VO L 8 / N O . 3 / 2015
A regional publication of the Association of Aerospace Industries (Singapore) MCI 114/06/2015
SGD6 AEROSPACE SINGAPORE S eptemb er- decemb er
UAVs - THE FUTURE IS NOW AeroNews SG
CAAS & EASA to Study Wake Turbulence of Aircraft
InFocus
Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk
InProfile
Arianespace: To Infinity and Beyond
AeroStyle
What’s Brewing Tea Guru?
MESSAGE
UAVs – Taking the industry to new heights
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t has been another good year for the aerospace sector in 2015, and as we approach 2016 and the Singapore Airshow, I am looking forward to further developments and innovation in the industry. In this issue, we are thrilled to bring you into the realm of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), touted to be our next big frontier. While it may seem like a revolutionary concept, UAVs are not an entirely modern notion. As early as the third century BC, the Chinese have sought to achieve military advantage with devices held aloft by aerodynamic forces. The book of Han Fei Zi described the construction of a wooden “Black-Eared-Kite”, used to lift an observer
above the city of WeiFang during the Warring Empires period (475 to 221 BCE) to observe enemy movements. Today, UAV is a flourishing industry with global spending expected to triple over the next decade in military, commercial, and consumer markets. The Teal Group, a market analysis firm, estimates that UAV production worldwide will soar from $5.6 billion annually to $19.5 billion, totalling $130 billion in the next 10 years. The global UAV market is expected to expand at 5.5 percent yearly, and reach $7.79 billion by 2020, with a CAGR of over 32 percent. In the domestic arena, home-grown giant ST Engineering has been making strides with the development of its Skyblade and USTAR series as well as its UAV training simulator. B2C companies have also jumped on the UAV bandwagon. Recently, Singapore Post successfully completed a package drone delivery trial, developed together with the Infocomm Development Agency. The Pixhawk Steadidrone carried a letter and T-shirt a distance of 2km to be the world’s first UAV point-to-point recipient-authenticated mail delivery. Organisations large and small are increasingly tapping on the capabilities of UAVs for aerial advertising and event photography and filming, search and rescue, as well as surveillance and inspection. This, along with growing interest in recreational drones among local hobbyists, has prompted the introduction of new laws to regulate the use of drones and ensure aerial activities are conducted safely given Singapore’s tight airspace and intense aircraft operations. With investments being pumped into R&D, I expect that UAVs will continue to grow in sophistication and find usage in previously unthinkable ways, including in MRO. European low-cost carrier EasyJet recently announced plans to deploy UAVs to its maintenance bases to help inspect its Airbus A320s for hail and lightning-strike damage. The developers of the system are now working on using UAVs to enhance visual checks by engineers inspecting larger Airbus A330s. The possibilities with UAVs are limitless and its business prospects are exciting. With the potential to increase productivity and enhance the effectiveness of our operations, it is definitely something worthy for Aerospace Singapore to delve into. I hope you enjoy this issue. Kenneth Ang / Chief Executive, AAIS
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CONTENTS VOL 8 / NO.3 / 2015
AERONEWS
04 Chinese Plane Maker Selects Dunlop For New Turboprop AERONEWS SINGAPORE
07 CAE Awarded Airline Training Solution Contracts
FEATURE
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UAVs - THE FUTURE IS NOW The drones market is seeing a significant growth in the civil and military industries
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Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk An unmanned aircraft used by the U.S. Air Force and Navy
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Reaching for the Sky — Hope Technik Get to know the local robotics powerhouse INPROFILE
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To Infinity and Beyond Richard Bowles of Arianespace shares his wealth of experience
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Putting the Environment First Pratt & Whitney’s Dr. Alan H. Epstein leads efforts on environmental efficiencies
AAIS MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE 2013-2015
AEROEDU/YOUTH
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Astronauts in Training: Space Academy Singapore Unique training programme aimed at generating interest in science and engineering
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A Head Start for the Youths Lecturers and students share exciting UAV projects present in their institutions AEROSTYLE
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What’s Brewing Tea Guru? An interview with The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf ’s tea master
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Thomas Kennedy SR Technics Singapore Pte Ltd Philip Ang Vector Aerospace Asia Pte Ltd
President Philip Quek SIA Engineering Company Ltd
PUBLISHER
1st Vice President Jeffrey Lam ST Aerospace Ltd
Association of Aerospace Industries (Singapore)
2nd Vice President Ho Tin Pau Rolls-Royce Singapore Pte Ltd
Chief Executive Kenneth Ang
Honorary Secretary Steven Pearson Aviall Pte Ltd
Director, Sales & Marketing / Head, Publications Agnes Chua agneschua@aais.org.sg
Honorary Treasurer Chow Kok Wah Singapore Institute of Aerospace Engineers
Assistant Manager, Corporate Communications Ann Majid ann@aais.org.sg
Assistant Honorary Secretary Lim Hee Joo Wah Son Engineering Pte Ltd
EDITORIAL & DESIGN
Assistant Honorary Treasurer Jimson Ngiam Thales Solutions Asia Pte Ltd
Over Singapore A showcase of the ever-changing landscape captured from the air
Committee Members Lien Whai Cheng Coway Engineering & Marketing Pte Ltd
AAIS
Philip Sung Esterline Sensors Services Asia Pte Ltd
38 A roundup of recent happenings at the Association
Steve Price International Engine Component Overhaul Pte Ltd Ekkehard Pracht Liebherr-Singapore Pte Ltd Fergus Lopez Parker Aerospace Co-opt Committee Members Prof Graham Hunt Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
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Managing Director Arvind Pasricha Mobile: +65 9189 9672 arvind@paulandmarigold.com www.paulandmarigold.com Editor Gwen Ong Contributors R.Subendran Kashini Krishnamurthy Art Director Arul Devadawson Photography AEROPHOTOWORKS
ASSOCIATION OF AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES (SINGAPORE) 4 Changi South Lane , #07-01A, AAIS AeroHub Nan Wah Building, Singapore 486127 Tel: 65 6922 1788 • Fax: 65 6783 9129 www.aais.org.sg • www.facebook.com/aero.sg All rights reserved. Copyright 2015. Reproduction in whole or part of the magazine is strictly prohibited without the expressed permission of the publisher. The views of the contributors are entirely their own and do not necessarily represent those of the AAIS or the management committee. AAIS does not endorse any products and services featured in the magazine’s advertisements expect those in its own advertisements. AEROSPACE Singapore is printed by Atlas Cetak (M) Sdn Bhd (97608-x) MCI 114/06/2015
AeroNews
Chinese Plane Maker Selects Dunlop For New Turboprop Dunlop Aircraft Tyres announced at the Paris Air Show that it has been selected to provide tyres for an all new turboprop regional airliner being developed by Chinese manufacturer AVIC Aircraft Xi’an Branch.
ICAO Launches New Aircraft Tracking Website
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ach Modern Ark 700 aircraft (MA700) will require six tyres (two for the nosewheels and four for the mainwheels) and the manufacturer projects worldwide sales of approximately 800 aircraft. AVIC Aircraft Xi’an Branch says that the MA700 will burn about 10 percent less fuel than its competitors and will be the first China-made turboprop aircraft to gain certification by western authorities. The 70-seat aircraft is due to make its first flight in 2017 ahead of entry into service in 2019 with launch customers Okay Airways and Joy Air. “Not only will Dunlop be a key
partner during the development of the aircraft, but once the MA700 is in service, the company’s ability to retread tyres here in China as well as in Europe and the Americas will mean that we can jointly serve the needs of our global customer base,” said Mr Wang Bing, director of the programme management department at AVIC Aircraft Xi’an Branch. Ian Edmondson, chairman of Dunlop Aircraft Tyres said “AVIC is looking to be a major player in the regional turboprop marketplace and we are very excited to have been selected as the tyre supplier for the MA700. The MA700 selection will help Dunlop retain its strong share of the regional market segment.”
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Aerospace Singapore
he International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) announced the launch of its new centralised online information area for aircraft tracking developments. The new aircraft tracking information area, available on the ICAO Public Website, provides a detailed timeline and all supporting reports and documentation relating to the call for and realisation of the world’s first global aircraft tracking requirements. ICAO Member States recommended the adoption of a new 15-minute aircraft tracking Standard during discussions amongst the over 850 participants to the UN specialised agency’s 2015 High-Level Safety Conference (HLSC) in February of this year. The new information area aggregating the documentation and developments on aircraft tracking responds to calls from the HLSC to lead the conduct of a Normal Aircraft Tracking Implementation Initiative (NATII) using existing technologies. A NATII Steering Committee, with global participation, was formed and the Asia/ Pacific Region was selected as a representative area of operations for the initiative. The recommended Standard is expected to be adopted at the end of 2015.
India Launches World’s First Solar-Powered Airport at Kochi Cochin International Airport has scripted another chapter in aviation history by becoming the first airport in the world that completely operates on solar power.
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hief Minister of the Indian state of Kerala, Oommen Chandy inaugurated the 12 MWp solar power plant on 18 August 2015, comprising 46,150 solar panels laid across 45 acres near the cargo complex. Cochin airport’s solar power plant is set to produce 50,000 to 60,000 units of electricity per day to be consumed for all its operational functions, which technically makes the airport ‘absolutely power neutral’. Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), which has always adhered to the philosophy of sustainable development, ventured into the Solar Photovoltaic (PV) sector in March 2013, by installing a 100 kWp solar PV Plant on the rooftop of the Arrival Terminal Block. After the successful commissioning of this plant, CIAL installed a 1 MWp solar PV power plant partly on the rooftop and partly on the ground in the Aircraft Maintenance Hangar facility within the airport premises. Both the plants are equipped with a SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system, through which remote monitoring is carried out. These plants have reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by some 550 metric tonnes, contributing to
of the airport. This is a grid connected system without battery storage; a power banking module with the Kerala State electricity board has been worked out wherein CIAL gives as much power as it produces (in day time) to the grid and ‘buy’ back the power from them when needed (especially at night). This plant is expected to produce 18 million units of power from the sun annually – the power equivalent to feed 10,000 homes for one year. Over the next 25 years, this green power project will reduce CO2 emissions from coal fired power plants by more than 300,000 metric tons, which is equivalent to planting three million trees.
the efforts of CIAL towards minimising environmental degradation. Inspired by the success of the above plants, CIAL decided to set up a larger scale 12MWp solar PV plant as part of its green initiatives. This was set up in an area of about 45 acres near the International Cargo complex. This installation is expected to generate around 48,000 units per day, which along with the electricity generated from the existing 1.10 MWp plants, make the total output around 52,000 units a day – and would be sufficient to meet the power requirement
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AeroNews
Tony Tyler to Retire as IATA Director General and CEO in June 2016
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he International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that its Director General and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Tony Tyler will retire in June 2016 after serving five years in the position. “Tony Tyler is a very effective leader of IATA. I regret that he will be leaving the Association, but respect his decision to retire after a long and successful career in aviation. The search will now start for a successor to be appointed at the next IATA Annual General Meeting in Dublin in June 2016,” said Andrés Conesa, Chief Executive Officer of Aeroméxico and Chairman of the IATA Board of Governors since June this year. “It is a great privilege and responsibility to lead IATA, and I am proud of what the IATA team is achieving during my term of office. I greatly appreciate the support I receive from the Board of Governors and the membership at large, and from my colleagues. I remain fully committed to leading IATA until my successor is appointed in June next year,” said Tyler. Before joining IATA in 2011, Tyler was Chief Executive of Cathay Pacific Airways in Hong Kong, in which capacity he also served on the IATA Board of Governors including as its Chairman from June 2009 to June 2010.
