New test facilitieswere also completed in 2003. ●04>

Maintenance, Repair and Overh a u lSIA Engineering Company (SIAEC),a leading aircraft MRO service providerin Asia Pacific, was named “Best Asia-Pacific Airline Maintenance, Repair andO v e rhaul Operation of the Year” in 2002.Awarded by Aviation Week, theaccolade was given to SIAEC for itsdedication to safety, quality and operationalexcellence. Mr Frank Jackman,E d i t o r-in-Chief of Aviation We e k ’spublication Overhaul and Maintenance,said that SIAEC was singled out “becauseof the way the company and its managershave successfully navigated oneof the most difficult economic periodsin the history of commercial aviation.”With an international customerbase of over 80 airlines and leadinga e rospace equipment manufacture r sf rom five continents, SIAEC hasachieved tremendous strides in bothorganic and overseas expansion.The company’s latest hangar,which is equipped with a specialiseddocking system for the B777 aircraft,allowed SIAEC to establish an earlyfoothold in the B777 heavy maintenancemarket. SIAEC has embarked onthe construction of two new hangars,which are expected to be completed in2003 and 2004.S I A E C ’s maintenance centre atS i n g a p o re Changi Airport pro v i d e stotal MRO solutions to airlines andcargo operators worldwide. Its comprehensiveservice offerings include linemaintenance, airframe maintenance,component overhaul, as well asknowledge-based MRO services. Theseinnovative knowledge-based serv i c e sinclude fleet technical management,“Best A s i a - Pacific A i r l i n eMRO Operation of the Ye a r ”– Aviation Weeki n v e n t o ry management, engineeringplanning and training. The companyrecently expanded its training facilitywith a new aerospace skills trainingcentre in Singapore.In extending its external wing,SIAEC continues to form strategicalliances with leading aviation companies.In 2002, it partne red PT JAS,I n d o n e s i a ’s secondl a rgest airportg round serv i c e soperator, to provideaircraft linemaintenance andtechnical ramphandling serv i c e sat I n do n es i a ’smajor airport s ,including Jakarta,Depansar, Surabaya and Medan. Thisjoint venture combines SIAEC’s technicalcapabilities with PT JAS’ establishednetwork to offer comprehensive linemaintenance services to customers. Thisis SIAEC’s second foray into line maintenanceservices overseas, following its successfuljoint venture company, Pan AsiaPacific Aviation Services in Hong Kong.SIAEC’s stable of 16 joint ventureswith leading OEMs and airlines coverthe full spectrum of MRO serv i c e s .Located across Singapore, China, Ta i w a nand Ireland, they provide essential suppo rt to the company’s extensive in-housecapabilities. The fusion of the company’sc o re capabilities with the supports e rvices of its joint ventures has enabledSIAEC to offer a comprehensive suite ofservices to its customers at competitiveturnaround times and prices, resultingin higher fleet utilisation and costefficiencyfor its customers. ●Thales – g rowing pre s e n c e in SingaporeThe ThalesG roup, a worldleader in Aero -space, Defenseand IT & Services,s t a rted operationsin Singapore in1973 with a representativeoffice. Employing close to900 today, Thales has grown beyondmanufacturing and repair & overhaulto new areas such as R&D and services.As a regional headquarter, it providesa whole range of services to supportregional operations.The Thales Technology CentreS i n g a p o re (TTCS), opened in 2003,is one of four Thales corporateR&D centres in the world, and thefirst outside of Western Europe. It iscurrently a focal point for all of ThalesR&D activities in Singapore. There areplans for TTCS to grow into a globalcentre of excellence, focusing on selectedR&D areas, such as pure defence ordual-use technologies.To this end, TTCS will expandlinks with Singapore’s defence researchagencies, universities, re s e a rch institutesand industries. “Singapore was anatural choice for this R&D lab as wehave access to a well-educated workfo rce here”, said Mr Patrick Plante,CEO of TTCS.Recognising Singapore’s role as akey aviation hub in the region, Thalesidentified Singapore as the locationfor its vision of seamless air transport.In 2002, Thales partnered with Airbusand EADS in the Air Traffic Alliance( ATA) initiative. ATA integrates airtraffic management from technologydevelopment through to systems implementation,bringing about a seamlessair transport environment. ●Thales Avionics Asia■■provides repair and maintenanceservices to operators of militaryand civilian aircraftpartner to Airbus in the A380programmeThales Information Systems■■worked on power andcommunications systems forurban rail lines in Hong Kongand Singaporepoised to be a centre ofexcellence for railway supervisorycontrol and date acquisitionsystems in the region>05

Maintenance, Repair and Overh a u lIn-flight entertainment (IFE) isa standard feature on any aircraftt o d a y. Matsushita Avionics SystemsCorporation (MAS), a world leader inthe design and manufacture of IFEsystems, has a S$4.2 million IFE ApplicationsDevelopment and IntegrationCentre (ADIC) in Singapore.Focus of the ADIC in SingaporeThe ADIC focuses on acquiring local andregional content and assisting airlinesto implement new applicationsand services. MAS is already workingwith interactive companies such asNintendo, CNN.com, USA Today andReuters. It hopes to strengthen its positionas the leading provider of in-flightapplications such as multiplayer games,live streaming text news and soon,in-seat email and short messageservices applications.This facility enables MAS to tap onthe rich pool of interactive applicationsand content providers in Singapore andthe region. It also offers a realistic simulationenvironment for evaluation andtesting of in-flight products.As a first in the IFE industry,ADIC signifies MAS’ commitment to itsM a t s u s h i t a ’s S$4.2 million I n - F l i g h tEntertainment CentreAsian customers and on-going effortto expand its interactive off e r i n g s .Application developers and content/media players in Singapore and theregion can now bring their products tomarket faster and more cost effectively.“Airlines are faced with the challengeof managing complex interactiveapplications and content sourcedfrom different vendors. By bringing thefacility closer to customers and vendors,MAS – from 1 to 80 Singapore employees in 10 years1993 ■ MAS began operations in Singapore with a single marketing employee operatingout of a Panasonic office.1998 ■ Completed new 1,200 sq m regional repair facility in Loyang Industrial Park.■ Undertook marketing and full-service customer support, from repair tofield services.2002 ■ Collaborated with EDB to launch ADIC in Singapore.2003 ■ Moved into new 2,400 sq m facility in Loyang Industrial Park.■ New facility houses marketing, product support, ADIC operations and repair shopwhich is equipped to support a full range of repairs.we are in a better position to facilitatethe development of new innovativeinteractive products, in the most costefficient and reliable fashion”, saidMr Alan Pellegrini, Senior Vice Pre s i d e n tof Marketing. “We chose Singaporeas the home base because of its statusas the re g i o n ’s aerospace hub, itshighly trained workforce and thec o n g regation of interactive, mediaand entertainment companies.” ●Rohr Aero Services Asia e x p a n d sRohr Aero Services Asia Pte Ltd(RASA), established in 1995, specialisesin MRO for aircraft nacelle systems suchas inlet cowl, fan cowl, thrust reverser,exhaust nozzle and plug. RASA’s currentcustomer base includes over 40airlines in Asia Pacific.Starting out with the capabilityto perf o rm repairs only on A310,JT9D-7R4 and PW4000 thrust reversers,RASA’s capabilities now include repairof nacelle system components foralmost all Boeing, MD/DC and Airbusa i rcraft models, including the newgenerationB777.RASA not only provides repair ando v e rhaul services, but also has anextensive list of rotables availablefor lease and exchange programmes.R A S A’s services alsoextend to pro v i d i n gtechnical consultationand maintenance planningand field servicerepairs, thus pro v i d -ing customers with comprehensiveMRO solutions.Besides having a full complementof tooling and equipment for compositebonding repair, RASA being part ofGoodrich Corporation, also has accessto OEM manufacturing data, engineeringdrawings and certification data.Equally important to RASA isskilled manpower. RASA’s personnel arehighly trained and experienced in sheetmetal, honeycomb, composite stru c-t u res, metal and composite bondsrepairs. To acquire these specialisedskills, its personnel receive OEM localand overseas training through anapprenticeship-training program.RASA opened its new, purposebuilt21,360 sq m facility in 2003. “Withexpected growth in air travel in theAsia-Pacific Rim to average 6.5% peryear and the number of aircraft overfour years old to double over the next10-year period, we have outgrown ourformer facility. This new facility is animportant milestone in our strategicplan,” said Mr Ken Tan, VP and GeneralManager, RASA.This bigger facility allows theimplementation of lean manufacturingprocesses to improve workflow, hencerealising greater efficiencies. A state-ofthe-art15-foot by 40-foot autoclave,one of the largest in the region, hasbeen installed to support future Boeing777 and Airbus 380 components.R A S A’s increased capacity alsomakes it one of the most advancedcomposite MRO facilities in the region.RASA will now focus on the expansionof product range/capability, increasingmarket share and emphasis on customerrelationships.RASA’s successful expansion hereis a clear testament of Singapore asa premier hub for global aerospacerepair and overhaul activities. ●06>

