>>> Changi International Airshow - 2008
by Derek Yeo


TWENTY O EIGHT will not be just the year of the Beijing Olympics.

It will also be the year of the first Changi International Airshow, to be held at a new purpose-built and permanent exhibition centre in Changi North. The new show will replace Asian Aerospace after the latter's last show at its site near Changi Village, from 21 to 26 February 2006.

The government has earmarked the site for airport redevelopment and expansion.

Reed Exhibitions - the organiser of Asian Aerospace - and Singapore's Economic Development Board could not agree on AA's future direction in Singapore. A new company - Changi International Airshow and Events Pte Ltd - jointly set up by Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and Defence Science Technology Agency will manage the new show.

The new company has roped in aviation veterans Lim Chin Beng and Jimmy Lau as Chairman and Managing Director to launch the new Asian airshow.

Asian Aerospace itself is expected post-2008, to move to another Asian city.

The question on everyone's lips is: Will CIA* be as successful as or even more successful than Asian Aerospace?



WATCH this space - for the commentary, on-line soon. Live.
* Any resemblance to the initials of that famous agency is just coincidental.

>>> Singapore,Thailand and United States in joint exercise

THE AIR FORCES of Singapore, Thailand and the United States launched an air exercise, codenamed Cope Tiger, at Paya Lebar Air Base this week.

The exercise, held annually since 1994, enhances the professionalism and interoperability among the Republic of Singapore Air Force, the Royal Thai Air Force, and the United States Air Force/United States Marine Corps and strengthens the understanding and rapport among the officers and men.

The first-phase of the exercise, kicked off on 28 Nov 05 with a two-day Command Post Exercise (CPX). During the CPX, the participants gained a greater insight and understanding of the operating procedures across the three air forces through mission planning exercises and mission commanders' training.

The second phase of Ex Cope Tiger will be a 12-day Flying Training Exercise in Korat, Thailand from 6-17 Feb 06 and will involve the RSAF’s Chinook CH-47D helicopters for the first time.

The exercise will also involve about 90 aircrafts (sic) and 1,200 personnel flying over 1,260 sorties. This is a significant increase in participation of personnel and aircraft since its inception and is testimony to the excellent defence relations and close co-operation between Singapore, Thailand and the United States.

The opening ceremony for the exercise was jointly officiated this afternoon by the Chief of Air Force of the Republic of Singapore Air Force, Major-General Lim Kim Choon; Chief of Air Staff of the Royal Thai Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol Suwanatat and Vice-Commander of the General George C. Kenny Headquarters (Provisional) and Commander, Pacific Air Operations Centre, Hickam Air Force Base, Brigadier-General Gregory J. Ihde.

Acknowledgement with appreciation:

Ministry of Defence, Republic of Singapore published the above story in Mindef News Release dated 30 Nov 2005.

>>> Singaporean fighter pilot cited by respected aviation weekly
by Derek Yeo


"At one point, a simulated MiG aggressor, flying at low altitude, slipped through a blockade of F-15 Eagles and immediately went after an EA-6B in the blue force's backfield."

"An alert Singaporean F-16 pilot either spotted the simulated MiG or was directed to intercept it by an AWACs controller, shooting down the MiG and saving the high-value jammer aircraft."

MAJOR ONG SWEE Chuan, the 'alert Singaporean F-16 pilot' cited in this report by Aviation Week & Space Technology, had taken part in Exercise Red Flag. The United States Air Force held the exercise recently at Nellis Tactics and Training Range.

It is among the toughest air games conducted by North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's member nations. From anecdotal accounts, US war veterans testified that actual war-time operations were not as tough as Red Flag.

Major Ong, 34, with more than 1,300 F-16 flying hours to his credit, attributed his alertness to situational awareness honed by his years of experience.

In his stint at RSAF's 425th Squadron detachment, based at Luke Air Force Base - Arizona, he scored air ace ratings. The major beat his contemporaries in the range competition, finishing top in three of five categories. In US parlance, he is a 'Top Gun.'

The RSAF regularly deploys its servicemen in exercises with friendly countries - the United States, Britain, Australia, Sweden, among others - around the world. This enables the Singapore Armed Forces to stay agile, constantly improve its skills and performance. And also allows the SAF to benchmark itself against the world's best combat units.

For lack of training areas, limited airspace and national security reasons, Singapore maintains several long-term detachments around the world. These detachments, based in the US, Australia, Brunei, France and Taiwan, help to enhance the presence of and create 'space' for the tiny island city-state.

Major Ong and his detachment mates have done Singapore proud.

>>> Boeing plans larger B747 variant
by Derek Yeo


FINALLY, BOEING HAS decided to take on Airbus head-on in the war of the mega-jumbos. The famous airplane maker plans to produce a bigger variant of its ubiquitous B747 jumbo-jet.

Named B747-8, the new plane is Boeing's latest strategy to help recover her number one spot in the air transport market. Boeing lost it to Airbus in 2003.

