tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149993472024-03-13T18:27:02.598+08:00A I R M E News: Aviation Information Reports Memos Essays News™A I R M E News(AN)™ celebrates Man-powered Flight, Aeronautics and Aircraft Technology. AN supports the global community of airmen, technologists and other aviation professionals without whom, no flights are safe and comfortable; no departures and arrivals, punctual; and no sorties, missions, or cargo-hauls, accomplished.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14999347.post-66396759773360210272008-11-05T20:26:00.008+08:002008-11-19T11:11:53.665+08:00Singapore's 1st F-15 'Eagle' flies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1VtSU_sIRxQ/SRGhnDQB9_I/AAAAAAAAAIM/vEcx3qPnAek/s1600-h/f15sg.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1VtSU_sIRxQ/SRGhnDQB9_I/AAAAAAAAAIM/vEcx3qPnAek/s200/f15sg.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265167131632334834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 3 November 2008</span></span>
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<br />
<br /><meta equiv="CONTENT-TYPE" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><title></title><meta name="GENERATOR" content="StarOffice 8 (Win32)"><meta name="AUTHOR" content="Derek Yeo"><meta name="CREATED" content="20081104;17551000"><meta name="CHANGEDBY" content="Derek Yeo"><meta name="CHANGED" content="20081105;18464695"><style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --></style><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">BOEING</span> Integrated Defense Systems unveiled today its first production F-15SG</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;"> 'Eagle'</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;"> fighter interceptor for the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). It is the latest mark of the battle-tested F-15E.
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<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Boeing Vice-President for Global Strike Systems, Mr Dan Korte said, "The F-15SG for Singapore moves the RSAF into the next generation of fighter aircraft capability." </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Mr Mark Bass, Boeing's F-15 Program Vice-President</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;"> elaborated on the point. </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">"The F-15SG has significant capabilities that will allow the RSAF to expand into new missions with new capabilities."</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">
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<br />The aircraft derives cutting-edge killer features from its Integrated Sensor Suite (ISS). The ISS, comprising an Active Electronic Scan Array (AESA) radar and advanced Sniper targetting pod, provides long-range air-to-air and air-to-ground firepower.
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<br />F-15SG No 1 flew on her maiden flight on September 16 from Lambert International Airport, St Louis. Boeing will flight-test it now over the next one year at its facilities here and in Palmdale.
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<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Twenty-four F-15SGs are on schedule for delivery to Singapore</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;"> F-15SG delivery to the RSAF will start from March 2009. Deliveries are expected to complete by 2012.
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<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">F-15SG Eagles will equip the front-line air defence of Singapore in the coming decades. </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Meanwhile, the RSAF plans to station its F-15SGs at its detachment base in Idaho for training and joint-manoeuvres with the USAF. Singapore-United States defence ties are at their strongest.
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<br />Currently, more than 1500 F-15s of several variants are flying with a number of air forces. [See <span style="font-weight: bold;">Note</span>]
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<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Note</span>:
<br />F-15s beefed up the following air forces:
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<br />Royal Saudi Air Force
<br />United States Air Force
<br />Republic of Korea Air Force
<br />Israeli Air Force
<br />Japan Self-Defence Air Force
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<br />SOURCE: The Boeing Company
<br /></span></span></span><meta equiv="CONTENT-TYPE" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><title></title><meta name="GENERATOR" content="StarOffice 8 (Win32)"><meta name="AUTHOR" content="Derek Yeo"><meta name="CREATED" content="20080507;12023800"><meta name="CHANGEDBY" content="Derek Yeo"><meta name="CHANGED" content="20081101;19042000"><style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --> </style> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family:Cumberland, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size: 8pt;font-size:78%;" >Copyright©2007– 2008 AIRMENews</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;font-size:78%;" >™</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;font-size:78%;" >. All rights reserved.</span></span></span>
<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14999347.post-48671989129841515542008-10-14T16:34:00.008+08:002008-10-15T13:36:52.324+08:00205's last operational flying boat<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1VtSU_sIRxQ/SPV8zcDI1UI/AAAAAAAAAGY/z38KC5hDI3A/s1600-h/sunderland.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1VtSU_sIRxQ/SPV8zcDI1UI/AAAAAAAAAGY/z38KC5hDI3A/s320/sunderland.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257245363169449282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1VtSU_sIRxQ/SPRhImel_DI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/eJVww7DRn1M/s1600-h/205+sqdn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1VtSU_sIRxQ/SPRhImel_DI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/eJVww7DRn1M/s400/205+sqdn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256933465443925042" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;" >by Derek Yeo - 14 October 2008</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><br /></span><span style=";font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">IN 1959</span>, 205 Squadron turned out in full force, on its disbandment, to freeze this moment (photo) in its history. The occasion coincided with the last flight of its famous Sunderland flying boat.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;" >The squadron, based in RAF Seletar, played a key role in the Korean War 1950 - 1953. Sunderlands flew sorties between Singapore and Japan supporting the Allies in the conflict against the North Korean, Soviet and Chinese forces. </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Sunderlands flew countless missions on medical evacuations, troop reinforcements and repatriations. The legendary aircraft was the Allies' work-horse during the 2nd World War and the Korean War.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Many airmen who had served in Seletar during the Fifties would remember the squadron fondly. On the road to the station's swimming pool, one had to pass the picturesque squadron premises on the coast facing the Straits of Johor</span>. </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;"> And the slipway that was used to launch and beach the flying boats.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">In the picture, the squadron commander, flight commanders and pilots sat in the second row. Local civilian workers, seated on the ground, occupied the row in front of them. Senior Non-Commissioned Officers, junior NCOs and aircraftmen posed in the rows behind. Most of the men were on posting from the United Kingdom. A handful of them, however, were local enlisted Royal Air Force (Malaya) personnel.<br /><br />Can you put a name to anyone in the group?<br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14999347.post-87461130927648034842008-08-07T18:07:00.007+08:002008-10-21T09:06:03.673+08:00RSAF 140 Squadron: Singapore's pioneer air defence<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1VtSU_sIRxQ/SJrWeWKg4HI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/jv49TkDzCBE/s1600-h/Hunter+10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1VtSU_sIRxQ/SJrWeWKg4HI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/jv49TkDzCBE/s400/Hunter+10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231729733978349682" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">by Derek Yeo - 7 August 2008<br /></span><br /><p><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" ><b>FORMER</b> airmen of Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), who had served with 140 Squadron (Hawker Hunters) would </span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" >recall this grainy but iconic picture (circa 1970). Certainly for them, it would rekindle nostalgia and fond memories.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">The photo-shoot, at Tengah Airbase, marked the fledgling squadron's first anniversary and elevation to operational status. The photo showed the squadron commander, Major Strong posing with his pilots atop the squadron's singleton, tail number 503. It froze their “Hunter moment” for posterity.