ST Aerospace inaugurates new Singapore aviation centre
ST Aerospace has officially opened its new aviation centre at Singapore’s Seletar Aerospace Park (SAP), in the presence of guest-of-honour Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Transport, Mrs Josephine Teo.

With an expanded Seletar footprint occupying over 75,000 sqm, ST Aerospace becomes the second largest tenant and the only integrated aviation service provider in SAP.

“Seletar is the birthplace of our operations 38 years ago," said Chang Cheow Teck, President, ST Aerospace. "Today’s celebration is especially meaningful to us as we unveil a new chapter, with a larger footprint for ST Aerospace. Over the years, we have grown our capacity and capabilities from depot maintenance for military operators and general aviation maintenance to now offering a full suite of airline, business aviation and helicopter airframe maintenance and modification, pilot and technical crew training, VIP air charter, special operations and air ambulance services. This enlarged Seletar presence will enable ST Aerospace to serve our customers better in Singapore, given a broader range of aviation and training services.”

(L to R): Mr Kwa Chong Seng, Chairman, ST Engineering; Mrs Josephine Teo, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Transport; Mr Chang Cheow Teck, President, ST Aerospace; Mr Tan Pheng Hock CEO, ST Engineering.

Lim Kok Kiang, Assistant Managing Director, Economic Development Board added," I am delighted that ST Aerospace is continuing to expand and enhance its operations in Seletar Aerospace Park. This new aviation centre will strengthen ST Aerospace’s integrated aftermarket capabilities, and better enable the company to capture market opportunities in the growing Asia Pacific market. Singapore is strongly committed to the aerospace industry, and will continue to invest heavily in developing infrastructure, talent and a conducive business environment for the industry to thrive.”

This milestone is the result of a $26.6m, two-year effort to enhance ST Aerospace’s Seletar capabilities in response to the growing international demand for aircraft maintenance, business aviation, air charter, commercial pilot training, as well as technical crew training services. ST Aerospace’s current footprint in SAP includes hangars and facilities that can handle up to 11 narrow-body aircraft and 24 general aviation aircraft simultaneously.

Building on a strong heritage as a military depot maintenance provider, ST Aerospace is today recognised as a centre of excellence for aircraft maintenance and 757-200SF freighter conversions, having redelivered in excess of 1,900 aircraft to commercial and military aircraft operators, from its Seletar facility.
Occupying over 75,000 sq m, ST Aerospace becomes the second largest tenant and the only integrated aviation service provider in SAP.

The new three-storey aviation centre houses a comprehensive suite of air charter, ground training, flight training and support facilities. The complex features a modern VIP customer lounge and a 24/7 centralised operations centre for its air charter business. With a growing fleet of six business jets and a helicopter, ST Aerospace has been providing executive air travel and air ambulance services to the region. Leveraging its in-house flight despatch and supporting services, the company is moving into aircraft management, at the same time exploring further fleet expansion to support the growing international air charter demand.

The newly built complex is equipped with state-of-the-art computer-based training suites for Air Transport Pilot Licence and entry level ground training, as well as a simulator centre that can accommodate up to six full flight simulators.
First of its kind fixed base A320 FFT X simulator.

Two training devices were recently commissioned to support ST Aerospace’s Multi-Crew Pilot Licence (MPL) phase II training. One of them is an Airbus A320 full flight simulator, and the other a customised fixed-base A320 FFT X™ - MPL simulator featuring the latest simulator technology and a fully type-specific cockpit. Today, ST Aerospace’s pilot training academy has graduated over 300 cadets, who are now flying for major commercial airlines globally. This is in addition to the 230 transport and helicopter pilots ST Aerospace has trained for its military customers.

With the addition of the aviation centre, ST Aerospace will be expanding its technical crew training business in the next phase of development, which will add classrooms and computer-based training facilities in the complex. Approved by Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and European Aviation Safety Agency as Part 147 maintenance training organisation, ST Aerospace has trained some 3,000 engineers and technicians, and conducted over 150 basic and type rating courses.

ST Aerospace flight instructor, Captain Chang I-Wen briefs Mrs Josephine Teo in an Airbus A320 simulator.

Extending its role in SAP as an integrated aviation service provider, ST Aerospace has plans to become a fixed-base operator (FBO), providing ground handling, hangarage, maintenance, flight instruction and other support services to general aviation aircraft operators.

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 6th February 2014 | Issue #258
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