Airbus Starts Production of the First A330neo Airbus’ first A300neo is coming to life one year after the programme was launched, with the first ‘cutting of metal’ underway at its production facilities in Toulouse and Nantes. Machining of the first engine pylon started during the summer at Airbus’ facility in Saint-Eloi (Toulouse), while Airbus’ Plant in Nantes began production of the first A330neo centre wing box.
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he first A330neo Centre Wing Box rib 1 produced in Nantes uses an innovative Isogrid design with 330 triangular pockets which enables the part to meet all rigidity, strength and low weight requirements. The all-new pylon produced in Satin-Eloi is a key element in the A330neo’s innovative design, attaching the latest generation, fuel-efficient Trent 7000 engines to the wings. Made out of lightweight titanium, the A330neo pylon uses cutting-edge aerodynamics, materials and design technologies derived from the A350 XWB. The A330neo pylon will be fitted with a new A350 XWB inspired fairing made from composite materials and titanium, ensuring optimised aerodynamics.
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Aerospace Singapore
The A330-800neo and the A330-900neo are two new members of the Airbus Widebody Family with first deliveries scheduled to start in Q4 2017. The A330neo incorporates latest generation RollsRoyce Trent 7000 engines, aerodynamic enhancements and new cabin features. Benefitting from the unbeatable economics, versatility and high reliability of the A330, the A330neo reduces fuel consumption by 14 percent per seat, making it the most cost efficient, medium range Widebody aircraft on the market. In addition to greater fuel savings, A330neo operators will also benefit from a range increase of up to 400 nautical miles and all the operational commonality advantages of the Airbus Family.
AeroNews SINGAPORE
CAE Awarded Airline Training Solution Contracts CAE announced a series of training solution contracts with airlines and aircraft manufacturers including with Singapore’s Airbus Asia Training Centre valued at more than S$140 million.
LEFT: CAE Tropos 600XR visual system offers unprecedented realism.
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ABOVE: A320 CAE 7000XR fullflight simulator.
he diversity of these agreements highlights the span of CAE’s full range of training equipment and programmes that cover the entire career life cycle of professional pilots, from cadet to captain and crew sourcing. A training equipment agreement with Airbus Asia Training Centre (AATC) in Singapore for an A320 CAE 7000XR full-flight simulator (FFS) and an A320 Airbus Pilot Transition (APT) Trainer. The A320 CAE 7000XR FFS will be equipped with the latest CAE Tropos 600XR visual system which offers unprecedented realism. The CAE 7000XR FFS will be ready for
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training at the end of March 2016. “We are looking forward to the opening of our new training centre in Singapore and are delighted to offer state-of-the-art technology to our customers,” said Captain Yann Lardet, General Manager at Airbus Asia Training Centre. “The inauguration of the A320 FFS supports the industry’s training requirements and demand for excellence.” CAE and Airbus have also signed a frame contract at the Paris Airshow in June, which enables Airbus to expedite procurement of flight simulation devices for their customers, Airbus training centres and their affiliates worldwide.
AeroNews SINGAPORE
Senior Management Announcements Dev Rudra Dev Rudra was named Site Leader and Managing Director of GE Singapore’s component repair shops GEASO and GE-ATI in June 2015. Dev will lead integration of the two sites into a single entity and prepare them for growth. GEASO and GE-ATI employ around 1,500 employees and provide engine component repair services on all GE engines to a worldwide customer base. Prior to joining GE in April 2015, Dev held multiple MRO leadership roles of increasing responsibility in North America and Asia during his 15 years at Pratt & Whitney and UTC Aerospace Systems.
Louis Leong Louis Leong assumes the role of Vice President, Asia at Hawker Pacific Asia Pte Ltd as of June 1, 2015, overseeing the company’s offices in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Hong Kong and China. Being in aviation for over 26 years, Louis brings to this role his engineering experience with the Republic of Singapore Air Force and SIA Engineering Company. Louis joined Hawker Pacific Asia in 2012 as Quality Manager and was promoted to Director of Compliance, Safety and Risk for the Asia region after a year.
OLIVIER THOMAS Olivier Thomas is the new CEO of Safran Electronics Asia Private Limited with effect from 1 September 2015. Olivier succeeded Franck Scherer who was CEO of the company for the last 10 years. Olivier will continue to spearhead the growth of Safran Electronics Asia’s aerospace MRO business in the Asia-Pacific region. Prior to joining the company, Olivier was Head of Equipment Systems at Safran Engineering Services in France, where he managed various aircraft projects across multiple countries. Olivier brings a wealth of experiences in people and project management.
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CAAS Partners EASA in Study Of Wake Turbulence of Aircraft Collaboration aims to identify ways to boost runway capacity safely.
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he Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have signed a Working Arrangement (WA) to conduct a study of aircraft wake turbulence at Changi Airport, with the aim of reducing aircraft separation standards safely. The outcome of the study could increase runway capacity at Changi Airport and other airports globally. Due to the safety hazard posed by wake turbulence, an aircraft following behind another aircraft, for example, in departure or landing, must maintain an adequate safe distance. The minimum safety separation between two aircraft, in turn, determines runway capacity. Recognising this, CAAS and EASA will work together to conduct wake vortex measurements of aircraft operating at Changi Airport. This study will involve real-time data collection via the use of laser imaging detection and ranging technology (LIDAR), as well as a review of air traffic control working procedures and methods to ensure safe aircraft separation. Outcomes and recommendations from this study would potentially provide the scientific basis for further enhancement of aircraft separation standards, without compromising on safety. Executive Director of EASA, Mr. Patrick Ky, said, “This new Working Arrangement will bring valuable data and information on wake turbulences in an operational environment and will further improve our understanding of this complex topic in order to guarantee the highest level of safety to passengers.” Director-General of CAAS, Mr. Kevin Shum, added, “This study is timely as Singapore and others in the international aviation community are finding various ways to optimise runway capacity to handle more flights in a safe manner.” The WA was signed on the sidelines of the World Civil Aviation Chief Executives Forum held at Singapore Aviation Academy.
Aerospace Singapore
AeroNews SINGAPORE
Singapore Airshow 2016
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he Singapore Airshow 2016 has received overwhelming support from exhibitors with more than 90 percent of exhibition space being booked to date, 75 percent of which are returning exhibitors and industry heavyweights. This is a resounding vote of confidence in the importance of the Singapore Airshow as a strategic platform for industry players to tap into the thriving Asia Pacific region. Singapore Airshow is Asia’s largest and one of the most important aerospace and defence exhibitions in the world. It is also one of the few multi-faceted events in the region that combines both military and commercial aviation in one strategic location. Organised by Experia Events, this biennial airshow has been successful in bringing together the largest number of high-level military and government delegations, leading industry players from national airlines, airport operators, aircraft manufacturers and related industries to network and do business in this dynamic region. Mr Leck Chet Lam, Managing Director of Experia Events, said, “This key proposition underscores its importance in delivering rich networking opportunities and fostering collaborations for the Asia Pacific and global aviation markets.” “This strong focus on continually attracting and retaining a global
audience complements our unique geographical advantage, and are key points of differentiation that have enabled us to create a show that is in sync with trends and developments in the region.” “With these valuable differentiators, I am confident that the Singapore Airshow will continue to build upon what we have achieved and attract even more companies to be active participants in the growth of the aviation industry in the region and beyond,” he added.
New highlights France as Feature Country
The Feature Country series was first introduced in 2014 to spotlight on countries which have strong and thriving businesses in the aerospace, defence and aviation sectors. It offers companies exhibiting in the Feature Country pavilion increased exposure through access to specific activities and programmes which includes, for example, specially facilitated meetings with VIP delegations. These companies will be able to leverage the Feature Country platform to better explore and tap into the rich opportunities available in the Asia Pacific market. France has been chosen as the Singapore Airshow 2016 Feature Country because of its position as a major player in the aviation industry. It is a key global aerospace services and products
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Aerospace Singapore
exporter, with an aerospace, defence and security industry worth ¤47.9 billion (approx. S$76.2 billion). New and Improved Dedicated Zone Areas
Singapore Airshow 2016 will feature the Training and Simulation Zone, an expansion of the Aviation Training Zone which was launched in 2014. The zone will showcase education, training and simulation technologies for pilots, flight-deck and cabin
crew, aerospace and maintenance engineers, technicians and air traffic controllers. New to the Singapore Airshow 2016 will be the Business Aviation Zone and the Aerospace Emerging Technologies Zone that will offer visitors a focused look at areas of the aerospace and defence industry that are of increasing significance in today’s landscape. It’s an unique opportunity for the entire spectrum of the business aviation market from aircraft manufacturers, OEMs to FBOs and parts suppliers to showcase their products and services to top business leaders, entrepreneurs, wealth creators and other purchase decision-makers. The Aerospace Emerging Technologies Zone is a platform for exhibitors to showcase their products and offerings in two broad categories – Aerospace Manufacturing and Aerospace IT. This is a timely initiative as companies increasingly seek innovative breakthroughs in technologies and industrial process improvements.