</span></span><br /></span></p><p> <span style="font-family:verdana;"> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Major Strong, previously Commanding Officer of Royal Air Force's 20 Squadron, headed the only RAF squadron flying Hunter FGA Mark 9 jets in Britain's Far East Air Force. He was seconded to the Singapore Air Defence Command - as the RSAF was then known - when Singapore acquired Hunter jets from Britain to beef up the infant republic's air defence.</span></span></span> <span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span></p><p><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" > The RAF squadron operated Hunter FGA Mark 9 jets from RAF Tengah in the 1960s until the British pull-out east of Suez in December 1971. </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;"> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">That's Major Strong on the canopy of the Mark 74 fighter. Shown standing: Captain Michael Teo Eng Cheng, later Brigadier-General (top, 4th from left); Captain Timothy De Souza, later Colonel (top, 5th from left) and Capt Singam, later Colonel (starboard tailplane).</span></span></span> <span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span></p><p style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> Brigadier-General Michael Teo, later appointed Chief of Air Force, is now Singapore's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.<br /></span> </p><p><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" > Some of the pilots in the famous picture were original members of of RSAF's Black Knights aerobatic team. Others were ex-RAF and ex-Royal Navy pilots.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;"> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">The RSAF's pioneer fighter squadron, "one-forty" rose on several occasions to defend Singapore during the early years of Singapore's independence. One such occasion was in November 1986. It stood by at full combat readiness during the official visit of Israeli President Chaim Herzog. Malaysia, which did not recognise the Jewish state, had protested over the visit.</span></span> </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Amid the furore and Malaysians flexing their military muscle, the visit went without a shot fired.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Currently, 140 Squadron, equipped with the latest F-16C and -16D Falcon fighter-jets, is based at Tengah and Changi Airbases.</span></span><br /></span></p><p> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Copyright © 2007 - 2008 AIRMENews</span></span><span style=";font-family:Cumberland,monospace;font-size:85%;" >™</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">. .All rights reserved.</span></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14999347.post-40926240179345589362008-06-12T15:51:00.006+08:002008-06-14T19:21:21.983+08:00Sixth Globemaster III joins RAF<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1VtSU_sIRxQ/SFDZAoQoDgI/AAAAAAAAACo/Epy-K-PQxGE/s1600-h/C17+raf.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1VtSU_sIRxQ/SFDZAoQoDgI/AAAAAAAAACo/Epy-K-PQxGE/s200/C17+raf.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210903373698043394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 12 June 2008</span><br /><br /><p><span style=";font-family:Cumberland,monospace;font-size:130%;" >THE Royal Air Force accepted its sixth C-17 airlifter today. Boeing Company, the manufacturer, marked the aircraft's delivery at a ceremony at its Long Beach (California) C-17 production centre. The RAF's latest acquisition fulfils the United Kingdom's initial order for the C-17.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style=";font-family:Cumberland,monospace;font-size:130%;" >In his speech, Boeing's Vice President and C-17 Program chief Jean Chamberlin praised the RAF's achievements over seven years of C-17 operations with its five aircraft in service. He recounted how the RAF has proven the C-17's prowess on various missions to Iraq, Afghanistan and other places in crisis worldwide.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style=";font-family:Cumberland,monospace;font-size:130%;" >Accepting the aircraft, the RAF's Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Logistic Operations) Air Vice-Marshal Kevin Leeson emphasized, “Whether our C-17s are serving in combat or on humanitarian missions, we know they are often the difference between life and death.” He went on to praise Boeing for building “a remarkable airlifter that means so much to British military personnel as they transit to and from operational theatres and to those in desperate need of humanitarian aid in remote, hard-to-access sites around the world”. </span> </p> <p><span style=";font-family:Cumberland,monospace;font-size:130%;" >Besides the military tasks in Iraq and Afghanistan, the RAF have flown mercy relief flights, using its C-17s, to aid victims of the 2004 tsunami in South-east Asia and the Indian Ocean and earthquakes in Pakistan. The aircraft's modern technologies enable it to fly non-stop between continents. Further, it can land on and take off from short and improvised airstrips in rough terrain.</span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Cumberland,monospace;font-size:130%;" >RAF's C-17s fly with 99 Squadron* based at RAF Brize Norton near London. The advanced airlifters provide critical mobility for the station's strategic Joint Rapid Reaction Force.</span></p><p> </p> <p><span style=";font-family:Cumberland,monospace;font-size:130%;" >The latest C-17 Globemaster III raises the number of C-17s operating around the world to 190: 173 in the United States Air Force; six in the RAF; four in the Royal Australian Air Force and four in the Canadian Forces.<br /></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style=";font-family:Cumberland,monospace;font-size:78%;" >SOURCE: The Boeing Company</span></p><p><span style=";font-family:Cumberland,monospace;font-size:78%;" >Copyright©2007–2008 AIRMENews:Aviation Who, Why, ... and How?™. All rights reserved.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14999347.post-61171647042159255682007-07-28T15:29:00.000+08:002007-07-29T14:55:14.403+08:00Boeing's revolutionary aircraft flies<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1VtSU_sIRxQ/Rqr3MZh0TcI/AAAAAAAAABE/qchVm96S-1U/s1600-h/X-48B.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092154121078984130" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_1VtSU_sIRxQ/Rqr3MZh0TcI/AAAAAAAAABE/qchVm96S-1U/s200/X-48B.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;">by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 28 July 2007</span><br /><div><blockquote><p><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"><strong>BOEING</strong> Phantom Works, Boeing Aircraft Company's R & D unit, launched its research X-48B plane which featured a unique Blended Wing Body (BWB) design. The revolutinary craft took off on its maiden flight 20 July 2007 from California's Edwards Air Force Base.</span></p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;"></span><p><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">During the successful flight, lasting 31 minutes, X-48B climbed to 7,500 feet.</span></p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;"></span><p><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">The pilotless X-48B, measuring 21 feet wingtip-to-wingtip, looked like a giant stingray with three rear overhead-mounted engines. The engines' location meant less cabin noise and ground noise pollution during flight.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">The BWB airframe design centred on both wings seamlessly fused with a broad flat fin-less fuselage. Radically different from the conventional wing-and-cylindrical fuselage, this resulted in more lift, less drag and therefore more fuel-efficient at cruising altitude.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">A back-up X-48B is currently used for wind-tunnel studies.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">Both X-48B craft, a collaboration among Boeing, National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the USAF Research Laboratory, were built by Cranfield Aerospace in Bedford, England.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">PHOTO: Boeing Aircraft Corporation Copyright © 2007 AIRMENews*. All rights reserved. </span></span></p></blockquote></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14999347.post-81720165701917397462007-06-21T16:13:00.000+08:002007-06-21T19:47:24.346+08:00A380 mega private jet for the super-rich<a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><br /><blockquote><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;">by Derek Yeo - LE BOURGET - 21 June 2007</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;"><strong>SALES</strong> Director John Leahy of Airbus SAS revealed yesterday, the third day of the International Paris Air Show, an order for what must be the "mother" of private jets for the rich and famous: an Airbus A380.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">Mr Leahy, however, did not disclose the buyer's identity, who was believed to be Middle-Eastern.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">Although the mega-jet's delivery date was unknown, fitting of the aircraft interior was estimated to take more than a year.