This year, Airbus pips Boeing again with sales of 360 airliners to 290.

Despite years of differing with Airbus over the market viability of Ultra Large Aircraft (ULA), Boeing now realised that there is in fact, room for two ULAs.

That Boeing chose to announce its new aircraft now is significant. Airbus has just wrapped up a successful A380 Asian and Australian tour. By doing so, Boeing hopes to take some shine off that success. And shift global attention to the B747-8.

Boeing aims for a slice of the market with a B747-8 - based on a stretched 747-400 airframe - which is lighter, and powered by quieter engines with less emissions. However, from Boeing figures just released, A380 edged her rival in capacity and range. B747-8 can seat up to 450 passengers compared to A380's 555. The Boeing has a range of 14,815 km as against the Airbus' 15,000 km.

Boeing expresses optimism in an estimated market share of around 900 B747-8s over the next 20 years. For the same period, Airbus projects sales of 650 to 700 A380s.

How accurate these forecasts will be, only time will tell.

>> A I R M E News*: Aviation's who, where, what . . .



A I R M E News* incorporates and supersedes 'Hangar Talk - Tarmac Walk' effective from 16 October 2005.

We feel that the new name - and acronym - represents more precisely the kind of information given in this log. Everything possible is done to ensure that every piece of information carried herein is factual and accurate.

Still, despite our best intentions, we cannot guarantee always an absolutely error-free blog. Hence, we would acknowledge and thank readers kind enough to point out any error and omission to us.

To you, our readers: we hope you enjoy our blog as much as we do in putting it together for you.


> > > Aviation -- Information -- Reports -- Memos -- Essays -- News < < <

>>> Financial woes at Malaysia Airlines
by Derek Yeo


ELATION TURNED TO gloom as Malaysia Airlines (MAS) braced itself for another record year of financial losses. Only days earlier, the 16th Annual Travel Awards 2005 in Pattaya, Thailand surveyed and voted MAS as the Best South-East Asian Airline.

Airline sources estimated that for financial year April 2005-March 2006, the company's losses could hit a staggering RM800 million to RM1 billion.

The airline suffered from years of mismanagement and lately, the impact of rising oil prices. In a bold management make-over, a new Chief Executive Officer - Mr Idris Jala - assumes office next month. The national carrier also has to fly loss-making routes into the vast interior of Sabah and Sarawak. It is cutting costs in yet another area - its large workforce; redundant lay-offs seem inevitable.

MAS has just published its revised fuel surcharges, effective from 15 Nov 2005, ranging from USD18 (RM 68) to USD50 (RM190). The revised rates do not affect domestic travel which remains heavily subsidised. For routes between West Malaysia and East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak), the surcharge is RM15; and for routes within Malaysia, RM7-50. Fuel surcharges are payable at the point of ticketing.

The airline has often groused about its role as Malaysia's national carrier to provide unprofitable domestic services, especially to poor rural regions.

Cost-plying grouses aside, fingers point to some lavish splurges by MAS at the same time. For example, experts - paid thousands of ringgit - were hired to advise on cost-slashing measures. One measure - carry less water and newspapers on flights - was introduced to lower aircraft weight.

The carrier's latest quarterly fiscal figures (July - September 2005) - in the red, no doubt - will be announced soon. Losses hit an all-time high of RM280 in the previous quarter.

>> US-India air exercise
by Derek Yeo


AMID GROWING TIES between India and the United States, both countries are holding an air force exercise starting 7 Nov. However, this year's exercise - the fifth in the annual series - is taking off in controversy.

Hundreds of Communist Party of India's supporters protested in Kolkata against the drill at Kalaikunda air force station in Marxist-ruled Bengal. The CPI is against India's warming relations with the US. Indian communists fear that the air exercises are a plot to increase American military influence in the region.

But Indian Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee insisted there is nothing unusual about the joint manoeuvre. "It is a routine exercise, it is nothing new," Indian Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee assured newsmen.

Kalaikunda air base, situated near the Indo-Chinese frontier, defends India's strategic front-line facing its northern neighbour, China.

Indian air force's Jaguars, Mirages and MiGs; and US F16s are taking part in the exercise.

>> A380 lands at Changi
by Derek Yeo


A380 PROTOTYPE MSN001 (French Registration F-WWOW) touched down at Changi Airport runway 2 at 10am, 13 hours after it left Toulouse, France.

The proving flight - A380's first outside Europe - was the farthest flown by the type since its production.

As the Airbus behemoth taxied in and nosed for the terminal, it tested successfully taxiways specially widened - along some stretches, by as much as 6m - and strengthened to suit A380's peculiar undercarriage configuration and longer turning radius.

It docked at Terminal 2's Gate F31 without a hitch. The gate is one of 19 - at Terminals 1, 2 and 3 - under upgrade to A380 standard.