Maintenance, Repair and Overh a u lInternational Aerospace Tu b e s,SIA Engineering Company inUS$12m tubes joint ventureOn 22 February 2002, a joint venturebetween International AerospaceTubes (IAT) and SIA EngineeringCompany (SIAEC) was formalised torepair aerospace tubes, ducts and manifolds,commonly known in the aircraftmaintenance industry as “tubes”.I n t e rnational Aerospace Tu b e s -Asia (IAT-Asia) is two-thirds held byIAT, a joint venture between Pratt &Whitney (P&W) and Indianapolis-basedTube Processing Corp (TPC), and onethirdowned by SIAEC.IAT-Asia will initially repair tubesused on P&W’s PW4000 engine. Thecompany plans to expand its capabilitiesto include other manufacture r s ’engines, such as General Electric’sCF6, CFM Intern a t i o n a l ’s CFM56 andI n t e rnational Aero Engine’s V2500.The first in Asia to offer such services,IAT-Asia will also expand its range ofrepair services to include airframe tubesin the near future.“We are very excited about expandingP&W’s presence in Singaporethrough this joint venture,” said MrRobert F. Leduc, P&W Chief OperatingOfficer and President of P&W’s enginebusiness. “IAT-Asia enables us to bringour repair capabilities closer to customersin Asia. It also gives us theopportunity to combineour stre n g t h swith those of twoleaders in aerospaceo v e rhaul and re p a i r. ”“TPC is verypleased to expandits overhaul andrepair support activitiesto this strategicp a rt of the aerospaceglobe,” saidMr George Seybert,C h a i rman and ownerof TPC. He added,“It would be very difficult to bring thistype of world class re-manufacturing toour Asian customers without the criticalpartnership with SIAEC and P&W.”Mr William Tan, Chief ExecutiveO fficer of SIAEC commented: “IAT-A s i a ’s presence in this region willp rovide a much awaited service toairlines based in Asia, offering themfaster turn a round time and lowerrepair costs. IAT-Asia is the 16th of ourstable of joint ventures with strategicpartners, who are leading OEMs andspecialists in cutting-edge aviationt e c h n o l o g y. Collectively, these jointventures bring critical support servicesclose to SIAEC’s main centre for airf r a m eand component overhaul maintenanceat our Singapore-based hangars.”I AT- A s i a ’s facility, which start e doperation in January 2003, is equippedwith the latest tube processing technology.The company committed to spendingabout S$15.3 million in the first twoyears of its operation. It projects toinvest over S$34 million in plants andequipment over the next 10 years.Employing 16 now, the company isexpected to have some 80 highly-skilledworkers at full capacity. ●Auxitrol expands to A s i aIn order to be closer to its customersand as part of its strategyfor growth, Auxitrol Aerospace hasestablished Auxitrol Asia Pte Ltd inSingapore. The company will provides p a res distribution and MRO servicefor all customers in Asia-Pacific.Mr Anthony Chia, General Managerrevealed that Auxitrol Asia had begunproviding spares administration servicein December 2003. He added: “We willbe ready to provide MRO services to ourcustomers in Asia Pacific by the end offirst quarter 2004.” The MRO service is anew addition, which will significantlyenhance the degree of customersupport being offered.“The growth in airline fleet sizeand traffic in Asia is promising,” saidMr Gerard Rovira, Dire c t o r, GlobalAftermarket Services. He added: “Wewish to offer our customers prompt andbetter services to support their growth.That is why we are setting up AuxitrolAsia in Singapore. Auxitrol Asia will forman important part of Auxitrol’s globalgrowth strategy for the aftermarketaddressing the Asia-Pacific region.”In addition to providing services onAuxitrol Aerospace products, AuxitrolA s i a ’s aftermarket services to theAsia-Pacific customers will also includeproduct lines from the other divisionsof the Esterline Sensors Group. ●>07