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">The standard A380, without cabin customisation, would cost the mysterious splurger more than a cool US$300 million. Its conversion work - inclusive of three bedrooms and a dining room - could add another US$150 million to its price-tag.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">According to Lufthansa Technik, the German company specializing in customising big jets for personal use, some 20 Boeing B747s worldwide have been converted into private jetliners. Technik's Director of Communications Aage Duenhaupt said, "Buyers are rich individuals or governments and mostly situated in the Middle East.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">Operating the massive A380, however, poses logistical challenges for private operators. Now, only a handful of airports around the globe are capable of handling the A380: Singapore's Changi, Paris Orly, London's Heathrow, Sydney's Kingsford-Smith, Frankfurt and San Francisco.</span> </p><p><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Copyright © 2007 AIRMENews*. All rights reserved.</span></p></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14999347.post-28163305675941707162007-06-12T21:34:00.000+08:002007-06-22T14:59:07.214+08:00Asia's largest airshow's on schedule<a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><br /><blockquote><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;">by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 12 June 2007</span> </p><p><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;"><em>"BOEING is confident that the Singapore Airshow will continue Singapore’s proud tradition of hosting one of the world’s premier air shows. Based on the plans we have seen, we believe that the new state-of-the-art exhibition facilities in Changi will allow exhibitors to better showcase aircraft and other products while also provide greater accessibility for thousands of trade visitors. This can only raise the attractiveness of Singapore’s air show and help it to become more successful in years to come."</em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>A STRONG</strong> endorsement, indeed, from Boeing Company's Vice-President (Asia-Pacific) Douglas Miller.</span><em> </em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">Eight<strong> </strong>months from now, the biggest airshow in Asia - the Singapore Airshow 2008 - will take off. The aviation extravaganza at a new purpose-built, 24-hectare venue is scheduled from 19 - 24 February.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">The new Changi Exhibition Centre in Changi North off Changi Coast Road promises a bigger and better show than the last one, Asian Aerospace 2006.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">Already, more than 90% of exhibition space for the 2008 event has been booked. Singapore Airshow's management expects all available slots left to be taken up by end 2007.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">The joint-partners behind the biennial show, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and Defence Science and Technology Agency, have the support of other partners and sponsors. Among the latter are some big names in the industry: the Boeing Company, Singapore Airlines, Breitling and Aviation & Space Weekly. Singaporean supporters include the Straits Times, Economic Development Board, International Enterprise Singapore and Spring Singapore. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">As in previous shows, the anchor exhibitor - Singapore Technologies Aerospace - will showcase the best on the Singapore aviation scene.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">The new show venue debuts with:</span></p><ol><li><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">A static display park - 90,000 square metre in area - designed specially for aircraft display.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">An indoor cooled exhibition hall - 40,000 square metre in area - equipped with the latest technologies.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">An outdoor picnic park for spectators viewing aerial displays and aerobatics.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">An improved registration and security check system to screen visitors and introduction of a secured buffer zone.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">A new airport taxiway linking the static display park to the runways. This provides easier access for aircraft taking part in flight displays.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">A 2000-lot carpark.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">Two hundred chalets for exhibitors and their staff.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">A viewing platform for aerial displays.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">A display area for air and surface defence equipment.</span></li></ol><p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">In 1981,the first air exhibition in the present biennial series opened at Paya Lebar Airport. Since then, it has showcased the most advanced aerospace equipment and systems in the world's third largest airshow where international military and civilian aviation companies, equipment makers, suppliers and procurers meet and do business. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">Perhaps Singapore Technologies Engineering's President and CEO Tan Pheng Hock best summed up the Singapore Airshow 2008 in these words:</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">"This is an important international air show held on homeground. As a Singaporean company, it is the perfect platform to showcase all our technologies and capabilities at one show, right here on our doorstep". </span></p><p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">For, trade and visitor enquiries, please click on singaporeairshow.com.sg in the side-bar on the left. Alternatively, enquirers may email <a href="mailto:sales@singaporeairshow.com.sg">sales@singaporeairshow.com.sg</a> or call +65 6542 8660 or fax +65 6546 6062. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">LATEST!</span></strong> On 19 June 2007, Singapore Airshow Pte Ltd, the company managing Asia's largest airshow revealed that more than 95% of the total exhibition space has been booked. The company is considering increasing the space by another 2,500 square metres.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Copyright © 2007 AIRMENews*. All rights reserved.</span> </p></span></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14999347.post-67950651931703366242007-06-01T15:36:00.000+08:002007-06-20T17:03:58.558+08:00US air force receives new Globemaster<a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;">by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 1 June 2007</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>THE UNITED</strong> States Air Force yesterday received its 165th C-17 Globemaster III from the Boeing Company.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">USAF's 436th Airlift Wing, based at Dover in Delaware, plans to take delivery of the new airlifter - named the "Spirit of the Constitution" - at an official ceremony on 4 June 2007. General Duncan J McNabb of the USAF Air Mobility Command will officiate at the event, after piloting the C-17 to Dover from the Boeing's facility at Long Beach, California. </span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">By 2008, another 12 Globemaster IIIs will join 436th Airlift Wing.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">The Globemaster III is highly suited for operations in unprepared terrain in countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq. It is designed for swift deployment under all weather conditions. Thus, making it the ideal means for the rapid movement of troops, supplies and equipment; and for humanitarian missions.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Copyright © 2007 AIRMENews*. All rights reserved.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14999347.post-25738344742650560372007-05-25T22:46:00.000+08:002007-06-20T17:05:06.554+08:00Singapore's A380 pilots win pay arbitration<a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><blockquote><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;">by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 25 May 2007</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:85%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">SINGAPORE Airlines' A380 pilots today received a big nod from the Industrial Arbitration Court, in their case against SIA's management for a higher salary than their B747-400 counterparts.**</span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">Through their professional union, Airlines Pilots Association - Singapore, they had argued that the bigger capacity Airbus justified their case. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">SIA disagreed. The airline argued that the Airbus pilots should be paid less because the A380 is easier to fly than the Boeing plane.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">The court ruled in the union's favour; further, it determined that a A380 captain's minimum pay should be set at S$10,700 - S$700 more than that for B747-400 captains.