(APSEC). As mainstays at Singapore Airshow, the two strategic conferences have always been well received by participants and are highly anticipated at each edition. Together, they offer a unique platform for thought leadership, bringing together leading industry players, government and military chiefs to engage in dialogues, exchange ideas and seek solutions and strategies to advance the interests of the aerospace and aviation sector. Co-located Events
Business Forums
Back by popular demand, the Business Forums focus on the latest developments and business opportunities in the aerospace and aviation markets. Singapore Airshow 2016 will see the debut of the Emerging Technologies Business Forum that will feature two focal emerging technologies domains, namely Additive Manufacturing and Aircraft-related IT, and the Training & Simulation Business Forum which will focus on the growth of the military training and simulation market. The popular Asia Business Forum will also make its return in 2016. Strategic Conferences
Singapore Airshow 2016 will also see the return of two highly anticipated conferences – the Singapore Airshow Aviation Leadership Summit (SAALS) and the Asia Pacific Security Conference
Adding to the dynamic discussion during the event week will be co-located events including: A*Star Aerospace Technology Leadership Forum 2016, the fourth in its series that will see leaders from major aerospace companies convene to discuss how technology and R&D affect the various facets of the aerospace industry. Singapore Aerospace Technology and Engineering Conference (SATEC 2016) which is themed, ‘Innovation in Aerospace’, and will focus on the development and implementation of new technologies in the industry. ATW Annual Airline Industry Achievement Awards recognises outstanding achievement and contributions made by airline and related industry leaders. The evening highlights the winning strategies and provides opportunities to network with leaders in the industry.
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FEATURE
Text by R.Subendran
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Aerospace Singapore
UAVs THE FUTURE IS NOW In recent years, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones have come to the forefront of civil and military aviation. This technology has also infiltrated the consumer market, in which the hobbyists too have a say in the growth, causing the grounds of aviation to shift drastically.
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FEATURE
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t is not a stretch to say that this is now the most significant mark in aviation history since the jet engine was introduced. Picture this: a teenager could quite easily walk into a computer or tech store and get a sturdy drone, and he or she could then fly it over the Prime Minister’s or President’s house. Then what? This actually happened in the United States. In January 2015, a quadcopter was found on a tree in the lawn of the White House and four months later, a man was detained for trying to operate a drone near the White House. In the former, the operator said he had simply lost control of the drone while the latter was reported to have tried taking aerial photos of the executive mansion. UAVs are here to stay and the market dynamics support this with overall growth in civil (including industry/hobbyist) and military sectors. The number of UAVs in fixed wing and copter categories are increasing in both civil and military industries, with the latter moving fast in terms of technology and procurement. Teal Group, a renowned aviation consulting organisation, and Defense News, a leading publisher of military and government news, both reported that despite budget cutbacks by US and NATO countries, the UAV market still has the most dynamic growth of any sector within the world’s aerospace industry today .
© Copyright 2011, NZ Defence Force
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UAVs are here to stay and the market dynamics support this with overall growth in civil and military sectors.
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UAV Global Growth Forecast Teal Group’s 2014 market study estimates that UAV spending is expected to nearly double over the next decade from current worldwide UAV expenditures of US$6.4 billion annually to US$11.5
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billion, totalling almost US$91 billion over the next decade. “The UAV market continues to evolve and become increasingly global,” said Philip Finnegan, Teal Group’s Director of Corporate Analysis and an author of the study. The civil UAV market is expected to grow at a stronger rate in comparison to the military market. Teal Group predicts an 89 percent increase for military and an 11 percent cumulative increase in the decade. The numbers will shift upwards to 86 percent for military and 14 percent for civil by the end of the 10-year forecast. The US is still expected to be the dominant innovator and
Aerospace Singapore
purchaser of UAVs – making up a total of 65 percent of the pie expenditure on UAV technology and 41 percent on procurement. On the payload front, tools such as radar, electro-optics, EW (Electronic-Warfare) systems, sensors and other features will increase in funding and production, which is expected to double in value worldwide from US$2.8 billion in 2014 to US$5.6 billion in 2023.
UAV and the Consumers The sales of recreational drones have gone up significantly in the last few years. This is helped by four important advancements in the unmanned industry; namely the merger of drones with video capability, the ability to control aerial aircraft with a smartphone, more robust wireless connections and the heightened interest of consumers to capture and share activities on social media. A cocktail of technologies like gyros, magnetometers, temperature gauges and a processor can all
ABOVE: An army personnel prepares UAV ‘KAHU’ prior to launch.
come in a bundle from US$15US$17 (approx. $20-$24). Gyros measure the rates of rotation, magnetometers act as a digital compass, and temperature gauges pressure sensor, which can measure atmospheric pressure to calculate altitude. Most of these technologies can be found in retail stores and linked to a smartphone allowing hobbyists the ability to control their drones from the convenience in their hands. Recent advancement indicates that the technology is getting smaller; it has become more powerful and can be easily embedded into a chip. This type of technology is ever-changing with innovations happening at a competitive speed. The growth of payload for UAV (electronics) will be the fastest growing sector in the aerospace industry, and the use of technology for payload in the last decade will not be the same for the future as the innovation for these sectors will begin to evolve. There will be unexpected spurts and losses, which may translate to more organisations specialising solely in UAV electronics and software.
UAV in Oil & Gas While drones are undoubtedly big in the military sector, the application of UAVs is also beginning to gain traction in other industries such as oil and gas; a case in point being BP. The international oil and energy giant was one of the first to use drones to improve its processes back in 2011. BP needed to solve its nozzle inspection problem to check on cracks that could potentially lead to an explosion at its Alaska oil and gas facility. A large facility as this typically had to be shut down
for inspection, which results in a loss of millions in earnings, hence inspections can only be carried out once a year. BP looked into alternative high technology solutions and hired a drone expert from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, who, using a 2.5 pound Aeryon Scout Quadrotor, managed to examine the flares between inspections and spot the cracks. BP managed to save millions by detecting the problems early. This is one of the clear benefits of using a drone where it not only saves cost but also lives without putting a person at risk.
UAV in Agriculture UAVs are also leading progress in agriculture. One such example is the Precision Vision™ Crop Health Imaging System, developed by a company based in Indiana. It scans the agriculture area with a drone and delivers a composite video overlay showing the true health of a field in colour contrast, which lets growers see how much sunlight is being absorbed by the crop canopy. In New Zealand, drones are being used not just for farming but also sheep gathering and monitoring. According to the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Association of USA, the use of UAVs in the agriculture sector is valuable and cannot be understated. It costs a fraction of crop-duster or helicopter, it is safer and precise to handle in comparison. The cost of an agriculture drone is comparable to a police squad car, therefore the use of UAVs in the industry is expected to grow further.
UAV Effort in Singapore In comparison to other nations like the US, many countries here in Southeast Asia are still
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POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS OF UAV AGRICULTURE
Scout crops and fields in an efficient manner
LAND SURVEYING
Optical remote sensing of an environment or asset
AID DELIVERY
dropping packages in difficult environments
MEDIA
Aerial photo journalism or inexpensive filming on location
FEATURE 5
lacking behind especially in terms of long-range UAV capability. Singapore however, is already active in the development of high technology defence materials such as weaponry, weapons systems and land and marine vessels – with capabilities on par with international competitors. Singapore Technologies, the parent company of ST Aerospace for example, is a global integrated engineering group with capabilities in aerospace, marine and land systems and UAV technology that was built on from the existing human capital base of these very organisations. Most technologies that are applied in the military market will eventually filter down to the civilian market; Singapore with ST Aerospace have already made in-roads on this. The McKinsey report ‘Southeast Asia: The Next Growth Opportunity in Defense’ highlighted that most Southeast Asian countries’ capabilities extend only to low-tech development and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul
Southeast Asia: The Next Growth Opportunity in Defense
Scan the QR code to download the report
(MRO) of imported products. In some cases, countries in the region are seeking to jointly develop both defence and broader industry capabilities through targeted local defence manufacturing. For example, ThalesRaytheonSystems (TRS) signed a US$164 million deal to supply Indonesia with its ForceSHIELD Short-Range Air Defense System. As part of the contract, TRS is expected to work with and transfer radar manufacturing skills and knowledge to Indonesian state-owned electronics firm PT LEN Industri. Closer to home, ST Aerospace has its own engineering and development centre, and back in 2012, signed a MoU with Cosworth Group of United Kingdom to jointly develop heavy fuel system engines for UAVs in the Asia-Pacific market. ST Aerospace has also made strides together with DSO Laboratories of Singapore on the Sky-Blade (SB) 111, SkyBlade IV and Sky-Blade 360.
Singapore is the first to develop a sturdy fleet of UAVs in Southeast Asia that can be used for civil and military applications. The fixed wing application together with the rotor blade series of USTAR-Y and USTAR-X cover the basic UAV scope. Other organisations as well have already made strides by setting-up shop in Singapore. Itchimi Asia, a distributor of the MultiRotor ServiceDrone from Germany, has been in operations since 2007 and heading this effort is Philip Von Meyenburg. “It was a logical step to base my start-up business here in Singapore. The business environment is ideal, very low bureaucracy and very supportive for new companies,” said Philip. “The Singapore UAV market is interesting especially for services and the high growth areas for us are the land-rich countries in surrounding Southeast Asia.” Itchimi Asia is currently in discussions with several Singaporebased companies to combine its offerings. “As our UAVs can be
Dos and Don’ts of UAV Dos Fly only in good visibility and weather conditions
Keep a sufficient distance from people, property and other aircraft (manned or unmanned)
Know the characteristics of the aircraft and how to fly it safely Ensure that the aircraft is safe for flight before you operate it
Ensure the operation of transmitting devices of the unmanned aircraft system complies with IDA requirements Keep your aircraft within your sight at all times
Credit: Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
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Aerospace Singapore
used in a large array of industries, it makes sense for us to work with specialists in different sectors. This could include Singaporebased sensor manufacturers who are offering specialised cameras for our customers in the region or specialists in the communications sector who can help offer specialised telemetry links for data transmission.”
Commercial & legal aspects of UAVs Singapore is not alone in wrestling with the laws of UAVs, other countries are slowly coming to terms with this. For instance, South Africa has put its own drone regulation into effect as of July 2015. From advertisements to wildlife documentaries, TV shows and movies, the country has long been a hotbed for commercial productions using drones. But South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has now ceased issuing permits for this and given a blanket ban; the SACAA
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Singapore is not alone in wrestling with the laws of UAVs, other countries are slowly coming to terms with this.
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reasoned that it needs more time to investigate the use of drone in civil airspace, much to the frustrations of the country’s drone users. In Australia, the laws are based on the usage of drone – one involving hobbyists and the other when the drone is classified as aircraft. Herein lies the grey area where if you are registered as a licensed operator, the drone is considered an aircraft and you’d need to clear the flying route with the authority. A commercial shoot in the city would require logistics movement of up to three weeks, so how fast a permit is approved is vital. Furthermore, due to safety reasons, there is a law on
how close a drone can operate to where the population is concerned and drones in Australia are not allowed to fly at night legally. Over in India, the application of drones is pretty much straight forward and without much restrictions if the machines are operated 300 feet away from airports and security establishments. Drones are widely used in the films and commercial industries, which are lucrative and big business in India. However, the industry is still at a basic level due to the lack of skilled operators. In the US, drones or UAVs are illegal for any commercial usage but are legal for hobbyists. The congress however has set September 2015 as deadline for the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to issue regulations for commercial use. Meanwhile in Germany, the regulations are similar to Singapore with privacy and even copyright laws coming into play and a special permit is required for drones that are over 25kg.