I n t e rv i e w sJohn Hors b u rg hand F rank Wa l s c h o ton managing theiroperations in Singaporeall stakeholders in a company arere w a rded equitably. Most import a n tis that the workforce is compensatedf a i r l y, shareholders achieve acceptablereturns on their investments andthe company respects and supportsthe local community. All this can beachieved by communicating a cleard i rection, setting measurable goals,working towards those and at alltimes remaining true to stro n gethics and defined values.How do you think your professional trainingand experience with the company/industryhelp with your managing the operations?JH: Coupling the experience of managin g a world-class engine overhaulfacility in Scotland, with previousexperience of working in themarine industry at SembawangS h i p y a rd in Singapore are gre a tassets when developing the R o l l s -Royce Trent Centre of Excellence.FW: I was fortunate to have the chanceto build on my education withm o re than 10 years experiencein multiple disciplines in differentP&W facilities in Europe and USheadquarters prior to moving toSingapore. That broad backgroundgave me a solid foundation to leadlocal operations. But even with agood basis it is always a challengeto operate in cultures diff e rentMr John Horsburgh (JH) is Chief Executive Officer of Singapore AeroEngine Services Private Limited (SAESL).SAESL, incorporated in March 1999, is a joint venture betweenSingapore Airlines Engineering Company (SIAEC), Rolls-Royce, and HongKong Aero Engine Services. SAESL provides support to operators ofRolls-Royce’s high-trust Trent 800 engines in Singapore and the region,including the Middle East and Australia.The spectrum of work will increasewith the Trent 500,chosen by Singapore Airlines to power their new A340-500, as well as the Trent 900 to power the A380, due to enter service in2 0 0 6 . To complete the Trent family of engines, SAESL is also adding the Trent 700 engine to its portfolioin 2003. The Trent 700 powers the A330 fleet of the regional operators.Mr Frank Walschot (FW) is General Manager of Turbine OverhaulServices (TOS) and Turbine Coating Services (TCS).TOS is a joint venture between Pratt & Whitney (P&W) and SingaporeTechnologies Aerospace (ST Aero). TOS overhauls turbine blades and vanes,transition ducts and compressor blades for the JT8D, JT9D, PW4000,PW2000, CFM 56-2/3/5C and V2500 A5/D5 engines. It is the first UnitedTechnologies Corporation facility to achieve the Achieving CompetitiveExcellence – Gold, the highest certification level. In 2002, TOS wasawarded the Rentschler Memorial award for quality improvements thatbenefit customers. TCS is a joint venture between P&W, ST Aero and SIAEC. Its primary focus is on theoverhaul of HPT blades for PW4000.f rom the one you grew up in.The tolerance and patience theS i n g a p o re workforce displayedwere maybe the most importantelements for success.What is your management philosophy?What do you think are the key factors forsuccess in running a regional operation for aglobal company?JH: Openness, enthusiasm, transpare n c yand adaptability have been keysuccess factors in establishing thisjoint venture of blue-chip pare n t a g e .FW: Success can be defined in manyways. To me, it is important thatWhat were some of your proudest achievementsfor your company?JH: (i)Start of operation on schedulein October 2001.(ii) The introduction of innovativefeatures within the facility,such as the gantry system andcleaning line.(iii) Complimented by SAESL’s “Gro w -Our-Own” training schemesfor technicians and inspectors,whereby young talents werescouted direct from the nationalservice and polytechnic, ofwhom some have now graduatedto become technicians.FW: Achievements over the years havebeen many, some of which are morepositive than others. I’m mostp roud of successfully leading facilitiesand applying UTC corporateprinciples in the local e n v i ro n m e n t ,far away from headquart e r s .How do you find the business environmentin Singapore?JH: Structured and competitive - butnot only in Singapore, as we lookto the rest of the Asia-Pacific re g i o nto bring in third party engines tofacility.FW: S i n g a p o re provides many ingre d i e n t sfor the formula to success in the“ O p e n n e s s, e n t h u s i a s m ,t r a n s p a r e n c yand adaptability havebeen key success factors in establishing this joint venture ofblue-chip parentage.” – John Horsburg ha e rospace MRO business. Mostimportant are:- Excellent workforce across alldisciplines and levels in theorganisation. People are welleducated, skilled and have gre a tideas. An opportunity forimprovement is in open and upfrontcommunication of ideasand opinions without the fearof being embarrassed.08>

I n t e rv i e w s- Excellent infrastructure fromtransportation and utilitiesto service providers for hi-techequipment maintenance,IT and finance.- Stable governmentwith strong s u p p o rtfor the aero spacei n d u s t ry development and expansion.How are the links between the industryplayers in the aerospace cluster?JH: Ve ry loose stru c t u res existed but withthe founding of AAIS, a harm o n i s e dapproach is being developed.FW: For many years the aero s p a c eindustry relied on informal contactsbetween players. Although helpfulin several areas, the industry didnot have a single voice to addresse v e r-changing needs. The morerecent formation of two industryassociations is a welcome development.I’m convinced that withinthe next few years, we’ll see theemergence of one strong associationrepresenting all players in theindustry. The industry will benefitf rom closer cooperation and afocus to improve its competitivenessin the fast changing intern a-tional marketplace.What is your vision for your company inSingapore?JH: To be recognised by our tagline, the“Trent Centre of Excellence” by ours h a reholders, customers, employeesand the community.FW: P&W has already chosen Singaporeas its hub for aftermarketservices outside ofthe US. Currently theservices provided fromS i n g a p o re mainly consistof engine overhauland engine componentrepair. I would like tosee us expand into afull service pro v i d e r.Addi tio nal s erv i c e swould include repairdevelopment engineering,inventory managementand engine fleetmanagement. Buildingon a strong engineeringand management foundationas a result ofexpansion into a fulls e rvice pro v i d e r, wec o u l d eventually venture into thedesign of engine components, modulesand some day even completeengines.What do you for entertainment inSingapore? How about your family?J H: S h o rt of company activities,keeping active andbusy with scuba divingand sailing.Pamela keeps verybusy with her socialactivities; and theboys, Ian and Sean,after 2 years of UWC,are both now back inUnited Kingdom butlook forward to theiracademic breaks toreturn to Singapore.FW: I try to play golf, gofor a bike ride in thepark on weekends,read and love to goout for dinner.My wife spends a lotof time as a volunteerin our kids’ school.Besides, she plays golf,works out at the gym,meets friends forlunch and occasionallygoes shopping. Sheloves to go out fordinner as well. Wealso try to go for longweekends or short trips to neighbouringcountries. We’re very fortunatethat within a few hours’travel, there are so many beautifuland interesting places to visit.Our two young kids attend oneof the international schools here.We consider it a great learningopportunity for them to grow upsurrounded by kids from all cornersof the world. The exposure to somany cultures at such a young agewill surely help them to developtolerance and understanding,something the world today needsmore than ever.What do you appreciate about Singapore?JH: The safe, convenient way of living.FW: After all is said and done, Singaporehas become our home. It’s asafe and convenient place to liveand raise a family and it offers a“Singapore has become our home. It’s a safe and convenient place tolive and raise a family and it offers a high quality of life.” – Frank Walschothigh quality of life. All of thatcomes at a price that I personallybelieve is worth paying. ●>09

