ST Aerospace


ST Engineering Aerospace is an aviation-orientated subsidiary of ST Engineering. Headquartered in Singapore, it has international offices and facilities located at aviation hubs in Asia Pacific, Europe and the US.
ST Aerospace was established in 1975 to provide maintenance and support services to the Republic of Singapore Air Force. Since then, it has diversified into various MRO capabilities for commercial and military aircraft through a number of strategic partnerships, acquisitions and investments. Major undertakings have included development of the A-4SU Super Skyhawk, a highly modified model of the Douglas A-4S Skyhawk, and the Eurocopter EC120 Colibri programme, a lightweight helicopter, in partnership with Airbus Helicopters and China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation.
Presently, ST Aerospace reportedly employs in excess of 8,000 certified engineers and administrative specialists around the world and has a global customer base that includes military forces, major airlines and freight carriers. Aviation Week ranked the aerospace company as the world's largest, independent, third party airframe MRO provider with an annual capacity of more than 11.5 million commercial airframe man-hours in 2012.

Projects

During the 1980s, ST Aerospace commenced work on a major upgrade programme on the Douglas A-4S Skyhawk attack aircraft then in service with the Republic of Singapore Air Force. Referred to as the A-4SU Super Skyhawk, the modification package involved replacing the original Wright J65 turbojet engine with a non-afterburning model of the newer General Electric F404-GE-100D turbofan engine, along with a complete modernisation of the avionics suite and additional equipment being installed, including a Pave Penny laser seeker, an Inertial navigation system, a Tactical air navigation system, fore & aft Radar warning receivers of the aircraft. The F404 engine provided 29% more thrust, resulting in a 30% reduction in takeoff time as well as an increase in usable payload, range and maximum speed of at sea level. In total, approximately 150 airframes were acquired by Singapore.
Since the 1990s, ST Aerospace has been a partner involved in the Eurocopter EC120 Colibri programme. On 20 October 1992, a contract for the joint development contract of the new helicopter was signed by the three principle partners of the project, the newly-formed Eurocopter, China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation and ST Aerospace. Under the joint development agreement, Eurocopter received a 61% controlling interest and technical leader in the programme, CATIC received a 24% work share and STAero received a 15% work share; CATIC designed and produced the cabin structure and fuel system, ST Aerospace produced the tail boom, access doors, and composite materials, while Eurocopter produced the dynamic assemblies, installed the avionics, electrical and hydraulic systems, and conducted the final assembly activity.
From the programme's onset, the EC120 had been intended to be co-produced, with partners sought in China, Singapore, and Australia. By October 1998, more than 100 orders had been received for the type, leading to the production rate being increased from four helicopters per month to six. In 2002, Eurocopter was in the process of establishing a second assembly line for the EC120 at Australian Aerospace's facility in Brisbane, Australia. On 11 June 2004, a final production agreement was signed; under the agreement, CATIA and HAIG received exclusive market rights in China, and Eurocopter agreed to stop selling French-built EC120s in mainland China. In June 2014, the People's Liberation Army of China became the launch customer for the Harbin-produced HC120, reportedly placing an order for eight of the type with options for fifty more.

Services

Through their two business segments, Aircraft Maintenance & Modification and Component & Engine Total Support, ST Aerospace provides "total aviation support services" for commercial and military aircraft including:
With their AMM operation arm, ST Aerospace perform light and heavy maintenance, upgrades, structural repairs, ageing modification work and conversions for a broad range of commercial and military aircraft.

Components and Engines Total Support (CETS)

Through a global repair and logistics support network, the company provides aircraft maintenance repair and overhaul services for a wide range of aircraft components and engines. They offer services for avionics, mechanical components and engines support.
ST Aerospace also provides a wide range of aircraft component maintenance repair and overhaul services, including Maintenance-By-the-Hour and Material Supply Program support, warehouse and material management, Aircraft-On-Ground spares and service support, aircraft parts trading, aircraft operating lease and OEM representation.

Subsidiaries/Divisions

Turbine Casting Services - joint venture, specialises in the repair of PW4000 turbine airfoils by using advanced coating technologies.