Don’ts Don’t fly an aircraft weighing more than 7kg (in total) Don’t drop or discharge any item or substance from the aircraft
Don’t suspend, carry or attach any item to the aircraft, unless it is manufactured to hold the item Don’t fly the aircraft over any crowd
Don’t carry hazardous substances using the aircraft
Don’t fly where you may interfere with emergency service providers; or over moving vehicles where you can endanger or distract drivers
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Don’t fly the aircraft over or within restricted, prohibited or danger areas, including security-sensitive locations
Don’t fly within 5km of any airport/military airbase, or higher than 200 feet
InFOCUS
The Global Hawk provides near real-time high resolution coverage using imagery intelligence (IMINT), signals intelligence (SIGINT) and moving target indicator sensor.
The Global Hawk is equipped with a Hughes Integrated Surveillance & Reconnaissance (HISAR) sensor systems, and also the Raytheon AN/ALR-89 self-protection suite consisting of the AN/ALR-90 pulsed Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), the AN/AVR-3 Laser Warning System, AN/APR-49 Radar Warning Receiver (a jamming system), and the AN/ALE-50 towed decoy.
The Global Hawk Wide Area Surveillance carries the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MR-RTIP), which allows situational awareness and targeting information on both fixed and moving targets.
Specifications (Multi-INT and Wide Area Surveillance Models)
Specifications Wingspan: 130.9 ft (39.9 m) Length: 47.6 ft (14.5m) Height: 15.4 ft (4.7 m) Gross Take-off Weight: 32,250 lbs. (14,628 kg) Maximum Altitude: 60,000 ft (18.3 km) Payload : 3,000 lbs (1,360 kg) Ferry Range: 12,300 nm (22,780 km) Loiter Velocity: 310 knots True Air Speed (TAS) On-station Endurance at 1,200 nm: 24 hrs Maximum Endurance: 32+hrs
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Mission parameters programmed into the Global Hawk allows the aircraft to autonomously taxi, take off, fly, remain on station, return and land.
Aerospace Singapore
Northrop Grumman
RQ-4 Global Hawk The Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk is a high-altitude longendurance (HALE) Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) unmanned aircraft utilised by the United States Air Force and Navy. Global Hawk’s mission is to provide a broad spectrum of ISR collection capability to support joint combatant forces in worldwide peacetime, contingency and wartime operations. Northrop Grumman Corp has recently won a contract worth up to US$3.2 billion for continued development, modernisation and maintenance of all U.S. Air Force variants of the Global Hawk. The Global Hawk can carry out reconnaissance missions in all types of operation. The aircraft can operate at 14,000nm range and 42 hours endurance, and surveillance can be carried out over an area of 40,000nm² to an altitude of 65,000ft in 24 hours.
The Global Hawk has a unique appearance with the ‘bulge’ at the top front surface housing the 48in Kuband wideband satellite communications antenna.
The Global Hawk is flown by a Launch and Recovery Element (LRE) and a Mission Control Element (MCE). The LRE is located at the base; it functions to launch and recover the aircraft while en route to and from the target area. The MCE is manned by one pilot on ground to control the bulk of the ISR mission.
The pilot workstations on ground feature the control and display interface (cockpit) to monitor the RQ-4’s health and status, sensors status and navigation track. The operator can also communicate with outside entities – air traffic control, ground controllers, other ISR assets, etc. – to coordinate the mission.
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INfocus InFOCUS
B
ased on the premise that a day would come when robots go mainstream, Hope has, through the course of delivering over 250 contracts globally, built up its mechanical, electrical and software capabilities with a suite of expertise that span from proof-of-concept to production. Aerospace Singapore speaks to Ken Chan, the head of unmanned systems, about the advancement of UAV technology and its strategy to meet demands. Can you tell us a little about the Unmanned Systems department at Hope Technik? What is your primary role here? I look after the strategic and technical development and roadmap of Hope Unmanned Systems (HUxS). HUxS develops and produces unmanned systems for specialised industries such as defence, homeland security, oil and gas, and maritime. Among the products available from HUxS include Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The HUxS team also work together with research institutions and industries on autonomous vehicles.
reaching for the sky— hope technik H ope Technik Pte Ltd is a Singapore-based high-tech engineering company founded in 2006. The company has built its position to be a robotics powerhouse through systematic development of its various divisions which have established gold-standard capabilities and international accreditation. Currently, the SME employs 80 staff.
How has the Hope Unmanned Systems department progressed since 2006? What are the significant changes you have seen at Hope? Since its humble beginnings in 2006, HUxS has always been on the forefront in the development of unmanned systems. Despite being a new kid on the block, HUxS has had the opportunity to work with major defence companies in developing UAVs; and capabilities that were revolutionary then have since become mainstream. In 2012, HUxS began its first full scale development of an unmanned system for a defence client. It stands out as our first full development from hardware to software, and on to the United States military qualifications. Essentially, we produced our first strictly MIL-SPEC equipment. Currently, the team is developing new classes of UAVs that are smaller, lighter and with longer flight
ABOVE: Water Spider taking off.
endurance. We are also developing capabilities that allow the UAVs to be able to fly in adverse environments, such as urban cities and off-shore. In your opinion, what are some of the trends or developments that are set to take off in the UAV industry in Singapore? With Singapore marching towards being a Smart Nation, more and more sectors will begin to appreciate the development of unmanned systems and robotics. We will see UAVs being used for critical infrastructure surveillance, perimeter protection and even transportation for logistics and medicine. We will see UAVs become more user-centric
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in terms of handling and control, able to move agilely in all sorts of conditions (indoors, outdoors, day and night) and move in tandem with other unmanned and/or manned systems. How has the advancement in UAV technology benefitted the business at Hope? Technology advancement will always help any business to grow. In our case, the miniaturisation of electronics and sensors, as well as advanced additive and composite manufacturing, has enabled us to make our systems more compact, stealthier and perform better. What is the current strategy in place to expand your range of products and services? We are currently getting our products accredited in Singapore. We are also riding on both CAAS’ world leading initiative to regulate UAVs and also efforts by IDA to accredit the UAV systems architecture for safety and robustness. On the commercial front, we are seeing and supporting a growing regional demand for our industrial grade UAVs. How quickly have your customers’ needs evolved over the years? How well are you managing their needs? Our customers’ needs have changed quickly throughout the years. From making the systems lighter to having higher video quality, we have managed to meet most of their requirements. The two most common needs – longer operating time and range – are common issues faced by everyone. As technologists, we have pioneered novel solutions such as SWARM technology to allow multiple UAVs to work in unison to solve the range and operating time demands. The collection of UAVs automatically replaces each other mid-flight and even reposition themselves to be rebro-stations (mobile communications nodes that extend the communication range between the UAVs and controllers); this is all transparent to the operator who only experiences a near endless flight time and without limits to the range. What seems to be the greatest challenge in this line of work? How have you overcomedthis? There are lots of challenges in this line. The greatest would be how to turn a novice operator to a skilled one. We have overcome that by giving our systems
ABOVE: Hope Technik focuses on providing solutions to the high performance industries.
intelligence. Our technology is taking away more and more responsibilities and tasks from the Operator, making it easier and easier to operate the machine. Our next generation of Operators are the ‘Playstation’ generation, and we are making our UAVs aligned with the ease of use and smartness they are used to. Another challenge is the managing of expectations of the customer. We keep close communication with them to fully understand their operational requirements, giving them constructive suggestions and giving full support whenever within our capability. How will the introduction of the UAV regulations by CAAS affect sales in Singapore? The main objective of the recent UAV regulations is to ensure that UAVs that are flying in our skies are safe. In my opinion, this is actually not a hindrance to us, as most of our customers are people who are well-versed in controlling -remote-controlled equipments and responsible end-users. As our UAVs can be autonomously controlled, this differentiate us from others where our customers can control the UAV easily without having the fear of crashing.
ABOVE: Water Spider — a waterbound UAV in operation. This UAV is able to take-off and land on water, as well as follow a moving vessel moving up to 10 knots.
What strategies are in place at Hope to recruit and retain talent? In the company, we have our “10 Rules of Engagement” – of which the first rule says “It is a passion and career, not a job”. We work very closely with local and overseas educational institutions in providing industrial internships and work opportunities to build up the students engineering knowledge and help us in identifying talents. What can Singapore look forward to from Hope Technik? Singapore will continue to see Hope Technik delivering world-class solutions to the country and beyond. We do hope to be the “Skunkworks” and “Google” of this region.
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INPROFILE
S
ince taking the leap to join the newly established Arianespace in 1986, Richard Bowles has proven himself to be well-versed in the global satellite launch industry. Prior to his career-defining stint in Arianespace, he trained with Rolls-Royce Aero Engine before moving on to Philips’ PYE TVT division and subsequently, delving into computing technology at Plessey Microsystems. He joined Arianespace at a challenging time when the V15 and V18 launchers had failed. From marketing support function for Arianespace, he moved on to sales and took responsibility for Turkey and Canada. After successfully proving himself in those areas, he was given the responsibility of promoting sales in Southeast Asia and his efforts were rewarded when the first satellite launch contract for Arianespace in this region was signed for Thaicom 1. Aerospace Singapore sits down with him for a chat about his current position as Managing Director for Asean countries. How did you get into this industry? What was it that attracted you? I was living in France working at a division of Plessey, a UK company, and I was contacted by a head hunter. That was in 1986 and at the beginning of the Ariane adventure. It was a gamble at that time as the Ariane launcher was recovering from two recent failures, V15 and V18. My first launch was V19, the successful launch of a satellite for Australia. I was attracted to Arianespace by its Pan-European dimension. I have always thought that nations should work together cooperatively and Arianespace is an example of what Europeans can achieve together.  What kind of education or experience do you need for your position? I have a Bachelors degree in Production engineering from the University of Loughborough in the UK and I completed a graduate apprenticeship with Rolls Royce Aero Engines. That gave me an
To infinity and beyond Richard Bowles is the Regional Director of Arianespace in Singapore. He has been with the company for nearly three decades now, bringing with him a wealth of experience in the sales and marketing of satellite communications business. 22
Aerospace Singapore
LEFT: Richard Bowles, Regional Director of Arianespace, Singapore.