M a n u f a c t u r i n gM e s s i e r-Bugattim a n u f a c t u re spassenger seat systems in SingaporeOn 27 March 2003, Messier- B u g a t t i ,a specialist in aircraft braking systems,inaugurated a new facility for theassembly of SeatNet passenger seatelectrical actuation systems in Singapore .The first stage of this developmentis a S$700,000 investment in a 600 sq mbuilding. Currently, a workforce of 13people produces some 2,000 subassembliesper month. Messier-Bugatti plansto double its production and workforceby 2005.Singapore is one of the Snecmagroup’s three major hubs; the othertwo are in Europe and the US. Almostall companies in the Snecma gro u poperate in Singapore, employing over400 people to make world-class pro d u c t sand deliver quality services to airlines.Like most Snecma companies, Messier-Bugatti has a strong presence here.Messier-Bugatti is confident of thepotential of its new Singapore facilitybecause of its dynamic, responsive andhighly-skilled local professional staff .The high standard of Singapore-basedsuppliers, to whom Messier-Bugatti outso u rces its manufacturing of mechanicalparts and electronic components, alsoboosts its confidence in Singapore.Mr Philippe Colin, ManagingD i rector of Messier-Bugatti Systems,said: “We have worked with some localsuppliers, such as A&1, BESA and ChinYee, and have found them to bereliable and capable of delivering goodproducts on time.”“ We now have mechanical ande l e c t ronic production operations inS i n g a p o re, along with our maintenance,repair and other service activities,”noted Mr Yves Leclère, Chairmanand CEO of Messier-Bugatti. “This is avery promising new step forward insupport of the growth of the Asia-Pacific aviation market.” ●Mil-Com t ra i n s the aerospace industryMil-Com Aerospace Training Centre( ATC), a subsidiary of homegrownMil-Com Aerospace Group, is the onlyprivate and independent aero s p a c etraining centre in Asia.Set up in February 2002, it aims tobe the regional centre for aerospacetraining and manpower development.Participants in Mil-Com ATC’s trainingprogrammes hail from the region andbeyond. In the longer term, Mil-ComATC aims to become the outsourc etraining and service centre for Asianairlines who have limited in-housetraining facilities.Occupying over 5,200 sq m, Mil-Com ATC can accommodate 300trainees at any one time. It boasts of acomplete range of training aids andfacilities, including the latest audiovisualand information systems.Mil-Com ATC plays a key role inskills upgrading for workers in thei n d u s t ry. It is certified both as aTechnical Training Centre, and anAssessment Test Centre under theNational Skills Recognition System(NSRS). Mil-Com facilitates the work ofthe Industry Skills Standards Committeeset up under NSRS to develop skill setsfor the aerospace industry.The company has partnered withAlteon, a training arm of the BoeingGroup, to offer technical training programmesfor engineers, technicians andground staff in Asia. Certified as anApproved Training Centre in Asia byAlteon, the programmes that Mil-ComATC offers are recognised by Boeing.Besides aircraft and related technicaltraining courses, it also provides personaldevelopment and information technologycourses for those in as well as othersseeking to enter the aerospace industry.Griffith University of Australia isanother of Mil-Com AT C ’s part n e r s .To g e t h e r, they offer degree pro g r a m m e sin various areas of aerospace management,providing upgrading opportunities foraerospace industry executives as theyadvance their management careers.Leveraging on its success inSingapore, the company plans to establishsimilar training centres in China andthe ASEAN region. ●10>

M a n u f a c t u r i n gDiethelm establishes newS$20 million facilityDiethelm Keller Aviation Pte Ltd(DKA) has been manufacturing galleyinserts and aircraft unit load devices inSingapore for the civil aviation industryfor over 30 years.A privately-owned Swiss companywith its origins dating back over 130years, DKA has built a solid reputationin positioning itself as oneof the world’s leadingm a n u f a c t u rer of galleyi n s e rts. DKA currentlyhas a customer base ofover 170 airlines. It servesmajor airlines and airframemanufacturers suchAir France, Delta Airlines,Air Canada, SingaporeAirlines, Japan Airlines,Lufthansa Airlines, Boeing,Airbus and many others.The company’s productportfolio includes a complete rangeof galley inserts such as meal, bar, wasteand sales carts, standard containers,over racks, baby bassinets, folding trolleysand drawers – all manufacturedto ATLAS/KSSU standards and custombuild designs. Tapping on its expertisein the aviation industry, DKA is expandingto serve schools, hospitals, old agehomes and railway industries.DKA opened a new S$20 million17,000 sq m manufacturing facility inSingapore in September 2003. This newinvestment made amidst global uncertainties,reflects the company’s highlevel of confidence in Singapore. Thatmanufacturing remains a cornerstoneof Singapore’s economy is significant toDKA. It can tap on Singapore’s strongp recision engineering capabilities tomanufacture quality products for theglobal market.Enjoying a successful partnershipwith Singapore, DKA is positioned tocontinue growing its presence here byexploring activities such as re g i o n a lmanagement, product conceptualisationand design, as well as intellectualproperty management. ●Eurocopter delivers excellents e r v i c e s a n y t i m e, a n y w h e r e.Eurocopter South East Asia Pte Ltd(ESEA) was established in Singaporesince 1977. As a member of theEurocopter Group, the world’s leadingexporter of helicopters, ESEA is jointlyheld by Eurocopter (75%) and SingaporeTechnologies Engineering (25%).ESEA’s confidence in the region’shuman resources, excellent infrastructu re industrial capabilities, and economicand political stability is apparentfrom the large-scale investments madein this part of the world. These includethree subsidiaries and several approvedrepair centres supporting the impressivefleet operating in the region.S i n g a p o re is the site for theE u rocopter Regional Support Headquartersfor the Asia-Pacific zone. Fromh e re, ESEA serves the Asia-Pacificregion and regional governments andcorporate clients, covering from sparessupport to on-site technical assistancefor the full range of Eurocopter airc r a f t .ESEA also distributesthe complete range ofEurocopter’s civil helicopters,provides technical assistanceto regional operators andoperates as a product supportcentre for Eurocopter.The company’s marketing,logistics, technical andmanagement activities arehoused within a 4500 sq mbuilding, with a 1000 sq mhangar that facilitates the large staff ofengineers, technicians and technicalre p resentatives to perf o rm assembly,customisation, retrofit, repair, overhauland maintenance of aircraft. In addition,a huge inventory of spare partsallows ESEA to provide excellents u p p o rt to customers. ESEA’s staffregularly attend specialised trainingcourses in France and Germany in orderto maintain a high competency level tosupport all activities in Singapore.W h e re customer support isconcerned, ESEA lives by a simple philosophy,which is part of Eurocopter’sworldwide effort “To become numberone in customer satisfaction”. Mr BrunoBoulnois, President of ESEA, often leadsby example and aligns the companyin providing “Excellent Serv i c e s ,Anytime, Anywhere”. ●>11