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">The court's ruling in favour of ALPA-S notwithstanding, the IAC neither backed the union's position nor the airline's stance. The court also hoped that the case would not damage the cordial working relationship existing between both parties.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">A happy President of ALPA-S, Captain P James, expressed satisfaction over the verdict. Although the union had fought for a pay margin of $1000 between the Airbus and Boeing pilots, he was pleased with the S$700 awarded. It amounted to more than two-thirds of what the union asked for.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">** <strong>Note</strong>: See commentary dated 29 April 2007 by DEREK YEO</span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">Copyright © 2007 AIRMENews. All rights reserved.</span></p></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14999347.post-11624658803603488212007-05-22T23:28:00.000+08:002007-07-19T16:34:22.738+08:00My earliest recollections beckon<a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;">by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 22 May 2007</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><span style="font-family:courier new;color:#ff6600;">A Sunderland berthed at anchor off Kallang Airport. The iconic flying boat rocked idly, dipping and rising in choppy swells of the sea around it. </span></em></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><span style="font-family:courier new;color:#ff6600;"></span></em></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><span style="font-family:courier new;color:#ff6600;">Beyond the Royal Air Force Sunderland, a Boeing 314 with "Pan American Airways" emblazoned on its fuselage side, skimmed the waves on its take-off run. The giant seaplane lifted off, trailing a slipstream of sea-water beneath it. Its four Wright engines revving at full throttle, it's off on another trans-Pacific scheduled service.</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#ff6600;"></span></em><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#000000;">A TYPICAL panorama I soaked in, in my early teens during annual school holidays in the early fifties at Tanjong Rhu chalets near Kallang Airport, Singapore. The image - vividly etched in my mind ever since - sparked my life-long love affair with the aeroplane.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#000000;">On lazy afternoons, I would spent hours sitting on the sea-front gazing curiously at the airfield's activities across the water.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#000000;"></span><br /></span><span style="font-family:Courier New;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Years later in 1961, in Beatty Secondary School, I joined the Malayan Air Training Corps (MATC). Similar to the United Kingdom's Air Training Corps (for boys) and Girl Venture Corps (for girls), the MATC trained their air cadets in leadership skills, survival techniques, first aid, air navigation, airframe and engine knowledge and other aviation studies. Corps' activities imbued cadets with selfless service to others, an adventurous spirit and character-building. Aptly, the MATC adopted motto "Venture Adventure" echoed its parent body's in the UK.</span></span><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">I was assigned a cadet number - 539; the first digit denoted I was part of 5 Squadron in Beatty Secondary School. Mr Hee Swee Khee, our History Master and a volunteer pilot (with the rank of Squadron Leader) in the Malayan Auxiliary Air Force, led 5 Squadron, MATC.</span> <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">When he wasn't teaching, Mr Hee flew Harvards and Tiger Moths with MAAF pilot trainees.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">The MATC - Singapore branch (its Malayan branch was based in Kuala Lumpur) had its headquarters at Kallang Airport in the fifties. In the early sixties, it re-located to former Workers' Brigade* premises at Kolam Ayer. </span><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">The Corps' Commandant, Wing Commander Roland Park had an efficient staff which included Squadron Leader Murugan and a young Flying Officer Jalil. I met Jalil again in 1969 at Singapore's Flying Training School, RAF Tengah. He served as the school's Adjutant and Administrative Officer.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">Many airmen had their career foundation firmly grounded in the MATC. Sulaiman Sujak was perhaps the most illustrious among them. From air cadetship, he went on to fly Canberras and Vulcans in the Royal Air Force. When the Tentara Udara Di-raja Malaysia (Royal Malayan Air Force, later Royal Malaysian Air Force) formed in 1956, the government appointed Sulaiman the RMAF's first Chief of Air Staff with the rank of Air Vice-Marshal.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">Among my ex-cadet contemporaries in the air force were: Kong Kian (RAF & RSAF), Abdul Wahab (RSAF), Lee Hium Heng (RAF) and Bob Tan (RSAF). Sadly, Kong Kian and Bob Tan had passed on. Lieutenant Kong Kian died in a road accident in 1975 while Bob Tan, a Singapore Technologies Aerospace executive, died in 2002 after an illness.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">Other fellow cadets such as Bala, Samson, Terry Teo Kar Teck and Tan Han Song travelled to Britain and enlisted in the Royal Air Force there. Samson and Terry joined as Boy Entrants in the RAF Apprenticeship Scheme. They trained at RAF Halton. Bala and Han Song enlisted under the Adult category in 1961 after enduring a two-week roller-coaster passage (storms in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea) to Liverpool onboard a Blue Funnel Line boat. For a thrilled Bala and wide-eyed Han Song, it was a trip of a lifetime. It was, for both, their first venture out of Singapore.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">Terry was an ex-Beatty schoolmate too. In 1967, we met again, in RAF Tengah where my unit, 81 Squadron (equipped with Canberra PR7s) was based. Terry had been posted to 45 Squadron at Tengah from RAF Abingdon. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">After passing out with distinction at Halton in 1965, the RAF offered Terry a Queen's commission in the Engineering Branch. During Officer Selection, however, he was short-listed because of a family situation.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">Anyway, I was glad to see my old schoolmate, SGT Terry Teo, again.</span> </p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">I picked up much knowledge and many skills from two experienced Chief Technicians in Tengah, Richard Parr of 81 Squadron and Gordon Hutchinson of ASF - Engine Bay.<br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">*<strong>NOTE</strong>: In the eighties, the Workers' Brigade merged with the Singapore Fire Brigade to form the Singapore Civil Defence Force.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Courier New;"><br />Copyright © 2007 AIRMENews. All rights reserved.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14999347.post-90841129125088182012007-05-14T14:12:00.000+08:002007-06-20T17:06:43.399+08:00First painted SIA A380 rolls out<a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1VtSU_sIRxQ/RkqpJSQh8pI/AAAAAAAAAA8/9kfAH6TxGKI/s1600-h/AB380-135.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065046707916632722" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1VtSU_sIRxQ/RkqpJSQh8pI/AAAAAAAAAA8/9kfAH6TxGKI/s200/AB380-135.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;">by Derek Yeo - HAMBURG - 14 May 2007</span><br /><div><div><div></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"><strong>SINGAPORE</strong> Airlines' first A380 airbus, resplendent in its trademark gold-blue livery, rolled out from the Airbus paint-shop in Hamburg, Germany 2 May 2007.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;"></span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">One hundred aircraft spray-painters took three weeks and more than 2,200 litres of paint to do the job. The paint-coat covered a total skin area of 3100 sqm. Only 0.12 mm thick, it could weather through temperature differentials between 60 and above 40 degrees Celsius. </span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">Airbus protects the environment by using the latest technologies to paint its A380s. Electrostatic pistols are an example; these reduce toxic mist during painting work. Another is a multi-tier cleaning procedure that disposes paint particles separately by cleaning used air. </span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">SIA is the launch airline for the A380 super-jumbo; it expects delivery of its first aircraft in October 2007. The airline has a firm order of 19 A380s.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:85%;"><br />Copyright © 2007 AIRMENews. All rights reserved.</span></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14999347.post-75528988482148992272007-05-12T23:18:00.000+08:002007-06-19T22:18:32.291+08:00Second Globemaster heading Down Under<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1VtSU_sIRxQ/RkXhgGdI3dI/AAAAAAAAAAk/YJzT6GCxybY/s1600-h/c1712.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063701297652882898" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1VtSU_sIRxQ/RkXhgGdI3dI/AAAAAAAAAAk/YJzT6GCxybY/s200/c1712.