insight into the engineering aspects of the aerospace industry. Later in my career I was responsible for sales of professional television systems, from studio equipment to studios and transmitter networks. That gave me an insight into TV broadcasting, which is a very significant part of the satellite communications business. Whilst most employees of Arianespace have a strong technical education, there are some with a more general education. The most important characteristic is to be numerate. How do you move up in your field? Being successful at what you do helps. The Launch Services market is quite small and the number of employees of Arianespace is around 300, so the opportunities for movement within the company are limited. However this may change in the near future as the European Launcher Industry is going through a very significant reorganisation. What do you enjoy most about your job? My job has a wide reach. My most important responsibility is to position Arianespace with respect to new business prospects in the region such that the customers welcome the commercial proposals sent from our head office in France and they sign a contract with Arianespace to launch their satellites. All the other activities are part of this effort and serve as the foundation of our success in the Asia Pacific region. Having a local office, and being an active part of the space industry in Asia, being present at conferences, exhibitions and in the media all contribute to building our presence here. I enjoy all aspects, except the financial accounts, which Singaporean ladies seem to love doing! What do you actually spend the majority of your time doing? I guess the one activity that consumes most of my time is travelling. I chose Singapore as the location of the office because it is at seven hours flying time to Seoul and to Sydney. That gives an idea of the area I need to cover. If you then add at least one trip, often two to the US plus regular trips to Europe it all adds up to a lot of flying! It is part of the large amount of communicating necessary – communicating with customers and within the company. How much have the Ariane launchers improved since the first one? How has the industry
changed and what can we expect from the next generation of launchers and technology? The biggest changes are in size and reliability. The first Ariane 1 could lift around 1.8 tons into the geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), today Ariane 5 lifts more than 10 tons into GTO. A new vehicle in the 1970s was expected to be around 90 percent reliable, today we target for as close as 100 percent as is practically possible. With Ariane 5, we gained a lot of extra lift performance when compared to Ariane 4, but we lost on flexibility. Whilst Ariane’s purpose is to provide Europe with access to space, Ariane 5 has not been able to cover all the requirements. Europe’s Gallileo navigation system and many non GTO missions are too big for Vega but not particularly well-suited to Ariane 5. The more flexible Ariane 6 system will provide Europe with more options for access to space than Ariane 5 has been able to do, and at a lower cost. What is the future of aerospace like? What are some major developments we can expect? The new development I have noticed, and it is very significant, is that we are getting very much better at what we do. When Europe developed a launcher in the post World War 2 era called Europa, it had a 100 percent failure rate – with Ariane 1 the second, 5th, 15th and 18th failed. Today Ariane 5 has now flown more than 60 missions over the last 12 years with no failures. The new European launcher “Vega” has a 100 percent success rate. That is progress and I think we can see that space flight is becoming much safer and this will probably encourage more manned space flight. What are some of the challenges and risks faced by the Arianespace team in regards to preparing a launch? You have to remember that every launch is using a vehicle that has never flown before; every flight is a maiden flight! After the main engine has been ignited we have just seven seconds to decide whether or not we abort the launch, then the lift-off becomes irreversible! This is just time to see if the main engine’s initial performance has ramped up normally. It is checked by a computer during those few seconds. Basically everything has to be right when the engine ignites and the way we achieve this is by trying to make each vehicle the same as the one before. Despite the vehicle being a complex system with
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INPROFILE
many points of potential variability we do our very best to not change anything. If there is an upgrade or a performance enhancement it has to be thoroughly tested and simulated before being integrated into the vehicle, and then it becomes standard. The second very important activity necessary to maintain the continued success is monitoring the post-launch of the vehicles’ behaviour. There are several hundred sensors on the vehicle that relay back the in-flight performance and parameters to our operations centre. This data is examined and compared to previous flights before there is a new launch attempt. In this way we can track any drift in the manufacturing process that might eventually lead to an out of specification performance or even a failure. When each flight is a maiden flight, it is necessary to try to detect failures before they occur! That is the real challenge! What are some of the maintenance expertise needed for the launch facilities? The expertise is related to the technology used. Ariane 5 has cryotechnology for the main core’s propulsion system, this makes operations very different from flying an aircraft.
RIGHT: Ariane 5 Arianespace VA221 launches satellites for the United States and India.
industry. The space industry still needs accountants, human relations and all of the ancillary services. Primarily one thinks of the engineering side and even here, there are many branches of engineering that are not aerospace. So the field is wide. The same is true of the applications; the biggest application is telecommunications, mainly TV broadcasting. However, there is also a lot of science. Some of our most interesting missions are pure science for the European Space Agency. So as with all things in life, if you want to be able to decide the industry you work in and choose your employer, you have to make yourself an excellent candidate! Otherwise, it will be your employer that chooses you and you have less say in the matter.
What is your most memorable Arianespace launch? My first Ariane launch in September 1986. At that time we used the Concorde to fly our customers down to French Guiana. For me, it was an amazing time as when I first joined Rolls-Royce in 1970 I was in Bristol to see the 002 pre-production Concorde land after it had taken off from Toulouse in France for its first flight. To fly supersonic to French Guiana on my first ever Concorde flight to see my first Ariane flight was truly amazing!
What are your views of the space industry and the potential it has? What role can Singapore play? Over the long-term, space could become extremely important. I saw a BBC knowledge programme recently on the TV…because of our knowledge of the planet’s orbit and its variation, there was a prediction that the next ice age will be in 60,000 years. So humankind may have that long to find a better home! Singapore is a multicultural and multi-ethnic country. It is a good example of how by working together, people from very different origins can jointly become successful. Arianespace is a similar example as it has brought together many different countries to achieve its success. If humanity is going to be more than a short interlude in the overall history of this planet, we will all need to work together!
Can you share some advice for those who are keen to join your profession? Be patient, don’t give up if you cannot get your dream job to start with, have an alternative activity that gives you general relevant experience, plan how you can make yourself a good candidate for the job you want. What is needed of a youth or an individual who aspires for a career in the space industry? What are the education and career pathways, training and up-skills to be expected? Space is just a branch of the overall aerospace
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Putting the Environment First Dr. Alan H. Epstein is Vice President of Technology and Environment at Pratt & Whitney. Dr. Epstein is responsible for setting the direction for and coordinating technology across the company as it applies to product performance and environmental impact. He leads Pratt & Whitney’s efforts to identify and evaluate new methods to improve engine performance and fuel efficiency for all new Pratt & Whitney products. Aerospace Singapore sits down with Dr. Epstein on what environmental efficiencies we can look forward to in the near future of aviation.
How much has environment regulation changed in the past decade and how has that affected the industry? What has changed more so is the concern for noise and emissions. The new Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofans (GTF) has a three quarter noise reduction on the ground compared to existing airplanes. So if you’re looking at areas around airports where people complain about the noise then that area is going to shrink by three quarters as the GTFs start to service this year. Not only is it an obligation to do this but it is also a competitive edge to offer the airlines and airports low noise products. Airports in particular tend to be constrained in expanding due to the growing radius of noise pollution as communities don’t like the impact.
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INPROFILE
The GTF is so quiet that if you turn off the engine upon landing, you wouldn’t be able to hear any noise on the ground. You can still hear the airplane whistling through the air but the industry is also working towards quieter airframes, which is something we didn’t have to worry about in the past as the engines masked that noise. Has the technology always been there to reduce noise and emissions? In the past we could lower noise pollution but with higher fuel consumption. So a quieter engine meant a heavier and draggier airplane. The GTF is the first case where I can give you a 15 percent fuel burn reduction and three quarter noise reduction. Has the priority always been noise over emission? This is an interesting point to raise because in most regions, the regulatory board for noise and emissions are separate and often don’t have much to do with one another. The emissions tend to directly affect local air quality and due to rising pollution and environmental concerns, regulators are often raising the bar on emission reductions. The GTF currently halves the emissions that the new regulations permit so Pratt & Whitney has progressively invested in this enormous new technology to reduce emissions and to lower noise. The new challenge is global warming and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The aviation industry currently contributes about 2 percent of the global CO2 emissions but aviation around the world grows 5 percent a year, with most of that growth coming from Asia
ABOVE: P&W Geared Turbofan Engine Cross Section.
because that is where air travel is currently exploding. For every kilogram of fuel burned, we make 3.1 kilograms of CO2 which is relatively good in today’s world. Pratt & Whitney have reduced fuel burning emissions from 2 and 2.5 percent each year since 1970. Since the first commercial jet plane went into service, we have reduced fuel burning emissions by 70 percent and my charter is to keep reducing at this rate.
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Pratt & Whitney have reduced fuel burning emissions from 2 and 2.5 percent each year since 1970
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What else is Pratt & Whitney doing to sustain the fragile state of our environment? We are also looking into sustainable low cost fuels, biofuels. Pratt & Whitney has certified all of its engines now for four different kinds of biofuels with another five different kinds in process. It is technically possible to make a very good biofuel, put it in an airplane and they will run great. The only challenge is where to get the biofuel. It will take capital investment and years to build up biofuel capability. Bio fuel is essentially solar powering the airplanes, because it’s an alternative to fossil energy using the sun. Tell us about Pratt & Whitney’s new engine and some of their distinguishing features. How do these differ from others in the market? This model has the lowest fuel consumption on a single fuel aircraft ever delivered. With the
Airbus Neo going into service later this year, this engine will also be the first in a long time that has met and exceeded its guaranteed performance and we know this from a lot of test airplanes. This engine is also bigger in diameter than the competition but it is actually lighter and this has surprised the world. It is between 300 and 400 kilograms lighter than a smaller sized engine of our competitor. One key to this is the high grade metallic fan, which is made in Singapore, made from aluminium with a titanium edge. The bigger diameter then allows for a bigger fan which can now turn slower so noise reduction is also achieved with this new engine. What are the lifespan of these new engines? Well they have maintenance intervals, just like when you buy a car. The difference with an airplane is that by law you have to bring it in for its scheduled maintenance checks. You measure the lifespan by two things – how many take offs there are and how many hours it runs for. The hardest part on the engine is take off so an airplane that services a long haul route is likely to undergo less maintenance than an aircraft that services a short route with sometimes up to 10 take offs a day. An airplane’s lifespan is most definitely dependant on the service pressure the airplane is put on. Eighty percent of our customers are also buying these new engines on long term service contracts. The industry has fast-changing advances in technology and aircraft design. How does Pratt & Whitney plan to keep your products updated and current?
That is a challenge because technology that affects the rest of the world moves very quickly but technology that surrounds airplanes and jet engines don’t move as fast in comparison to computers and mobile phones. The main reason being that they have to be certified as safe and needs to be reliable for the next 20 years. It takes us about five years to certify a product if we have the technology to do it. The geared turbofans we started in the mid-1980s, ran the first test engine in 1991, ran the second test engine a decade later in 2001 and finally tested the engine in a Boeing 747 in 2007 and 2008 which then launched the product. What can the industry as a community do to foster better sustainability practices that are environmentally friendly? The airplane industry can start with buying better engines in airplanes, implementing green practices at the airports as well as enforcing its commitment to buying biofuels. Pratt & Whitney turns 90 this year, so we have sustainability goals that we would like to reach by our centennial. We have pretty stringent goals where sustainability practices are concerned, and we are involved throughout each step of the business to ensure our practices have the least impact on the environment. We also encourage all our customers to return our
ABOVE: P&W Geared Turbofan Engine Fan Drive Gear System.