S e rv i c e s / O t h e r sS i n g a p o r e : t h e globalaviation hub t a kes offGrowthSingapore’s aviation industry has comea long way since its humble beginningsin the 1950s. From commercial air transportation,Singapore’s aviation industryhas grown significantly to encompass abroad spectrum of aviation activities,spanning air hub, MRO, design, manufacturingand aviation services.Air hubChangi Airport has always focused ons e rving its customers well. For itsefforts, Changi has garnered over 250accolades from international tradepublications since its birth in 1981.Besides serving airline passengers,Changi has a dedicated BusinessAviation Centre for businesstravellers who demand exclusiveand speedy passagethrough the airport.S i n g a p o re continues toinvest ahead of demand.Construction for a third terminalat Changi is well underway. Whencompleted in 2006, Te rminal 3 willincrease the airport capacity from 44million to 64 million passenger movementsannually.MRO, aerospace design andmanufacturingEmploying over 11,000 people, Singapore’saerospace industry registered anoutput of S$3.8 billion in 2003. Thisi n d u s t ry has grown largely thro u g hMRO activities which comprise 90per cent of the industry’s total output.Singapore is today one of the mostc o m p rehensive aero s p a c eMRO locations in theA s i a -Pacific re g i o n ,o ffering a full rangeof MRO serv i c e s ,including airf r a m em a i n t e n a n c e ,engine o v e rh a u l ,engine componentre p a i r, stru c t u r a lsystems repair andavionics systems repair.Design and manufacturing activitiesconstitute the other part of theindustry’s output. Aerospace productsm a n u f a c t u red here include enginecomponents, landing gears, avionicssystems, aircraft structural componentsand helicopter transparencies. Astrong supplier base offers a variety ofengineering support services, includingp recision machining, casting, surf a c et reatment, printed circuit boardmanufacturing, metal stamping andrubber moulding.Aviation servicesLeveraging on Singapore’s connectivity,several MRO players are offering assetmanagement services to customers inthe region. With aviation asset financingand leasing growing in importance,Singapore aims to be the Asian capitalfor aviation asset financing and leasingand attract leading companies to basetheir headquarters here.ConclusionSingapore’s aviation industry continuesto transform and expand in breadthand depth. Given a healthy pipeline ofnew infrastructure projects and initiatives,Singapore certainly looks set totake off in the global aviation plane. ●SIA makes aviation historywith the A 3 4 5 L e a d e r s h i pOn 15 October 2003, SingaporeAirlines (SIA) unveiled the newest aircrafttype to join its fleet – the ultralong-range Airbus 340-500. This is thefirst new aircraft type to join the SIAfleet since 1997, when the Airline tookdelivery of its first Boeing 777.S I A’s A340-500 will offer thelongest non-stop commercial service inthe world with its first flight fro mSingapore to Los Angeles in February2004. This SIA service to Los Angeles isexpected to shave off traveling time byabout two hours as compared to SIA’scurrent one-stop flights.“ We have named the aircraftthe A345LeaderShip to underscoreits unique characteristics and SIA’scontinued commitmentto pro d u c tand service innovation.With theA340-500, we areo ffering non-stops e rvices over longdistances, whichtranslate to greaterconvenience, comfortand time savings.It is specially designed for today’sbusiness travellers,” said SIA’s SeniorExecutive Vice-President (Commercial),Mr Michael Tan.The SIA A345LeaderShip willcommence with daily services to LosAngeles, and services to New York willfollow in August 2004. The service fromNew York to Singapore will also shortentravel time.“We pioneered non-stop servicesf rom Singapore to London, and betweenHong Kong and San Francisco,and we are doing it again with theA345LeaderShip,” added Mr Tan.The A340-500 service betweenSingapore and Los Angeles will complementexisting services to this businessand entertainment capital.The Airline will be setting yetanother marker with the premiumconfiguration of the A345LeaderShip.The aircraft will feature just 181 seatsin a spacious two-class configurationcomprising Raffles (business) Class anda new Executive Economy Class. ●12>

S e rv i c e s / O t h e r sAsian A e rospaceattracts industry high fliersAsian Aerospace, the Asia-Pacific’spremier aerospace exhibition and airshow, has developed over the past twodecades to earn a ranking among thetop three in the world, alongsideFarnborough and Paris.The biennial exhibition in Singaporehas a reputation for attracting thehighest calibre decision makers, representingthe broadest spectrum of playersin the commercial and military sectorsof the global aerospace business.Asian Aerospace 2002 attracted:■■■120 official delegations from38 countries747 exhibitors (including 70% of thew o r l d ’s top 100 aerospacecompanies) from 36 countries23,433 trade visitors from 78 countries.with industry developments key conferences,such as the Asia-Pacific SecurityC o n f e rence and C4I C o n f e rence, alsorun concurrent with the Show.Due to its ability to attract theindustry’s most senior representativesAsian Aerospace 2004 will see the inaugurationof the IATA-Asian AerospaceAviation summit, which will bringtogether the world’s top airline executives,as well as key governmentofficials from the region.As the global aerospace industrycelebrates the historic first century offlight, Asian Aerospace enters a newera in the history of aerospace industryin Singapore. As Asian Aerospace drawsto a rousing close this year, final touchesare being made to plans for a new andbigger purpose-built exhibition complexfor future air shows, giving exhibitorsand visitors much to look forward toin Asian Aerospace 2008. ●Asian Aerospace hails as the bestshowcase in the region for the latestand most diverse range of productsand technology across the industry –from aircraft, engines and avionics, toa i rcraft interiors, inflight entert a i n m e n t ,leasing and maintenance services, aswell as missiles, simulators, and unmannedair vehicles.The flying display at AsianAerospace is not only a highlight but apractical programme where customersshowcase an array of fixed and rotarywingaircraft in the sky. A complementarystatic aircraft display also allows groundinspection of aircraft exhibits and easyaccess for customer flight demonstrations.Backed by the expansion in theinternational air freight industry, theAirFreight Expo exhibition was inauguratedat Asian Aerospace 2002, and willbe expanded to a dedicated exhibitionand conference in 2004. To keep paceBilateral agreement toboost Singapore aviationindustry competitivenessThe Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and EDB have jointly inkeda mutual recognition agreement with the US Federal Aviation Admin-istration(FAA). Known as the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA), it will allowaerospace products such as communication, electrical power, and navigationequipment, to be designed in Singapore, certified by CAAS, and recognisedby FAA.By end 2004, aerospace companies in Singapore will be able to design, d e v e l-op, manufacture and ship Te c h n i c a lStandard Order products direct to US customersfrom here. This initiative is expected to boost Singapore’s S$3.8 billion industry,further positioning it as a global aviation hub. ●>13

S e rv i c e s / O t h e r sWorld airline chiefsto meet in SingaporeAsia Pacific is fast becoming anotherfocal point in international commercialaviation. To tap this growthtrend, the International Air TransportAssociation (IATA) has established aregional office in Singapore.IATA first started in 1960 whenthe first IATA overseas office wasopened to run the agency program. In the1990s, IATA consolidated its Asia Pacificoperations in Singapore and today, theoffice boasts a workforce of 54.2004 is an important year for IATAin Singapore. As the airline industrygets ready for the first signs of profitsince September 11, leaders of IATA’s275 member airlines will meet for theWorld Air Transport Summit and IATAAnnual General Meeting (WATS-AGM)in June. This will be the first timeSingapore plays host to the World AirTransport while the AGM returns againsince 1976.“ We are pleased to bring ourflagship WATS-AGM event to Singaporefor the first time. The SingaporeG o v e rn m e n t ’s support for a healthyaviation industry has impacted theindustry globally and made Singaporeone of the world’s strongest air hubs.It is a natural location for the leadersof global aviation to discuss the mostpressing issues facing our industry atthis critical time in our history,” said MrGiovanni Bisignani, Director Generaland CEO of IATA.Over 700 airline re p re s e n t a t i v e sare expected to converge in Singaporefor the threeday event.B e s i d e sc o o rd i n a t i n gactivities suchas distribution,financial services,operationsand marketing,I ATA Singapo re is alsohome to theAviation Training and DevelopmentInstitute. The Institute offers over 40courses for airlines, airports, agents andother industry partners. These coursesdraw nearly 700 students annually,significantly raising the skill level inthe region.As Asia Pacific continues to outstripworldwide growth, IATA is committedto expanding its resources inSingapore to meet the needs of thegrowing aviation industry. ●Singapore and Canada signAviation Maintenance A g re e m e n tThe aircraft maintenance, repair andoverhaul (MRO) industry in Singaporereceived a shot in the arm with the signingof a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) – Technical Arrangement onAviation Maintenance – between the CivilAviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS)and Transport Canada, the aviation regulatoryauthority in Canada. This is thefirst maintenance MOU CAAS has signedwith a foreign aviation authority. Withthis MOU, Singapore-based MRO org a n i-s a t i o n s need not obtain approval fromTr a n s p o rt Canada to maintain Canadianregisteredaircraft and componentsTr a n s p o rt Canada will recognise theapprovals given by CAAS to SingaporebasedMRO organisations. CAAS will alsorecognise the approvals given by Tr a n s p o rtCanada to Canadian-based MRO org a n i s a-tions, allowing them to maintain Singapore -registered aircraft and components.“This MOU underscores CAAS’commitment to support the growth anddevelopment of the local MRO sector. Itb reaks down barriers and opens up morebusiness opportunities for SingaporebasedMRO organisations in the Canadianmarket,” said Mr Wong Woon Liong,Director-General of CAAS. ●14>

