Defense News
09/17/08
Singapore Expands AF Training with Gulfstream
By Wendell Minnick
Taipei - Singapore Technologies Aerospace (ST Aerospace) announced a $73 million contract to provide flying instruction to the Singapore Ministry of Defence.
ST Aerospace will provide the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) with the aircraft and instructors for its training requirements over a period of 20 years, beginning in 2012. Under the contract, ST Aerospace will procure and maintain a Gulfstream 550 aircraft.
"We are pleased that the RSAF has selected our proposal. We have been providing the RSAF with cost-effective solutions to meet its needs in both maintenance and training, and this latest contract further validates our ability to fulfill RSAF's requirements. We will continue to develop innovative solutions that meet the demands of our customers and the market," said Tay Kok Khiang, president of ST Aerospace.
"This latest contract is another initiative undertaken by ST Aerospace as part of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program by the Singapore Ministry of Defence," according to an ST Aerospace news release.
The first PPP deal was a rotary-wing contract in 2005, with ST Aerospace providing the RSAF five EC120 Colibri helicopters with full technical and logistic support for 20 years.
"PPP programs require bidders to offer innovative and cost-effective solutions," the news release said. "Training programs such as these date back to 2003, when ST Aerospace provided the RSAF training for its trainee pilots until they became full-fledged transport pilots under its Transport Wing course."
ST Aerospace has also announced that Aviation Training Academy Australia, a subsidiary of ST Aviation Training Academy, has acquired Bruce Hartwig Flying School for $95,000. It will be renamed ST Aviation Training Academy (Australia) and will continue to focus on commercial flight training.