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products at the end of the product life cycle for proper destruction. Our employees are passionate about saving the environment so it has become an adopted culture here at Pratt and Whitney to think about our carbon footprint before we begin any task, no matter how menial.
...it is actually lighter and this has surprised the world... One key to this is the high grade metallic fan, which is made in Singapore, made from aluminium with a titanium edge
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AeroEdu/Youth
Text and Photos by Singapore Space & Technology Association
Astronauts in Training: Space Academy Singapore
M
an may have conquered the moon but the deep realm of space is still waiting to be explored. The quantum leap can be made by our youths in this lifetime if we set them on the right path early. This is where the Space Academy Singapore (SAS) comes in. The premiere space training programme at SAS is jointly organised by the Singapore Space & Technology Association (SSTA) and TriVector International. The unique training programme is aimed at generating interest in science
and engineering subjects among the youths, and creating public awareness about the space industry. The SAS’ training is conducted annually with two sessions – a two-day programme is offered to students aged 8 to 12 years old, while the four/five day intensive programme is opened
ABOVE: Students receiving handson lessons on science and engineering. RIGHT: Meet the future cadets.
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to 14 to 21 year olds. Participants of the SAS will be exposed to an exciting space-themed programme that encompasses science, math, personal and leadership development, and hands-on training. What makes this stint an exciting one is that the youths will get to learn first-hand from current and former NASA engineers/scientists, who are currently consultants to NASA’s projects. The students will get the opportunity to interact and grow in a highly challenging setting. The rigorous course is actually modelled after the coveted astronaut selection programme. Among the topics of interest that students get to explore are as follows:
CORE ASTRONAUTICS/AERONAUTICS CURRICULUM Challenges in Space Environment Biological issues human encounter in space environments and countermeasures one should take.
Fundamentals of Rocketry (Junior & Youth) Fundamentals of rocketry, designing and building water rocket system in groups and launching the water rockets, measuring the height of the launch and rocket trajectory.
Fundamentals of Flight The history of flight, advancements in aerospace technology through the years, principles of aeronautics and flight dynamics, engines, aerodynamics and basic principles of pilot training.
Space Commercialisation Understanding the realities of risk-taking in space projects, especially with tight schedule and budget constraint.
Industry Site Visits Industry site visits to Aerospace and Space related companies will be conducted to allow students to interact with and appreciate the industry.
Advanced Aerospace Technology and next generation MRO The latest challenges in aircraft support services, maintenance in a new era of composites and new alloys, studies in lighter aircraft, “green” technology and the material sciences behind civil and military aircraft.
Photonics & Optics (YDSP Module) Geometrical optics will help cadets understand the basics of light reflection and refraction and the use of simple optical elements, such as mirrors, prisms, lenses, and fibres. Physical optics will help them understand the phenomena of light wave interference, diffraction, and polarisation; the use of thin-film coatings on mirrors to enhance or suppress reflection; and the operation of such devices as gratings and quarter-wave plates.
Astrodynamics & Robotic Exploration Module (Junior & Youth) The history of Astrodynamics; deriving related equations and understanding the fundamentals of the NASA Robotic Exploration Mission.
Satellite Navigation, Location & Tracking (Junior & Youth) Processing and analysing downloaded imagery from satellites and gaining a better understanding of real-world satellite applications through hands on experience with guidance from camp instructors.
Extreme Environment Training Participants are put to test in an extreme environment of -11 to -14 Degree Celsius at the Snow City. They are expected to work, think and act fast if they want to survive in the cold, with a set of mission objectives to be completed.
Circuitry and Telemetry (YDSP Module) Cover the basics of electrical engineering (Circuits, resistors, capacitors, transistors) and the concept of telemetry – the transfer of information at a distance via radio waves.
Students will also undergo high element activities to confront their fears, and at the same time, creates opportunities for observing human reaction in negotiating challenges.
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A Head Start for the Youths With interest in the field of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) soaring to greater heights, local educational institutions are moving on to meet the demands with programmes dedicated to this subject. We speak to lecturers as well as students on what they love most about UAVs and the exciting projects present in their respective institutions. BELOW: The NUS UAV group with Dr Siva S. Banda, US Air Force Research Lab Chief Scientist.
National University of Singapore (NUS) Dr Lin Feng Assistant professor, NUS Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) Department and senior research scientist, NUS Temasek Laboratories “The UAV field is relatively young but draws from a rich engineering history. This field gives me an amazing opportunity to create flying machines that are able to assist people in a number of applications, ranging from aerial photography to precision agriculture. The UAV team at the NUS has been working on various research topics related to defence technologies since 2003. The main focus is on unmanned rotorcraft systems and unconventional aircraft, and to explore the potentials of the next
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generation intelligent UAVs in various applications. The main objective of our UAV programme for undergraduate students is to let them apply what they have learnt in lectures on the UAVs. It also provides an opportunity for the students to find their own approach, and allow them to explore or gain experience freely, which will be useful to solve the practical issues they may face in the future. For the graduate students, our UAV team provides the infrastructure to conduct leading-edge UAV research as well as explore potential UAV uses and opportunities. Both the undergraduate and graduate students have the freedom to decide the detailed scope of work according to their interests and strength with the guidance of mentors. Students get to learn basic concepts and knowledge of UAV systems, including background of UAVs, communications, sensors, ground control systems, operations and maintenance, and navigation systems. They are also able to be in touch with the latest technologies and trends in the UAV field, such as autonomous operation, swarming, sense-and-avoid systems, causes of failure, improving reliability, vision-aided navigation, etc. The main challenge that the NUS team faces is how to realise
high-demanding requirements on the UAV with limited on-board resources. We have to continuously optimise technical solutions to meet the requirements. Another challenge is lack of time. The team has to conduct research projects and prepare for competitions simultaneously. All the team members are really dedicated and put in great efforts to make each project successful. I’d say passion is the most important requirement for students who want to join this team. When you really enjoy what you do, nothing will stop you from getting your work done. When you are passionate about the work, the creative process is also different.”
ABOVE: Singapore Polytechnic students hard at work.
Singapore Polytechnic (SP) Mr Liew Hui Sing Lecturer & course manager, Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering (DARE) “When I was young, I began developing an interest in aero modelling. The idea of a remote control aeroplane that can be handled from the tips of my fingers was exciting to me. For our DARE students, SP strives to teach the mechanical and electronic aspects so that they can apply what they learn, repair
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real-life aircraft, build or design UAVs from scratch and enhance their understanding of the field. It is an extensive hands-on learning here. Students who join the UAV team can expect to be challenged. This is not for the weak-hearted. The modules, where you learn everything from engineering to aeronautics, are challenging and takes a lot of dedication. The coursework is heavy but passion and interest are keys to success. You must have the love for this field and be willing to face challenges and accept failure. We also welcome students from other diploma courses to come join us, you just need to have the interest to be part of the UAV team. The industry in Singapore is still quite small and niche. I always advise students that they cannot limit themselves. They must be able to excel and innovate in other areas too where they can apply their interest in UAV, such as the military which uses drone for surveillance and reconnaissance, or the police force for mobile patrolling, or even in the entertainment industry for photography or movies. Students must be able to move and grow beyond the conventional jobs.”
This is not for the weak-hearted. The modules, where you learn everything from engineering to aeronautics, are challenging and takes a lot of dedication.
September - December
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AeroEdu/Youth
Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) Vishal Vaswani, Samuel Loh Yew Khoon, Tan Benson, Kalenjit Singh Tara Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Aerospace Systems “UAVs allow us to be handson and tinker with the design of electrical systems and mechanical works. The aspect of flight is the icing on the cake which makes the UAV field very enjoyable. The ‘Black Aces’ UAV team was established in 2008 during our Polytechnic days and we kept it going even after our National Service. We applied for places at SIT when we found out about the opportunities to work with UAVs. Here, students get to learn and design software from the ground up. They are also able to apply what they have learned while integrating various hardware components to diversify the operational purposes and capabilities of the UAV. Students will be immersed in an enriching environment, one which will prepare them to be players ready for the industry upon graduation. The process will be tough but very rewarding; hardwork and commitment is absolutely necessary when becoming involved in a UAV project. Students need to take on these projects with a mindset to learn and solve problems on-the-fly. If you have a strong desire to challenge yourself as well as a passion for flight electronics and mechanical systems, you are welcome to join. By participating in local and international competitions,
ABOVE: Team Black Aces.
we are able to improve and further our knowledge on aeromodelling. These competitions are great opportunities to learn from other UAV teams and identify knowledge gaps. Being in the UAV team, we’ve learned how to accept criticism more objectively and this, in turn, has strengthened our team as we developed different working styles to
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If you have a strong desire to challenge yourself as well as a passion for FLIght electronics and mechanical systems, you are welcome to join
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Aerospace Singapore
work together in a constructive way. It has also brought out a sense of pride in us too. It motivated us to do our best in the areas we excelled in as we took up leadership roles during different phases of the project. Following our graduation, we are now Professional Officers assisting with SIT’s joint degree programme with Digipen Institute of Technology – Systems Engineering (ElectroMechanical Systems) or SEEMS. Recently, Benson has moved on to pursue his career as a commercial pilot. Professional officers play a key role in providing specialist and instructional support to the delivery of academic programmes. We work closely with students, to assist and supervise them during SEEMS fabrication lab sessions while handling a variety of machinery and equipment such as 3D printers, 3D routers, lathe and more.”
AeroSTYLE
what’s brewing tea guru? David De Candia is the resident guru of all things tea at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. He is a certified tea specialist and master tea blender with over 15 years of experience under his name. David first joined the company in 1998 as a warehouse manager and as luck would have it, his newfound love for tea paved the way for him to be hailed as a tea master now.
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avid has the enviable job of traversing the world to evaluate, buy, blend and package the finest and best quality tea for the celebrated coffee/teahouse. The hand-selected teas are used in The Coffee Bea & Tea Leaf’s signature drinks. The master was in town recently to share his vast experience and timetrusted tip on enjoying the best brew with Aerospace Singapore. How did you become a tea master? My intention 18 years ago when I was hired by The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf company was to run the production and distribution facility. Tea took me by surprise immediately. I think I became a tea master because I had the hidden passion and the desire to learn everything about tea. In addition to this, I also felt the need to teach others about tea. Does your interest stem from a health perspective? My interest in tea did not come from its health benefits. As I learned more about tea and travelled the world looking for the best teas, I started to learn about the medicinal properties of tea.