S e rv i c e s / O t h e r sCelebrating ten years of operationsduring Asian Aerospace 2004,Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise(SALE) is a good example of aS i n g a p o re company working on aglobal scale.SALE Managing Dire c t o r, Mr RobertMartin explained that the company’ssuccess was due to its ability to competeeffectively in the global marketplace inall areas of the business.“Our business is not just aboutbuying and renting out aircraft,” hesaid. “You need to be switched on tothe best sources of aircraft supply,remain in constant contact with airlinesf rom Asia to South America, haveaccess to funding in all major bankingcentres and be plugged in to the highlyspecialised investor markets for onwardsales of aircraft. To do all this successfully,you need a dedicated team andglobal approach.”T h rough offices in London,Washington DC and San Diego, togetherwith its head office in Singapore, thec o m p a n y ’s team of professionals pro v i d e sswift response to customer re q u i rements.SALE has been successful in workingwith every type of operator, fromthe international majors to the newbreed of low cost carriers. The companyhas also opened up new markets forthe aircraft it supplies by introducingnew airlines to aircraft operators.A truly global forc eIn addition, SALE’s innovative purchaseand leaseback business enablesairlines to acquire aircraft without theburden of a direct purchase. It distinguishesitself from the competition bycontinually renewing its portfolio tokeep the average age of its fleet down.Despite the difficult economicclimate in the past two years, SALE hasmaintained an unbroken re c o rd ofprofitability. It placed all of its newa i rcraft with airlines on delivery,successfully found homes for otherscoming off lease and even continued totrade aircraft with leases attached tofinancial investors at a profit. ●a s p r e c i s e : s o f t w a refor the aerospace industryasprecise, a Singapore-based softwa re development and implementationhouse, specialises in the developmentof web-enabled software used in themaintenance of mission-critical assets,such as aircraft, oil rigs and powerplants. Employing 85 staff worldwide,including 60 in Singapore, aspre c i s eoffers a wide range of solutions, such asmaintenance planning, scheduling andcontrol, and maintenance optimisationto global customers.Over the years, the companyhas accumulated extensive industryexperience by delivering solutions tothe maintenance and engineering divisionsof airlines, such as British Airways,Lufthansa, Philippine Airlines, andSingapore Airlines. It has also deliveredcontent management related solutionsto companies such as Boeing, Rolls Royce,Bombardier and Norsk Hydro.Making aerospacemaintenance tickasprecise prides itself for always deliveringthe right solutions in a timelymanner. Its solutions complement existingsupply chain management andcustomer relationship managementsolutions for MRO activities.On tapping the Intern e t ’sextensive remote connectivity, MrKrishnaswamy, CEO of asprecise said:“The idea is to marry the simplicity ofan Internet delivery mechanism withthe complete functionality of back-endERP software. The key value-add thata s p recise brings to this area is ourstrong knowledge of MRO processesthus customising the software andsystems for the professional engineer.”With access to global customersand a strategic working relationshipwith major MRO service organisationsand OEMs worldwide, asprecise iswell-positioned to establish itself asa globally dominant provider of enterprise-levelMRO solutions. ●>15

R & DR e s e a rc h i n g for the next flightc a t e g o ry of the Flight Intern a t i o n a lAerospace Industry Awards 2002.The RWIA is designed to improvethe reliability and consistency of aircraftwing inspection efficiently ande ff e c t i v e l y. It automates the tediousprocess of inspecting fasteners on aircraftwing using an ultrasonic sensor,thereby improving reliability, cost effectivenessand efficiency.Some of the re s e a rch instituteshave specialised capabilities relevant tothe aerospace industry. ●S i n g a p o re is placing incre a s i n gimportance on research capabilities. Asat 2002, national re s e a rch spendingcontributed to 2.1% of GDP. Today,there are 12 research institutes withover 2,000 re s e a rch scientists andengineers (RSEs) in Singapore. At 88RSEs per 10,000 workforce, this positionis amongst the world’s highest, justbehind Finland and Japan.In the area of aerospace, Singapore ’sre s e a rch institutes have successfully collaboratedwith aerospace industry playersto develop cutting-edge technologies.Singapore Technologies Aerospacesuccessfully collaborated with theSingapore Institute of ManufacturingTechnology to develop a Robotic UnderWing Inspection System (RWIA), whichwon the Maintenance and ModificationRESEARCH INSTITUTE / CENTREInstitute of Info-CommunicationsResearch (I2R)www.i2r.a-star.edu.sgSingapore Institute of ManufacturingTechnology (SIMTech)www.simtech.a-star.edu.sgInstitute of High PerformanceComputing (IHPC)www.ihpc.a-star.edu.sgInstitute of Materials Research &Engineering (IMRE)www.imre.a-star.edu.sgInstitute of Microelectronicswww.ime.a-star.edu.sgPSB Corporationwww.psbcorp.comCAPABILITIES• Optical communications & networks• Pico & broadband access networks• Internet technologies• Mobile communications• Automation• Manufacturing• Information• Process technologies• Super-computer based simulationand visualisation• Materials• MEMS• OLEDS• MEMS• Microelectronics• Design• Prototyping• EMI/ EMC testingBoeing demonstratesw i reless technologyat Changi A i r p o r tFirst Successful AIRSTRIP ProjectOn 10 July 2003, Boeing CompanyCrew Information Services joined handswith EDB and CAAS to successfullydemonstrate leading-edge wire l e s sgatelink technology at Changi AirportTerminal 2.The Boeing Gatelink project isthe first to be completed under theAirport Systems Technology Researchand Innovation Platform (AIRSTRIP).AIRSTRIP is a EDB-CAAS initiative whichencourages companies to test-bed newtechnologies and concepts in ChangiAirport. The new technologies, productsand services could then becommercialised for the regional andglobal markets from Singapore.Over five months, Boeing Cre wI n f o rmation Services worked withSingapore companies, such as StratechSystems and COB Technology, to design,install and test a wireless gatelinksystem covering the tarmac areas ofTerminal 2 at Changi Airport. SingaporeAirlines gave a major boost to theprogram by allowing Boeing engineersto install test equipment onboard oneof its airplanes.Wireless gatelink utilises WirelessLocal Area Network technology totransmit data throughout an airportenvironment, enabling instant sharingof data between aircraft, passengert e rminals, maintenance operations,baggage handling, gro u n d - s u p p o rtequipment and more. This data sharingwould help airlines to increase operationalefficiency and improve on-timeperformance.“ We couldn't be more pleasedabout the opportunity to demonstratethis technology in partnership withSingapore EDB, CAAS and SIA,” said MrAnil Shrikhande, Vice President, BoeingInternational Relations. “Singapore isthe leader in advanced airport technologyin Asia, and this partnership, whichbuilds on a long and productiverelationship between Boeing andS i n g a p o re, will help us take thistechnology in the right direction. Onceagain, Changi Airport is leading theway to the future.” ●16>