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong><span style="font-size:85%;">by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 11 May 2007</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><strong>THE ROYAL</strong> Australian Air Force accepted its second C-17 Globemaster III. In a ceremony at Boeing Company's Long Beach manufacturing plant, Air Commordore Jack Plenty - chief of the RAAF's Airlift Group - received the aircraft in the presence of senior RAAF officers, Boeing's officials and workers.</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The Australian Defence Force has been eagerly anticipating the delivery of its second C-17, said Air Cdre Plenty.<br /><br />He disclosed, "Our C-17 squadron already has conducted several inter-continental, time-critical tasks over the past five months since the arrival of the first aircraft in December 2006. These tasks could never have been achieved if we did not have such a responsive global airlift capability."<br /><br />Globemaster III number two will join 36 Squadron, the RAAF's heavy lift unit, at its Amberley base in Queensland state. With the latest delivery, the squadron has two Globemaster IIIs; the first having been delivered in 2006. Two more aircraft are contracted for delivery by 2008, bringing 36 Squadron's C-17 strength to four.<br /><br />Boeing's Vice President/C-17 Program Manager Dave Bowman reiterated his team's firm commitment to its C-17 customers in ensuring on-schedule deliveries of its "world-class airlift</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">capability".</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Currently, the global C-17 fleet includes: 164 United States Air Force planes (total on contract: 190); four Royal Air Force planes ( the fifth in early 2008); two RAAF (two more by 2008) and four on contract to the Canadian Forces, the first scheduled production by August 2007. Boeing schedules its last production C-17 by mid-2009.<br /><br />The Globemaster III's tactical and strategic roles enable its worldwide deployments on military and mercy flights. It is the only military heavy-lift jet in the world capable of using short landing strips in rough terrain.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Source: The Boeing Company</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Copyright 2007 AIRMENews. All rights reserved.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14999347.post-1721352679681920572007-05-05T11:46:00.000+08:002007-06-19T22:19:32.288+08:00Malaysian Hawk crashes<a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><br /><blockquote><p><span style="font-size:85%;">by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 5 May 2007</span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">A BRITISH Aerospace Hawk 208 fighter jet, from the Royal Malaysian Air Force based at Kuantan, crashed after take-off yesterday morning at the airbase.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">The pilot ejected safely but suffered slight injuries. He was on a routine training sortie before the mishap.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">RMAF authorities are investigating the accident.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:85%;"><br />Copyright © 2007 AIRMENews. All rights reserved.</span></p></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14999347.post-62295558288719409822007-05-04T20:03:00.000+08:002007-06-19T22:20:42.405+08:00Emphatic NO again to Singapore Airlines<a href="http://www2.blogger.com/"></a><span style="font-size:85%;">by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 4 May 2007</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><em><span style="color:#ff6600;">"The government has reaffirmed that it has no plans to revisit the issue of rights for Singapore Airlines to operate beyond Australia to the United States for some time."</span></em></strong><br /></span></span><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;color:#000000;">THUS Australia, through its Transport Minister Mark Vaile, turned down yet again Singapore Airlines' request to fly the lucrative Australia-US West Coast route.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;color:#000000;">The emphatic no came even as IATA* figures now suggest that demand outstripped supply for seats on Asia-Pacific travel. Singapore Airlines (SIA) insisted that the difference of nearly one per cent of demand over supply justified more competition on the route.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;color:#000000;">Australia, however, stood its ground.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">Mr Vaile said Qantas' firm grip on the popular Sydney - Los Angeles sector would remain so and "off-limits" to carriers apart from the Australian national airline and Virgin Blue for a while. Qantas profits from this route as high as 20% of its total earnings. Virgin Blue, an Australian budget flyer, would help meet the demand for capacity when it starts flights to the US, according to Mr Vaile.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">The rebuff is the latest in SIA's repeated attempts to gain access to the trans-Pacific route for about 10 years.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">SIA should take this latest let-down in its stride. Taken positively, it speaks volumes about the Singaporean carrier's competitiveness edge among major airlines namely, Qantas, British Airways, Emirates and Cathay Pacific Airways. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">One of the most popular player in the global airline industry - in both, business and tourism travel sectors - SIA has consistently achieved accolade after accolade, year after year. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">It makes business sense that Qantas would rather share - or take the lion's share of - the profitable route with a minnow budget airline, and not with Singapore's flag carrier. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">Or so it seems.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">Over the long term, Australia, however, stands to lose more than gain on this issue. Given its drive, innovative edge and leadership in the business, SIA would be a worthy partner and benefactor of Australia in opening up the trans-Pacific route. With SIA on board, Australia would certainly cut a win-win deal.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">Before that could happen, however, Singapore needs the Australians to come to their senses.</span></p><p><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">*IATA: International Air Transport Association</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:85%;"><br />Copyright © 2007 AIRMENews. All rights reserved.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14999347.post-85887684227017328512007-04-29T18:16:00.000+08:002007-06-19T22:22:02.861+08:00A380 pilots fight for higher pay<a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1VtSU_sIRxQ/Rjc5bWdI3cI/AAAAAAAAAAc/4FLS-RY4nRg/s1600-h/A380-317.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059575848421088706" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_1VtSU_sIRxQ/Rjc5bWdI3cI/AAAAAAAAAAc/4FLS-RY4nRg/s200/A380-317.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> by Derek Yeo Yong Chun - SINGAPORE - 29 April 2007</span><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">"I just flew it with my fingertips."</span></strong><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">SO gushed Captain Robert Ting, Singapore Airlines Vice-President for Flight Operations, in testimony to the Arbitration Court. The court sat to hear the case between Singapore Airlines (SIA) and its pilots' union, on the union's contention that A380 pilots must receive higher wages than those flying the B747.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Captain Ting's remarks represent a strong testimonial of the marvel of fly-by-wire technology. He is absolutely right about the easy and simple handling of the giant airliner in the air. This is the crux of the airlines' management argument: that A380 pilots should not be paid more than those flying the B747 - which uses control-stick technology - because the A380 is easier to fly.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">On the other hand, SIA's pilots union argues that its A380 pilots should get a better deal because the world's largest passenger jet carries more passengers than its nearest rival, the B747. And passenger safety is paramount. More passengers mean the A380 pilot bears a heavier responsibility for his passengers' safety. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;">The union has a strong case.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">My aviation career taught me the single most important aspect in aircraft operation and maintenance. <strong>SAFETY</strong>. That is, safety in the air, on the ground and safety of both equipment - aircraft included - and people. In this industry, nothing could be more crucial than safety of air travellers, no matter the size of passenger payloads.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;">And here we are talking about some 400 to 500 on each A380 or B747 flight.