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Aerospace Singapore
What is your favourite tea? My favourite tea changes all the time. Right now, I have been drinking our Maliboda Ceylon Black Tea in the mornings with milk and sugar. I also enjoy many types of oolong teas. What is an interesting fact that is not common knowledge about tea? One thing that is not commonly known about tea is that all types of tea come from the same type of bush. It’s the process that make the teas different. This means that white, green, oolong and black teas are from the same type of tea bush. What is the process of creating a tea like? Where do you source for tea? The creation of a tea takes about four months; it starts with an idea, for example a flavour, or organic, then I create hundreds of samples until the final one is perfect. I frequently visit Sri Lanka, India, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, Kenya and South Africa to get the tea. Can you identify different types of tea from around the world by taste? Yes, I can identify different types of tea from around the world by taste – this is my job and passion. What avenues are there for those passionate about tea and how can they begin their journey? If a person has a passion about tea, I tell them the first thing to do is to try as many good teas as possible. Develop a pallet for tasting teas. Find quality tea shops like The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, and ask the store employees questions about tea. Tea is ever present in both Western and Eastern cultures. Do you think it is the taste or the benefits that have accumulated a large following? I think the global growth of tea relates to many factors. I think Eastern cultures saw tea for health and spirituality at first. Now flavour also. Western culture saw tea for taste and is now
Did You Know?
There are 280 types of tea bush
seeing it for health and spirituality. I believe it has happened in reverse for both. There are only 2 main species of tea bush
Tea is grown in 30 countries
The tea bush actually has no smell
The tea leaves grow back in 4 to 6 days
Most tea bushes can live up to 100 years
September - December
What makes tea healthy and does the caffeine in tea differ from coffee? Tea contains catechin, which contain most of the health benefits; caffeine in tea affects you neurologically while in coffee, it affects you physiologically. What are your thoughts on ethically harvested/fair trade tea, and the need to educate the end consumers on this? My answer to this question always comes back to our “Caring Cup” – this is a global programme that I co-started 13 years ago. It is designed to make sure that the teas we purchase are sustainable; this means socially, economically and environmentally. We purchase all of our teas from small familyowned tea estates. I believe that tea is not just a drink but it’s about creating relationship with the grower and the communities in that area. Could you share with us the correct steps of making the perfect brew at home? Start with cool filtered water – avoid distilled as it lacks mineral and will leave tea tasting flat. Then heat water just under a boil. Be sure to keep the water to tea ratio consistent using 2 grams of tea to 8 ounces of water (approx. 240ml). And always follow steeping times – for green and white is three minutes, oolong and black is five minutes, and herbal are seven minutes in general. And no, steeping tea longer does not make it stronger, in fact over-steeping causes tea to be bitter. For stronger tea, simply add more tea leaves or a second tea bag.
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AeroSTYLE
Over Singapore a minute with the photographer Now available at major bookstores, Over Singapore is a labour of love by award winning photographer Richard Koh. It showcases the dynamism of an ever-evolving nation with stunning images captured in the air, complemented by insights from diplomat and international lawyer Professor Tommy Koh.
ABOVE: The East Coast district facing southeast, with Katong in the foreground, Marine Parade stretching from the flyover next to the sea to the lagoon near Bedok Jetty in the distant shore, and Siglap at the mid top-left. Cargo ships and tankers wait at the Eastern Anchorage.
What was the inspiration behind Over Singapore? Over Singapore is the fourth in a series of aerial photography books on Singapore since 1985 by Editions Didier Millet (EDM). As Singapore has transformed so rapidly over the past 10 to 20 years, I wanted to photograph the places where these changes are most evident (e.g. the city, Sports Hub, residential estates, etc.). This was also echoed by Didier (the founder of EDM) and Professor Koh. It was also good
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to show the outlying places which few people get to see, such as the islands and lighthouses. We also included the fruits of decades of planning and labour since our independence, and which were essential to the life of our nation such as public utilities installations, transportation, schools, places of leisure, port, and the greater Marina Bay area. How long did it take to put the book together? What challenges did you face?
Aerospace Singapore
EDM and I first had a meeting around mid-2012 to discuss the project. While they source for sponsors, I did map studies to determine which places to cover. The next year, we started with some photography from tall buildings. But 2013 was a year with an exceptionally bad transboundary haze lasting more than half the year. So we waited for better weather and continued again in 2014. The coordination for aerial photography flights was also quite a challenge due to the haze, in addition to the fact that much work had to be done to obtain aerial photography permits due to Singapore’s very busy airspace. We managed to complete all the flights by Dec 2014 and proceeded with the book production. Over Singapore was launched on 31 July 2015. What is your favourite shot and how was the photo achieved? It is hard to state my favourite photo. But one photo which I like and think is almost impossible to re-take would be the one entitled ‘Lady in the Sand’. It shows an ordinary sandbar off Seletar area with some trees growing on it. However, due to the angle at which the photo was taken, the side profile of a human face can be seen complete with eye lashes. The photo was taken on my way back to base on an RSAF helicopter after a National Day Parade aerial display rehearsal, just when the sky was getting dark. I only discovered the image within the image when I was going through my photos on my computer later on. This was one of the very special, rare and memorable photos in the series.
AAIS
The AAIS 10th Management Committee Members (2015 to 2017)
13th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 1
President
1st Vice President
Philip Quek
Jeffrey Lam
2nd Vice President
Ho Tin Pau
SIA Engineering Company Ltd
ST Aerospace Ltd
Rolls-Royce Singapore Pte Ltd
Honorary Secretary
Honorary Treasurer
Assistant Honorary Secretary
Steven Pearson Aviall Pte Ltd
Chow Kok Wah
Singapore Institute of Aerospace Engineers
Lim Hee Joo
Wah Son Engineering Pte Ltd
Assistant Honorary Treasurer
Committee Member
Jimson Ngiam
Lien Whai Cheng Coway Engineering & Marketing Pte Ltd
Esterline Sensors Services Asia Pte Ltd
Committee Member
Committee Member
Committee Member
Thales Solutions Asia Pte Ltd
Steve Price
Committee Member
Ekkehard Pracht
Philip Sung
Fergus Lopez
International Engine Component Overhaul Pte Ltd
Liebherr-Singapore Pte Ltd
Parker Aerospace
Co-opt Committee Member
Co-opt Committee Member
Co-opt Committee Member
Prof Graham Hunt
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Asia Pte Ltd
Thomas Kennedy
SR Technics Singapore Pte Ltd
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Philip Ang
Vector Aerospace Asia Pte Ltd
Aerospace Singapore
The AGM was held on Tuesday, 22 September 2015 at the Singapore Aviation Academy. It was well attended by 56 individuals from 46 member organisations. The proceedings were chaired by Mr Charles Chong, President of the AAIS 9th Management Committee (MC), who gave an overview of the Association’s growth and the initiatives carried out in the fiscal year of 2014/15 in his Welcome Address. Mr Chong also thanked colleagues who served with him on the MC and announced that he would be relinquishing his position after the AGM. Before formally stepping down, Mr Chong presented certificates to new member companies and the long service award for AAIS staff. In honour of his long and dedicated service as President since 2006, the Association presented Mr Chong with a token of appreciation.
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AIAM 2015
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Elections for the next MC were subsequently held. With no contest to the nominations received and no objection from members, the various positions were confirmed. AAIS would like to thank the Singapore Aviation Academy, all members and the Grand Park City Hall for supporting this AGM.
1. AGM in progress. 2. 1st Vice President Jeffrey Lam giving his acceptance speech.
Held after the AGM, the AeroIndustry Annual Meeting (AIAM) 2015 saw the release of the Competitiveness Assessment of Singapore’s Aviation MRO Industry 2015 report from a study commissioned by AAIS, with support from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, the Economic Development Board and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency. The AIAM kicked off with Opening Remarks by newly installed AAIS President Mr Philip Quek, who shared on the outlook of the global and domestic aerospace industry, Mr David Stewart, Vice President of ICF International – the appointed consulting and research firm – presented findings of the Study which benchmarked Singapore’s competitiveness as an aerospace hub against other countries such as China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and the UAE. Mr Stewart also shared recommendations to strengthen Singapore’s position as the leading aerospace MRO hub in the Asia Pacific region. The AAIS thanks Mr David Stewart, all AIAM 2015 participants and our
September - December
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four FGD facilitators – Assoc. Prof. Lim Yeow Khee, Assoc. Prof. Tan Joo Seng, Mr Jeremy Chan and Mr Koh Pak Keng, for generously contributing your time, perspectives and experience to make this AIAM an interactive and fruitful one. 1. AIAM participants. 2. AIAM Opening Remarks by Philip Quek. 3. Breakout Group discussion.
AAIS
AAIS Human Resource Forum 2015
AAIS HOST Session @ InterContinental Singapore AAIS was proud to partner InterContinental Singapore for the HOST Session held on 27 August 2015 at the hotel’s Victoria Bar. The relaxing and comfortable ambience was a fantastic backdrop against which the 40 over guests mingled and caught up with each other while enjoying the spread of delectable food, beverages and the hotel’s specialty mooncakes. Guests were welcomed by Mr Ekkehard Pracht, from the AAIS Management Committee as well as Mr Michael Shin, Hotel manager of the Intercontinental Singapore. The evening also saw AAIS’ awardwinning photographer Mr Richard
Koh introducing “Over Singapore”, a newly launched book featuring his aerial photography works. Richard also exhibited his aerial photography collection around the Victoria Bar for guests to enjoy. Capping off the evening, a Lucky draw was conducted which saw the winner walking away with a One Night Weekend stay in the Deluxe Room inclusive of breakfast for two sponsored by the InterContinental Singapore Hotel. The AAIS would like to thank InterContinental Singapore, their team and all guests for making this HOST Session a unique experience.
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Aerospace Singapore
Into its sixth year, the HR Forum was held on 24 July 2015 at Temasek Polytechnic with presentations by five speakers from the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA), FranklinCovey Division, TransFingo Pte Ltd and Temasek Polytechnic. More than 40 guests from various aerospace companies were present at the forum. Participants were empowered with information about SkillsFuture, in particular, how they can leverage upon the programmes and schemes to develop productivity and competitiveness in their workforce. In addition, WDA informed guests present about the development of the Singapore Skills Framework for the aerospace sector, which is intended to give employers, current and prospective employees a good overview of the career progression track and skills needed to move up in their careers. At the end of the forum, guests were given the opportunity to tour the new hanger and facilities at the Temasek Aviation Academy. The AAIS would like to thank our sponsors, Temasek Polytechnic and FranklinCovey Division for their generous sponsorship, and to all speakers and participants for their support at this event.
tournament results
AAIS Annual Bowling Tournament 2015
Champion Team Champion ST Aero 3 Score: 2340 ST Aerospace Ltd
AAIS organised the 11th edition of the popular annual bowling tournament at Orchid Bowl @ Safra Tampines on 20 June 2015. The tournament attracted a total of 30 teams from 20 organisations in the aerospace industry. AAIS congratulates the winning teams and individuals, as well as everyone who walked away with prizes at the lucky draw. Thank you to Mr Steven Pearson for gracing the event and to all participating bowlers and their supporters for making this event a fun and joyous one!