Local SuppliersSignificant growthin Singapore’s aerospacesupporting industryFor a small city-state like Singapore ,its aerospace industry has developedrapidly in the past 40 years. Today,S i n g a p o re ’s aerospace MRO sectorprobably has the most comprehensivecapabilities in Asia, covering airframes,engines, avionics and components. Inmanufacturing, Singapore hosts severalworld-class design and manufacturingoperations.The supporting industry has alsogrown in tandem with the aerospacei n d u s t ry. To d a y, several homegro w ncompanies support Original EquipmentManufacturers (OEMs), and are recognisedfor their capabilities, quality andturn-around time.First-tier OEMs operating in Singapo re, such as Hamilton Sundstrand,Honeywell, Messier- D o w t y, and DiethelmKeller Aviation have expanded theiroperations overtime. The local companieshave also correspondingly developedtheir capabilities in areas includingcasting, precision machining, metalstamping, shot peening, and specialisedheat treatment, in order to providequality support.Riding on globaloutsourcing trendAs OEMs look to outsourcing more nonstrategicmanufacturing activities, theaerospace supporting industry is alsomoving away from being mere suppliersand machine shops to become valuedpartners that provide turnkey solutions.Chinyee Engineering & Machinery(CEM) is a good case in point. Respondingto challenges, it has transformeditself from a machining parts companyto one providing turnkey manufacturingservices. This includes engineeringconsultation and design using the latest3D CAD/CAM technology and stateof-the-artmachinery. Companies suchas CEM have aggressively ensured thatthe highest quality is maintained byadopting stringent certifications such asthe ISO 9001:2000, and quality approvalfrom OEMs.Another example is AdvancedManufacturing Corporation. Thro u g hits plant in Bintan, it leverages theadvantage of proximity between Singaporeand this nearby Indonesian islandto deliver quality and cost-competitiveproducts to global customers such asHoneywell Avionics.Government assistance for thesupporting industryA clear example of the close linksforged between OEMs and the locals u p p o rting industry is manifestedin EDB’s Local Industry UpgradingP rogramme (LIUP). LIUP provides aframework for OEMs to work hand inhand with supporting companies toshare and transfer products and manufacturingprocesses, enabling thesecompanies to become best-in-classsupporting partners to the OEMs.The latest aerospace industryLIUP initiatives are led by HoneywellAvionics and Rockwell Collins. Bothcompanies are leading avionics playerswhich have significant operationsin Singapore. Honeywell Avionics hasdesign, manufacturing and aftermarkets u p p o rt operations, while Rockwellhas a significant aftermarket supportcentre here. Through their LIUP efforts,these companies will be able to identifycompetent supporting partners andgroom a pool of companies to ensure alocal source of competitively priced andhigh-quality manufacturing serv i c e s .The supporting companies in turnbenefit from upgraded facilities andequipment, and access to specialisedknow-how in process information andhardware configurations gained duringthe process of technology transfer.Looking aheadS i n g a p o re ’s aerospace support i n gi n d u s t ry continues to evolve in theface of challenges and competition.Nonetheless, they continue to providehigh quality and value to OEMs, layingan ever-strong foundation for the aerospaceindustry in Singapore to growfrom strength to strength. ●>17

M a n p o w e rTAP-ping the best for the futureEver wondered what kind of experience and exposure you mightgain under the Training and Attachment Programme (TAP)? EDBcaught up with three trainees who are now working in theaerospace industry.What attracted you to TAP in the first place?WY:My interest has always been inthe aerospace industry, especiallypropulsion. I worked as a designengineer prior to this programmeand derived much satisfaction fromdesigning products and seeing thepractical side of the theory I learnt.TAP gave me the opportunity tohave the best of both worlds:propulsion and design.SL: TAP gave me the opportunity to seethe linkage between the engineeringg roups of both the Singapore facilityand the headquarters in the US.Also, what attracted me to TAP wasthe chance to work in a differentbusiness environment and withdifferent people.PK: The opportunity to spend a substantialamount of time in a foreignc o u n t ry and undergo on-the-jobtraining with one of the mostreputable companies in the world,General Electric.Did you find the training useful to yourcareer development?WY:No doubt about it. I actually feltthat 18 months was not enough tolearn everything I needed to pickup in order to do my job well. Mycolleagues are very experiencedpeople and they are the experts intheir field. You learn a lot just bytalking to them.SL: The training was useful althoughthe pace was sometimes intense. Iwas trained in engineering andp roblem solving, which I utilisedaily in my job function. Mostimportantly, I had the opportunityto learn new skill that will help inmy career development. It has beenthe most rewarding experience.PK: E x t re m e l y. It was definitely theo p p o rtunity of a lifetime. Therewere tremendous skills and knowledgeto pick up. I was constantlygiven challenging and excitingprojects to work on. Being mento red and surrounded by thee x p e rts in the field of airc r a f tp ropulsion made my job a lot easier,and my learning curve was exponential.It really was a great learn i n gexperience. Having said that, therewas also a good balance betweenwork and life outside of work. TheAmericans believe in striking agood balance between both, and itwas precisely that which made thewhole stay such an enjoyable andenriching experience.How are you applying your training to yourjob now?WY:I am now a CF6/marine and industrialrotating parts design engineer,p roviding design liaisons ands u p p o rting manufacturing activitiesfor some rotating parts beingm a n u f a c t u red all around theworld, especially in Asia. My workobjectives include ensuring thatp a rts conform to design intent,meet safety re q u i rements, fulfillcustomer needs, and are made toSix Sigma quality. What I havelearnt in Cincinnati is being appliedat work every d a y. Besides, I amlearning new things everyday too.SL: I was given real-time projects withguidance from a mentor duringthe training period. The traininghas increased my practical aircraftengineering knowledge, such that Iam now able to diagnose and solvep roblems of customers and vendorsfrom around the world, especiallythose in the Asia-Pacific region.PK: I am doing the same job I wastrained to do from day one. Thefield of aircraft propulsion is notonly deep but wide. There is just somuch more to learn each day.Relative to my colleagues in the US,I am just a young puppy, there is stilla long way for me to go. But onething for sure, I probably had thebest headstart I could ever wish for.Chek Wai Yin (WY):Design Engineer(CF6/M&I Rotation Parts COE)GE Aircraft EnginesShamin Lee (SL):Design Engineer(CF6/M&I Structures COE)GE Aircraft EnginesKoh Pak Keng (PK):Design Engineer(CF6/M&I Structures COE)GE Aircraft EnginesOverall, how would you rate your overseastraining and experience?WY:Excellent!SL: Excellent. My experiences havebeen more than I expected. I highlyrecommend this programme.PK: Priceless. Give me a similar opportunityand I will leave in a heartbeat.●18>