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">The newest B747-400 and B747-8, jam-packed with multi-backup systems and state-of-the-art electronics, are as advanced as the A380 airbus, and <strong>as easy to fly</strong> too. </span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Even without the fly-by-wire joystick but bristling with electronic advances, the Boeing aircraft are similar in flight handling to the Airbus aircraft. Between the Airbus and Boeing planes, the technology gap has closed considerably.<br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">I do not for one moment believe that Captain Ting, as a professional pilot, meant every word of his evidence in court. He said it in the way he put it only because he, as SIA's representative, has to reflect the company's view. His position, and SIA's, has done his A380 pilots an injustice.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Passenger safety must be the main consideration for deciding the pilot's remuneration, not how advanced the aircraft is or how easy it could be flown. Therefore, the more passengers a pilot is responsible for, the more he ought to be paid. His salary should commensurate with the weight of his in-flight responsibility. That is, the safety of the number of lives under his watch.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">To say they deserve less pay because the A380 they fly is easier to handle is too simplistic an argument.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Copyright © 2007 AIRMENews. All rights reserved.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14999347.post-67003394085565173132007-02-08T20:35:00.000+08:002007-06-19T22:22:35.034+08:00Boeing tests new B-1 electronic defence device<blockquote><p>THE BOEING company tested, with success, a newly-developed electro-optical infra-red targeting pod fitted to a USAF B-1 bomber.</p><p>The Sniper XR pod enhances the aircraft's defence against ground threats and impedes the enemy's advance.</p><p><br /></p></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14999347.post-56178034145449105702006-12-14T13:57:00.000+08:002007-06-19T22:23:24.209+08:00>> US and Europe certifies A380 airworthy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1VtSU_sIRxQ/RYD9n_7HU4I/AAAAAAAAAAM/87DNNjcuY6g/s1600-h/AB380-098.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5008281649252094850" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_1VtSU_sIRxQ/RYD9n_7HU4I/AAAAAAAAAAM/87DNNjcuY6g/s200/AB380-098.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - Thursday, 14 December 2006<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Authorities</span></strong> of the United States and Europe have collectively approved the Airbus A380 megajumbo airliner. The certificate of airworthiness, issued Tuesday, effectively permits the first aircraft to enter regular passenger service with Singapore Airlines in 10 months time.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;">Mr Patrick Goudou of European Aviation Safety Agency and Mr John Hickey of the United States' Federal Aviation Administration inked the historic document in Toulouse, France.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;">At the ceremony in a hangar with a behemoth A380 behind him, Airbus Chief Executive Louis Gallois expressed satisfaction over the event. It represented, he said, "a key milestone for the A380 programme. It was also, he added, a recognition of "the quality of the work performed by all ... who have worked hard ..." to build the A380.<br /><br />A380's certification testified, the newly-appointed CEO noted, to the aircraft "...meeting or exceeding the expectations in terms of performance, range and environmental friendliness and cabin comfort."<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;">Mr Gallois assured officials present that "both customers and their passengers will love it."</span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;">Five aircraft flew more than 800 test-flights in the certification programme since April 2005.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;">After repeated production glitches, Singapore Airlines now expects its first A380 delivery in October 2007, a delay of almost two years from its original date.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Copyright 2007 AIRMENews. All rights reserved.</span> </span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br /><br /><br /><blockquote><br /></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14999347.post-70293274137424122472006-11-28T23:20:00.000+08:002007-06-19T22:27:13.112+08:00>> South Korea buys Airborne Early Warning jets<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7987/1830/1600/660501/Korea%20war%20jet.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7987/1830/320/19152/Korea%20war%20jet.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0);font-size:85%;" >by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 27 November 2006</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">BOEING'S</span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Integrated Defense Systems today won a contract to supply four B737 Airborne Early Warning and Control jets to South Korea's air force. The contract, worth US$1.59 billion, followed Australia's order for six similar Boeing jets and Turkey's for four.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, a prime sub-contractor, will fit its MESA radar, capable of tracking airborne and maritime targets, to the Korean aircraft.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Boeing expects to deliver the first jet in 2011, and the rest in 2012.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">SOURCE / PHOTO: Boeing Media</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Copyright © 2007 AIRMENews. All rights reserved. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14999347.post-68873032696031413912006-11-09T18:45:00.000+08:002007-06-19T22:28:27.446+08:00>> Australia's first Globemaster III lifts off<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7987/1830/1600/1st%20RAAF%20C17.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7987/1830/200/1st%20RAAF%20C17.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0);font-size:85%;" >by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 9 November 2006</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">ROYAL</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Australian Air Force's first Boeing C-17 Globemaster III flew on its test flight on 7 November from California's Long Beach Airport. The giant transport, with C-17's test pilot Joel Brown in charge, lifted off at 11.03 hours Pacific Time.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The flight lasted more than five hours. The crew checked and tested all vital airframe, engine and electronic systems.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Boeing planned to deliver the first of four Australian C-17s on 28 November. Aircraft number two will join the fleet in 2007, and number three and four in 2008.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">According to RAAF's Acting Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal John Blackburn, the Globemaster III "will meet vital airlift needs of the Australian Defence Force over the next 30 years."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Australian C-17s will form 36 Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley near Brisbane, Queensland.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">SOURCE/PHOTO: Boeing Media<br /><br />Copyright © 2007 AIRMENews. All rights reserved.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14999347.post-22843480643210649382006-11-02T11:01:00.000+08:002007-06-19T22:29:54.057+08:00>> Henry and Cyril Talalla: RAF's brothers-in-arms [Part 1]<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7987/1830/1600/tal_cyril-queen.4.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 206px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 191px" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7987/1830/200/tal_cyril-queen.4.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7987/1830/1600/Henry%20debrief%20-%20Imp%20War%20Mus.6.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 163px; HEIGHT: 219px" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7987/1830/200/Henry%20debrief%20-%20Imp%20War%20Mus.6.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><div><div><div><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0);font-size:85%;" >by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 2 November 2006</span><br /><div><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">ELDEST SON</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">, Henry, shot down during the D-Day invasion, had a French provincial road named after him.</span><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:0;"> </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">King George VI of </span><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /><st1:country-region style="FONT-FAMILY: courier new" st="on"><st1:place st="on">Britain</st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family:courier new;"> invested second son Cyril with a bar to his Distinguished Flying Cross. They were the Talalla brothers, oldest of seven siblings - six sons and a daughter - of Hewage Benjamin Talalla.</span><br /><p style="FONT-FAMILY: courier new">Hewage Talalla, a prominent and successful Sinhalese entrepreneur in <st1:city st="on">Kuala Lumpur</st1:city>, Malaya - now <st1:place st="on">West Malaysia -</st1:place> made his fortune, running a flourishing business in sanitary hardware. His company, Fletcher Trading Company Ltd, introduced modern sanitation to KL.