1st Runner-up Team PWC A Score: 2241 Pratt & Whitney Canada (SEA) Pte Ltd 2nd Runner-up Team Singapore Airlines Score: 2148 Singapore Airlines Ltd Best Male Individual David Tan Score: 680 ST Aero 3 ST Aerospace Ltd Best Female Individual Amy Yong Score: 603 PWC A Pratt & Whitney Canada (Sea) Pte Ltd
Aviation Open House 2015 AAIS was present at the Aviation Open House (AOH) 2015 held at Suntec City Convention Centre from 13 to 15 August 2015. This is the fourth time that the AAIS has been invited by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore to participate in the biennial event. Launched by Mrs Josephine Teo, Senior Minister of State,
Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Transport, the theme of AOH for the year was “Embark on a Journey in Aviation”. The AOH 2015 provided a platform for students, job seekers and mid-career entrants to learn more about aviation education and career opportunities. The event saw the participation of more than 47 aviation-related organisations and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) as well as companies from the aerospace, airline, airport, air navigation services sectors. AAIS was honoured to be part of the AOH 2015 and do our bit for the future of Singapore’s aerospace and aviation industry!
September - December
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AAIS
NEW MEMBERS
Ordinary Membership
Advance Metals Private Limited Advance Metals Private Limited is in the business of trading and processing non-ferrous metals, specialty metals, rare earth metals, exotic metals, high temperature alloys, super alloys and master alloys. It is the premier service provider specialising in fullservice recycling solutions for the aerospace industry.
Ordinary Membership
Aircraft Support Industries (Singapore) Pte Ltd ASI is a leader in the design and construction of Aircraft Maintenance Facilities having designed and built over 80 hangar facilities worldwide. The company has recently expanded into a range of capital financing solutions to assist clients with cost-effective finance packages for outright purchase or lease-back of a facility. For more information, visit http://www.asiglobal.net.
Ordinary Membership
BSB Aviation LLP BSB Aviation is a leading ASA-100 & FAA AC00-56A certified aircraft engine spares and consumables distributor, supplying Airlines & MROs in Southeast Asia through a network of trusted manufacturers. As a distributor of fully traceable aviation spares, the company offers an extensive array of product lines, ensuring maximum product service, choice and availability for its customers.
Ordinary Membership
Positronic Asia Pte Ltd Positronic is a global manufacturer of high reliability electronic connectors and cable assemblies for use in various applications. Its core capabilities include solid machined contacts for use in standard and custom connectors and its key products include high power connectors, D-sub connectors, modular connectors, circular connectors and cable assemblies. Visit www.connectpositronic. com for details.
the green airliner Ordinary Membership
Sabena Technics Asia Pte Ltd Sabena technics is a leading independent MRO provider of services to civil and military aircraft operators. With its EASA, FAA, ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and EN 9110 certifications, Sabena technics services over 50,000 components in-house per year and over 135 aircraft under integrated services contracts. More information at www. sabenatechnics.com.
Ordinary Membership
The Green Airliner Singapore Pte Ltd The Green Airliner is an asset management company that helps its customers manage their balance sheet towards better asset liquidity. Relying on total customer satisfaction quality principles, it excels in investing and redeploying valuable commercial aircraft heavy components, from production to decommissioning.
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Associate Membership
BS Tech Pte Ltd As the leading calibration company, BS Tech delivers the most comprehensive suite of instrument calibration services in the industry and provides high-quality, costeffective level service. BS Tech has expanded its service line offering by becoming recognized as an exclusive partner and distributor for SIEMENS Process Instrumentation and Stanley’s Precision equipment and Tools.
Aerospace Singapore
Associate Membership
W. H. Brennan & Co Pte Ltd Established since 1947, W.H. Brennan has been part of Survitec Group Ltd since 2002. The company supplies & provides Repair & Overhaul services for a range of safety products and system for the Land, Marine, Aviation and the Defense industries. It has four Service Centres, namely in Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Korea, and serves nearly 5,000 customers in Southeast Asia and beyond.
AAIS training calendar Aerospace & International Standards
AS 9100 Rev C Lead Auditor Training
The Professional Development arm of AAIS offers a spectrum of training and development programmes throughout the year. These range from general or soft-skill courses to industryspecific certification courses.
OHSAS 18001 Lead Auditor Training
19 to 23 October 2015 16 to 20 November 2015 14 to 18 December 2015
12 to 16 October 2015 Understanding and Implementing AS9100:2009
bizSAFE
12 November 2015
bizSAFE Level 1 Workshop for CEOs / Top Management
AS 9100:2009 Internal Auditor Course
2 October 2015 6 November 2015 4 December 2015
12 & 13 November 2015 ISO 14001 Internal Auditor Training
5 & 6 October 2015 11 & 12 November 2015 1 & 2 December 2015
Safety
Effective Event Investigation *NEW*
21 to 23 October 2015
Special Processes (Nadcap)
Nadcap Checklist Review - NDT
2 & 3 November 2015 NDT Level 3 Responsibilities
4 November 2015 Regulatory (FAA)
TSA Repair Station Security
30 October 2015 OHSAS 18001 Internal Auditor Training
7 & 8 October 2015 11 & 12 November 2015 1 & 2 December 2015
FAR 145 Approved Training Programme – Train the Trainer
QEHS Internal Auditor Training
FAA Part 21 Certification for Products, Parts & PMA
28 to 30 October 2015 25 to 27 November 2015 21 to 23 December 2015 ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Training
12 to 16 October 2015 2 to 6 November 2015 7 to 11 December 2015
16 November 2015
19 & 20 November 2015
e-ATVs are available to be used for training courses from 1 October 2014 to 30 September 2015.
Regulatory (EASA)
EASA Part 145 Maintenance Organisation Approvals
6 & 7 October 2015 ISO 14001 Lead Auditor Training
12 to 16 October 2015 2 to 6 November 2015 7 to 11 December 2015
EASA Part M, including SEARIF Part M Continuing Airworthiness
17 & 18 November 2015
*Information accurate at time of print. AAIS reserves the right to cancel/postpone/re-schedule the above courses as a result of any unforeseen circumstances. Visit www.aais.org.sg/training for an updated list of training courses.
For enquiries, contact Jen Ng at +65 6922 1788 or email us at training@aais.org.sg
AAIS
THE AMAZING AVIATORS RACE 2015 On Saturday, 5 September 2015, 300 participants in 75 teams raced around Singapore in the Amazing Aviators Race (TAAR) 2015. The Race was flagged off by Minister of State for Trade and Industry Mr Teo Ser Luck from the new Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) campus in Changi. The Flag Off saw a colourful aerial spectacle as MOS Teo, all participants and invited guests launched self-assembled Styrofoam aeroplanes, popularised in the early nineties, to signify the start of the event.
This was only the second time the event has been held since its inaugural run in 2011 and one of the biggest public events organised by AAIS. Modelled after the “Amazing Race” concept, teams raced around the island to find iconic locations based on the clues given. As an added challenge, teams could only travel using the public transport network of buses and the MRT with their pre-loaded Smartpay cards. At these stations, they encountered “Detours” and “Road Blocks”, where they had to complete tasks related to aerospace/aviation, our national identity and our rich cultural heritage. At the Seletar Aerospace Park, for example, teams were given a tour of the entire area with a clue to “Look, Locate and List”. At the end of the coach tour, they were challenged to fill a map of the SAP with names and position of the companies located there. At the Singapore Sports Hub, teams took part in a childhood games relay, where each participant had to play a popular game from the yesteryears including Pick-Up sticks, Five Stones, and Bola Tin. The Changi Airport station saw participants diligently searching high and low around the arrival and departure terminal for the TAAR mystery traveller. AAIS thanks MOS Teo Ser Luck for gracing the Flag Off, and all TAAR 2015 participants for making the event a big success! A big THANK YOU also to the event management team from Adrenalin and to all our sponsors for the strong and forthcoming support.
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Aerospace Singapore
OPEN CATEGORY Gold Drama Mama Prize Sponsor: Canon Singapore Pte Ltd Silver Oh Man! Prize Sponsor: Canon Singapore Pte Ltd Bronze Pillows Prize Sponsor: GVDEAL Pte Ltd 3rd Runner-up CRO Prize Sponsor: The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
STUDENT CATEGORY Gold AEROBirds Temasek Polytechnic Prize Sponsor: Canon Singapore Pte Ltd Silver ATTC Air Transport Training College Prize Sponsor: Canon Singapore Pte Ltd Bronze NPAT Ngee Ann Polytechnic Prize Sponsor: GVDEAL Pte Ltd 3rd Runner-up RP Time Travellers Republics Polytechnic Prize Sponsor: The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
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A big THANK YOU to all our sponsors and participants for making the event a great success
Organised by:
Platinum Sponsor:
Silver Sponsors:
Supporting Sponsors:
Gold Sponsor:
Official Apparel Sponsor:
Official Digital Sponsor:
Bronze Sponsors:
Official Media:
Official Privilege Card:
Be seen in the
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SINGAPORE GLOBAL AVIATION HUB A Publication of The Association of Aerospace Industries (Singapore)
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The Singapore Aviation Industry Directory (SAID) is a one-stop reference for overseas and local investors, outsourcers and procurers of the aviation industry. A biennial publication, the SAID is published every even year. If your company is in the field of air transport, aerospace repair & overhaul, aerospace manufacturing, air logistics, aviation financing, leasing, consultancy, or aviation related products and services, then this directory is the right platform for you! Copies of the publication are distributed to overseas and local aerospace communities, government bodies, international organisations, business associations & professional bodies. In addition, the Directory will be mirrored on a website. Be seen in the 9th edition of SAID! Standard advertisement rates apply. Please contact our Director - Sales & Marketing / Head - Publications, Ms Agnes Chua, at Mobile: +65 9182 8161, Tel: +65 6922 1788, or email: adsales@aais.org.sg, for a marketing package that suits your needs and budget!
Telephone: +65 6922 1788 • Facsimile: +65 6783 9129 Website: www.aais.org.sg • Facebook: www.facebook.com/aero.sg