ST Aero President Says...

I had the pleasure to talk with ST Aerospace President Chang Cheow Teck today at the MRO’s headquarters here in Singapore, and here are five things I learned:

 

1. ST Aerospace’s facility in Guangzhou, China is on schedule to open the third quarter of 2013. Mr. Chang said the company has now applied for CAAC and EASA approvals, but started with the FAA process about two years ago because it knew of the foreign repair station approval delays due to regulatory hold ups in the U.S.
2. The narrowbody facility it is building at Changi airport in Singapore will open around the same time as the one in Guangzhou.
3. ST Aerospace is really trying to provide more total, or turnkey package services—such as everything for engines from repair and overhaul to component pools and leasing. Expect the company to expand this concept more, especially in the near term for interiors.
4. Early this year, Mr. Chang told me the new Xiamen engine facility should produce about 15 engines. As we approach the end of the year, the obvious question is, “is Xiamen going to deliver that many?” The answer is yes.
5. Madrid Aerospace Services, the landing gear joint venture with Iberia Maintenance, “is working well” and is “meeting its business objectives,” despite cuts at the Spanish airline. Chang hopes to further develop the alliance.

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