<br /></p><p style="FONT-FAMILY: courier new">Hewage Talalla became a founding member of the original Rotary Club of Kuala Lumpur; and became a leading figure in Malayan society.<br /></p><p style="FONT-FAMILY: courier new">He learnt flying too. In 1932, he flew an epic 28-day journey from Alor Star, Perlis to <st1:city st="on">Croydon</st1:city>, <st1:country-region st="on">England</st1:country-region>, then returned to <st1:place st="on">Malaya</st1:place> an instant celebrity. Society elites honoured, feted and invited him to guest-speak wherever he went.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span></p><p style="FONT-FAMILY: courier new">Henry and Cyril, inherited their father's love of the sky and aeroplanes.</p><p><strong>*<span style="font-family:courier new;">To be continued</span> . . . [Part 2]</strong></p><p><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Copyright © 2007 AIRMENews. All rights reserved.</span> </p></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14999347.post-1159534296563593142006-09-29T20:35:00.001+08:002008-04-02T22:28:51.079+08:00>> 120 Squadron: RSAF's first operational unit<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7987/1830/1600/Alouettes.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7987/1830/320/Alouettes.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong></strong><br />by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 29 September 2006<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">THE MOTTO</span> of 120 Squadron, Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) proudly exhorts, "Strive to achieve." Through its achievements, "one-twenty" gradually evolved from its humble beginning to the tough air warfare unit it is today.<br /><br />Formed in late 1969, the squadron, equipped with eight Sud Aviation Alouette III helicopters became the RSAF's first operational and Search and Rescue (SAR) squadron. Based first in West Camp, Seletar Airbase, it flew sorties ranging from helping merchant ships in distress to evacuating the sick.<br /><br />Since those early days, the squadron has come a long way. Today, it has assumed a new role and re-armed with Boeing's Apache Longbow AH-64 attack helicopters. The Apache bristles with the latest weapon systems and electronics geared for modern warfare. Technologies aside, its lean and mean looks are enough to deter any would-be foe.<br /><br />It is the formative years of 120 Squadron, however, that I wish to focus on. Between January 1970 until 1975, I served in 120 - my second posting in RSAF - among the pioneering cohort of aircraft technicians in the squadron.<br /><br />On National Day 1970, a four-kite Alouette formation took part in the parade at the Padang. In the photo above, the flight led by Cpt* Derrick Martin (Alouette bearing underslung state flag) with team-mates: LTA* William Ang, LTA Teo Boon Haw and LTA Leo Tin Boon, hovered in the holding area over Buona Vista before flying to the Padang.<br /><br />The squadron's main tasks covered: Search and Rescue (SAR), VIP flights, parajumps (before Short Skyvans later took over the role), humanitarian missions and training.<br /><br />Singapore's first and second Defence Ministers, Dr Goh Keng Swee and the late Mr Lim Kim San, often used the VIP ferry service. Usually, the squadron's Officer Commanding or one of his senior pilots would fly the Defence Minister or other VIPs. I remember the task usually fell on Major Terry Loh (120 Squadron's first OC) or his deputy Captain Derrick Martin. And Major Loh cut a dashing and resplendent figure in his Day-glo coloured flying suit.<br /><br />In 1980, Major Loh sadly died in a helicopter crash in Hong Kong.<br /><br />Pioneers of Singapore's "Red Lions" free-fall parajump team trained with the Alouettes long before Skyvans and later C130s took over. COL* Clarence Tan and his commando parajump teams were familiar faces on the squadron premises. In a parajump role, the Alouette had to be configured without passenger seats and both (port and starboard) cabin sliding doors. On their way to the leap-off altitude, parachutists rode in the cabin secured by harnesses.<br /><br />In December 1970, RSAF's Alouettes assisted in evacuation duties during the monsoon flood along peninsular Malaya's east coast. The aircraft operated out of the Malaysian air force base at Kuantan. It was RSAF's first humanitarian rescue mission abroad. The mission did more than saving people marooned by the monsoon. It even had an unusual task of evacuating horse fodder from the Sultan of Pahang's palace at Pekan to higher and drier ground.<br /><br /><br />* Singapore Armed Forces abbreviations :<br />LTA - Lieutenant<br />CPT - Captain<br />MAJ - Major<br />COL - Colonel<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Copyright © 2007 - 2008 AIRMENews. All rights reserved. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14999347.post-1156773888321779322006-08-28T21:31:00.000+08:002007-06-19T22:35:36.742+08:00>> Concorde: Golden age of supersonic travel<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1867/1375/1600/Concorde%20048.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1867/1375/320/Concorde%20048.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 22 October 2006<br /></span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>IN MARCH</strong> 2006, while on my way to the departure terminal at Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Paris</st1:city></st1:place>, I spotted Air France Concorde - registration number F-BVFF - on static display at a strategic spot near the terminal.<br /><br />A graceful airplane indeed, even as it stood grounded on its pedestal!<br /><br />That chance encounter with Concorde rekindled my memories of Concorde's first visit to Singapore. On 7 June 1972, British Aircraft Corporation prototype 002 (G-BSST) - landed at 1700 hours at Paya Lebar Airport after a stop-over in Bangkok.<br /><br />The photo above shows G-BSST flying past the Singapore waterfront on its approach to Paya Lebar Airport during the historic flight. Captained by test pilot Brian Trubshaw, the supersonic jet had lifted off from Heathrow Airport, London just nine hours earlier.<br /><br />From a vantage point in a packed arrival lounge, I watched it taxied in to a rousing lion-dance welcome by an enthusiastic reception party. Concorde 002, resplendent in a glossy white-blue-red livery, sitting on the crowded tarmac was just in a word: magnificent.<br /></span></span><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">Since their retirement, hardly anything was heard of them. Of the original 20 built between 1966 and 1979, 14 flew passenger services with Air France and British Airways before retirement hastened by the tragic crash of Concorde F-BTSC on 25 July 2000.</span></p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">Four prototype jets were built: two each in Britain and France. Production of the jets were shared equally between both countries. The first production aircraft in each country - used for airworthiness certification, promotion, airline training and route-proving flights - did not enter airline service.<br /></span><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">The remaining fleet of Concordes is dispersed in several countries. Many, preserved and protected from the elements, survived as museum exhibits or on display stands at airports. In preserving, upkeeping and displaying the retired planes, both AF and BA did their utmost to ensure the legendary Concorde would be remembered always. But in this respect, Air France seemed to be better organised with its five aircraft. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">Today, the status of the fleet as it is:</span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">MSN - REGISTRATION - AIRLINE - FLIGHT HOURS - CURRENT LOCATION</span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">001 - F:WTSS - AS/BAC - 812 - French Air Museum, Le Bourget - Paris</span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">002 - G:BSST - BAC/SA - 836 - RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset</span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">101 - G:AXDN - BAC/Asp - 575 - Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridgeshire</span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">102 - F:WTSA - BAC/Asp - 656 - Orly Airport, Paris</span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">201 - F:WTSB - Asp/BAC - 909 - Aerospatiale HQ, Toulouse, France</span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">202 - G:BBDG - BAC/Asp - 1,282 - Brooklands Museum, Weybridge</span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">203 - F:BTSC - AF - 11,989 - Crashed on July 25, 2000, remains kept at Le Bourget</span></p><p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">204 - G:BOAC - BA - 22,260 - Manchester Airport, England</span></p><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">205 - F:BVFA - AF - 17,824 - Smithsonian Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Dulles Airport, Washington DC, USA<br /><br />206 - G:BOAA - BA - 22,786 - Museum of Flight, East Fortune airfield, Edinburgh<br /><br />207 - F:BVFB - AF - 14,771 - Sinsheim Auto und Technik Museum, SW Germany. Displayed besides Russian Tupolev Tu-144.