M a n p o w e rA e r o s p a c e t raining cours e sLocal institutions produce some 340 aerospace-trainedstudents each year!Whether you are a student looking to embark on a career in aerospace or aworking professional considering a mid-career change, you would be happy toknow that there are a variety of courses offered by local institutions that will caterto your needs.The Institute of Technical Education (ITE) offers theNITEC in Precision Engineering (Aero s p a c e ) course thattrains technicians in MRO for airframe, engines andcomponents.S i n g a p o re Polytechnic launched the Diploma inAeronautical Engineering in July 2002. This course aimsto provide students with a broad-based engineeringfoundation in aircraft MRO to support a wide spectrum of aerospace activities inSingapore. This course incorporates the theory component of the Licensed AircraftEngineers (LAE) training for the airframe and engine categories, thereby enablinggraduates of the program to reduce on-the-job training duration for LAEs. Thiscourse is supported by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore.The new Diploma in Aerospace Electronics, launched in July 2003, offered bySingapore Polytechnic is a 3-year, full-time course that aims to provide students witha broad-based engineering foundation in MRO for aircraft electrical, instrument andradio systems. On completion of the course, students will have an in depth understandingof the working principles of electrical, instrument and radio systems in theaircraft; and perform tasks, such as installation, maintenance, trouble shooting,repair, and overhaul of aircraft systems.Ngee Ann Polytechnic launched two new programmes inJuly 2003. The first is a Diploma in Aerospace Technologyp rogramme, which aims to equip students with theskills to undertake design and development activities that are closely linked withmanufacturing or repair and overhaul operations.The second is a new avionics option in the existing Diploma in Electronic andTelecommunications Engineering course. This programme will equip students with coreskills in electronics and telecommunications with specialisation in electronic systemsused in modern aircrafts. Graduates can look forward to join the aircraft maintenanceand telecommunications-related industries.In July 2004, Nanyang Technological University will offer theEnhanced Aeronautical Engineering specialisation in the School ofMechanical & Production Engineering which will equip students withthe skills re q u i red for aerospace manufacturing, MRO, design and process development.A e rospace Pro g ra m m e sINSTITUTE OF T E C H N I C A LE D U C AT I O N■ Precision Engineeringcourse includes electiveson aerospace materials,surface treatment andnon-destructive testing(MFG)■Aerospace MROprogrammeP O LY T E C H N I C■ Aircraft EngineeringDiploma (MRO)■■Aeronautical EngineeringDiploma (MRO/ MFG)Avionics Diploma(MRO/MFG)U N I V E R S I T Y■ Aeronautical EngineeringSpecialisation forMechanical EngineeringGraduates (MRO/MFG)ContactsINSTITUTE OF TECHNICAL EDUCATIONNITEC in Precision Engineering(Aerospace):Jason ChuaManagerMechanical & Manufacturing CurriculumTel: 6772 0011E-mail: jason_chua@ite.edu.sgSINGAPORE POLYTECHNICDiploma in Aeronautical EngineeringR. GaneshSection Head (Aeronautical)School of Mechanical & ManufacturingEngineeringTel: 6772 1553Fax: 6772 1975E-mail: rganesh@sp.edu.sgDiploma in Aerospace ElectronicsIvan HoeSenior Lecturer/Program ManagerSchool of Electrical & Electronic EngineeringTel: 6870 6053Fax: 6772 1974E-mail: ivanhoe@sp.edu.sgNGEE ANN POLYTECHNICDiploma in Aerospace Technology:Leung Hon Cheung, JamesCourse ManagerTel: 6460 6552Fax: 6467 7384E-mail: lhc@np.edu.sgDiploma in Electronic andTelecommunications Engineering(Avionics Option):Chor Lee YeoElectronic & TelecommunicationEngineeringTel: 6460 6175Fax: 6467 1730NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITYEnhanced Aeronautica EngineeringlSpecialisation:Associate Professor Jeffrey LowAcademic Focus CoordinatorTel: 6790 5579E-mail: mcflow@ntu.edu.sgAssociate Professor Chan Weng KongHeadThermal & Fluids Engineering DivisionTel: 6790 5497E-mail: mwkchan@ntu.edu.sgAssociate Professor Leong Kai ChoongVice Dean (Academic)Tel: 6790 4725E-mail: mkcleong@ntu.edu.sg>19

Snap ShotsThe Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has three key roles inSingapore. Besides managing airport operations, it also regulates andpromotes the development of air transport in Singapore. Over the lasttwo years, CAAS has taken bold moves to further enhance Singapore’sattractiveness as an air hub.> Changi BusinessAviation CentreThe Changi Business Aviation Centre(BAvC) was opened in March 2002at Changi Airport. The BAvCprovides business executives arrivingon private aircraft speedy andhassle-free clearance. Since itsopening, the BAvC has been a t t r a c t-ing about 15 flights per month.CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE> Airport Logistics Park ofS i n g a p o re (ALPS) Opened by theMinister for Transport in March 2003,the 26-hectare Airport Logistics Parkof Singapore is jointly developedby CAAS and JTC Corporation andforms part of the Changi AirportFree Trade Zone. It is designedfor quick turnaround of cargo andvalue-added logistics services. MenloWorldwide and Exel are currentlyoperating from their dedicated,purpose-built facility at ALPS.> Air Hub Development-FundIn 2003, the CAAS set up a S$210million Air Hub Development Fund.Effective for three years beginning2003, this fund will assist airlinesand the aviation industry tide overthese challenging times, as well asfurther strengthen Singapore’sposition as the premier aviationhub of the region.As part of this fund, CAAS will granta 15% discount on aircraft landingfees at Changi and Seletar Airports.A 15% discount on rental charges atChangi and Seletar Airports and theChangi Airfreight Centre will also begranted to operators there, savingthem an estimated S$40 million.Incentives funded by the fund arealso available for airlines expandingtheir operations from Changi Airport.20>

ENGINEER YOUR TAKE-OFFLAND A CAREER IN AEROSPACEHow do you keep a mass of 560,000 kgup in the air for 14 hours,flying at an altitude of 10,000 m,moving at a speed of 900 km/h,operating at engine temperatures of up to 2000˚Cand carrying 550 passengers safely?It’s all happening, thanks to aerospace professionals. To be partof this amazing industry, visit www.globalaviationhub.com

ENGINEER YOUR TAKE-OFFLAND A CAREER IN AEROSPACEHow do you keep a mass of 400,000 kgup in the air for 14 hours,flying at an altitude of 10,000 m,moving at a speed of 900 km/h,operating at engine temperatures of up to 2000˚Cand carrying 400 passengers safely?It’s all happening, thanks to aerospace professionals. To be partof this amazing industry, visit www.globalaviationhub.com

Singapore Economic Development BoardHEAD OFFICE:250 North Bridge Road#24-00 Raffles City TowerSingapore 179101Visit us at www.sedb.comCLIENT SERVICES:Tel: (65) 6336-2288Fax: (65) 6339-6077WORLDWIDE OFFICES:NORTH AMERICA:Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles,New York, San Francisco, Washington DCEUROPE:Frankfurt, London, Milan, Paris, StockholmASIA:Beijing, Shanghai, Jakarta, Osaka, TokyoPrinted in February 2004. Address and contact information accurate at time of print. Please check for subsequent changes on the EDB website.