<br />208 - G:BOAB - BA - 22,297 - Heathrow Airport, London - beside runway 23<br /><br />209 - F:BVFC - AF - 14,332 - Airbus factory, Toulouse, France<br />210 - G:BOAD - BA - 23,397 - Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum, New York<br /><br />211 - F:BVFD - AF - 5,821 - Retired 27 May 1982, scrapped 1994, fuselage stored at Le Bourget<br /><br />212 - G:BOAE - BA - 23,376 - Grantley Adams Airport, Barbados, West Indies<br /><br />213 - F:BTSD - AF - 12,974 - Le Bourget Air & Space Museum, Paris, France<br /><br />214 - G:BOAG - BA - 16,239 - Museum of Flight, Boeing Field, Seattle, USA<br /><br />215 - F:BVFF - AF - 12,420 - Paris CDG Airport, France<br /><br />216 - G:BOAF - BA - 18,257 - Filton airfield, Bristol, England. It flew the last flight by a Concorde. UK Concorde preservation body is planning to keep this plane airworthy. Plans are in progress for its permanent indoor display at a new aviation heritage centre in Filton.<br /><br />No passenger jet could match Concorde. In design, power and speed, it marked the pinnacle of man's endeavours in the history of civil aviation.<br /><br />Concorde's service ended in 2003, symbolised poignantly by the majestic aeroplane grounded at Paris CDG airport. It ended too, the romance of supersonic passenger travel in unsurpassed comfort and style.<br /><br />For the discerning air traveller, it was an illustrious aerial career shortened far too soon.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Copyright © 2007 AIRMENews. All rights reserved.</span> </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14999347.post-1155129256681024182006-08-09T20:38:00.000+08:002007-06-19T22:37:14.898+08:00<strong><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">New civil aviation English test for pilots<br /></span></strong><span style="font-size:85%;">by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 9 August 2006<br /></span><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">THE INTERNATIONAL</span> Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has informed its membership of 189 nations of its new English proficiency requirement for pilots and air traffic controllers. By March 2008, they must have at least a minimum standard of English language proficiency to qualify for their licence.<br /><br />Using a scale of one to six, with six being the highest level of English, candidates will be tested on their language skills. A lowest level of four is needed to qualify for the respective licences.<br /><br />Civil aviation adopts English as its working language worldwide.<br /><br />The new ICAO rule resulted from a need to spruce up the standard of English, both spoken and written, among pilots and air traffic controllers. This is borne out by the impact recent events had on safety in air travel.<br /><br />In the past decade, ICAO recorded 1,500 fatalities globally caused by poor communications between pilots and the control tower. Moreover, international standard of communication in English has become increasingly critical with new airlines taking off in Asian and other traditionally non-English-speaking countries.<br /><br />An acceptable international standard means proficiency in reading, writing and speaking English. Proficiency also requires a knowledge of air traffic parlance and proper pronounciation.<br /><br />Singapore Airlines supports the ICAO move according to its Vice-President for Public Relations, Mr Stephen Forshaw. So does the International Air Transport Association of 261 world airlines. But most Singapore's pilots and controllers are already using a high level of English due to their professional entry requirements. Therefore, they should qualify for the ICAO test.<br /><br />The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore will be assessing soon, about 2,500 pilots and some 200 controllers. Those who fail the test will have to attend remedial lessons.<br /><br />Recently, the Singapore Aviation Academy in Changi organised a meeting of representatives from 31 nations, ICAO and the International Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations. Delegates discussed the issue and its implications facing airlines and airports.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">SOURCE: International Civil Aviation Organisation/Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Copyright © 2007 AIRMENews. All rights reserved.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14999347.post-1154448151529293112006-08-01T23:31:00.000+08:002007-06-19T22:38:19.247+08:00<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">>> Singapore joins major air exercise</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 1 August 2006<br /></span><br /><br />EXERCISE Pitch Black 2006, Asia-Pacific's biggest multi-nation air exercise, began yesterday in Darwin, Australia. It will end on 6 August 2006.<br /><br />Air forces of Australia, Britain, Singapore, Thailand and the United States are taking part in the biennial war-games. Some 60 planes from the five nations are participating.<br /><br /><p>Aircraft types taking part are:<br />F-5s, F-16s, KC-135Rs and E-2Cs from the Republic of Singapore Air Force;<br />F/A-18s, F-111s, B-707s, C-130s and AP-3Cs from the Royal Australian Air Force;<br />F-16s from the Royal Thai Air Force, and an E-3D Airborne Early Warning jet from the Royal Air Force. </p><p>Singapore has also deployed I-Hawk and Mistral air defence missiles.<br /></p><p>Exercise Pitch Black 2006 allows the five friendly forces to carry out joint training operations under realistic wartime conditions. It sharpens the ability of the various forces to operate together and fosters camaraderie among them.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">SOURCE: Ministry of Defence News Release, Republic of Singapore</span></p><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14999347.post-1154344910725854082006-07-31T18:21:00.001+08:002008-04-03T18:49:59.687+08:00<strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">>> Changi's rich aviation heritage</span></strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 31 July 2006</span><br /><br /><br />CHANGI means many things to many people.<br /><br />To Singaporeans and travellers worldwide, the name points to the famous airport. To thousands of Commonwealth veterans - especially former prisoners-of-war - the name conjures images of the infamous prison camp in World War 2 and of the hardship they endured. And certainly of Changi Chapel. To many former Royal Air Force (RAF) service personnel, it was the exotic Far East posting of their lives in the 1940s, 50s and 60s.<br /><br />RAF Station Changi was home to Britain's Headquarters, Far East Air Force. Its area of command covered RAF Gan in the Indian Ocean, RAF Kai Tak in Hong Kong, RAF Labuan in Borneo and two other stations in Singapore: Seletar and Tengah. Changi played crucial roles in the Malayan Emergency 1948 -1960, Indonesian Confrontation 1963 - 1966 and Brunei Revolt 1963.<br /><br />I too, have fond memories of Changi. During my service with the RAF in the sixties, I visited the station on many occasions. It was an uncertain period for newly-independent Singapore. Indonesian President Sukarno had just embarked on a campaign to confront Malaysia and Singapore.<br /><br />Pop's canteen on the hill next to the camp entrance at Tangmere Road was a favourite stop for coffee. The Sergeants Mess at Old Sarum Road, a well-known landmark, served essential living, catering and social needs for British airmen. Rustic Changi Village and the beach were popular haunts with servicemen and their families.<br /><br />The roads in the station bore, even to this day, names of famous RAF airfields in the UK, such as Cranwell, Wittering, Netheravon, Leuchars, Catterick and Andover.<br /><br />I spent half a year at the old RAF hospital recovering from an urgent surgery. Squadron Leader Chapman-Andrews, the dental surgeon in charge of my operation, did a professional job. The medical treatment and care given me, suffice to say, was excellent.<br /><br />In the 1970s, I had the opportunity again of living and working in Changi. By then, I had joined the Republic of Singapore Air Force. My unit, 120 Squadron (equipped with Alouette III helicopters) had moved to the Changi dispersal (off Telok Paku Road) from its original base at Seletar airbase. The British had handed over the entire Changi airfield intact to Singapore in 1971.<br /><br />Now, a retired airman, Air Commodore Henry Probert, has published "The History of Changi" in collaboration with Changi Museum and the RAF Changi Association.<br /><br />The book was launched on the 28 July 2006 at Changi Museum by Singapore's Minister of Transport and Second Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Raymond Lim.<br /><br />What the Japanese built in World War 2, then developed by Britain as her premier air base in the Far East has come full circle. In 1981, after a decade as an RSAF air base, Changi replaced Paya Lebar Airport as Singapore's premier civil airport.<br /><br />Singapore Changi Airport, as it is now officially known, showcases all that are "uniquely Singapore" around the globe.<br /> <br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Copyright © 2007 - 2008 A I R M E News. All rights reserved. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0