Officials of Airbus, Singapore Airlines and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore greeted the behemoth jet on its arrival. Transport Minister Yeo Cheow Tong was the guest of honour. Mr Yeo, European ambassadors in Singapore and other guests later toured the aircraft's interior.

At a media conference, Mr Charles Champion - Airbus' Chief Operating Officer - stressed his company's plan to deliver SIA's first aircraft by the end of 2006. "Any delay of deliveries would be compensated according to contract terms," he emphasized.

To date, eleven A380s had been built and about 500 hours of test-flying hours achieved.

The plane took off for Brisbane at midnight.

Acknowledgement: Photo by The Straits Times

>> Boeing jet sets new world record



A BOEING 777-200LR (Longer Range) aircraft touched down at London's Heathrow Airport (1315GMT, 10 Nov) to a new world record. It landed 25 minutes earlier than scheduled, thanks to strong tailwinds.

The jet, dubbed 'Worldliner', flew 22 hours and 42 minutes - from Hong Kong to London - over a distance of 20,100 km. It is the longest non-stop journey on a scheduled passenger flight.

Another Boeing plane - a Qantas B747-400 - set the previous record of 17,039 km from London to Sydney in 1989.

The new epic flight, in a easterly heading, carried the 35 passengers and crew on-board over the northern Pacific, America and the Atlantic. Along the way, passengers and crew enjoyed two breathtaking sunrises.

In her command seat*, Captain Suzanna Darcy-Hennemann piloted the B777 to a smooth landing. One of her flight-crew, Captain Mathew, represented Singapore Airlines on the historic trip. He serves SIA as its Deputy Chief Pilot B777 - Base Training.

"I'm very excited to be part of aviation history," said Captain Mathew.

Officials from Guinness Book of Records and the British media met the crew on arrival.

*Note: This is the Captain's seat on the cockpit's port (left) side. The First Officer sits on the starboard (right) side.

>> A380 Visit To Singapore Delayed


A380 PROTOTYPE MSN001's arrival at Singapore Changi Airport, scheduled on 8 Nov 2005, has been delayed. Rolls Royce, the powerplant maker, has requested Airbus to replace two of the aircraft's four Trent 900 turbo-fan engines. The engine changes, taken as a precaution, arise from a review of an earlier engine replacement.

Its new estimated date of arrival is 11 Nov 2005.

Airbus has also announced a slight change of MSN001's itinerary. Originally after Singapore, its next stop would have been Kuala Lumpur. Now, it will fly to Australia first - to participate in celebrations marking the Australian national carrier, Qantas' 85th anniversary - before going on to Kuala Lumpur.

The revised itinerary: Toulouse - Singapore - Brisbane - Sydney - Melbourne - Kuala Lumpur - Toulouse.

A380 prototype MSN001's crew (including back-up crew) includes: Jacques Rosay, chief test pilot; Peter Chandler, experimental test pilot; Claude Lelaie, senior vice president flight division; test pilot Frank Chapman; Fernando Alonso, chief flight test engineer and vice president flight test division; test flight engineer Gérard Desbois; flight test engineer Jean-Francois Bousquie; and flight test engineer Sylvie Loisel-Labaste – the only female crew member.

On this nine-day tour, Airbus plans to:
1. showcase the A380 to SIA, QANTAS and MAS before initial deliveries
2. assist airports to test for compatibility, equipment and facilities; and assess their readiness to serve the A380
3. take part in A380 promotions in Singapore, Australia and Malaysia.

>> Airbus A380 flies to Frankfurt


THE FIRST A380 aircraft (MSN001) has begun a series of airport compatibility tests around the world. Frankfurt airport in Germany was the first to receive it from Toulouse early morning 29th October. The airport compatibility tests that took place on Saturday included landing, taxiing, docking at a terminal, checking passenger boarding bridge positioning, and take-off. There were also routine ground procedures such as loading baggage and food supplies, cleaning and refuelling. Airbus representatives are very satisfied with the testing.

The flight test aircraft cabin is fitted with flight-test instrumentation, measuring equipment and ballast tanks that can be filled with water to simulate the weight of a full passenger load and cargo.

Allowed onto the tarmac at the former military section of the airport, thousands turned up to view the aircraft despite the obscuring morning fog. The aircraft and its six crew members will return to Toulouse on Sunday morning.

With over 100 flights and over 360 flight hours, the first A380 (MSN001) is ahead of the test programme schedule and showing very good results.

Next, for the first time since the A380 took to the skies, the aircraft will leave Europe for airports in Asia. Singapore will be the first airport outside Europe to receive the A380 aircraft on November 8 for its next aircraft compatibility testing. Subsequent destinations are Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Meanwhile, the second of the five A380 (MSN004) test aircraft successfully took to the air on 18th October over southwestern France. This aircraft will join the first A380 (MSN001) in the flight test campaign that started on 27th April.


Acknowledgement with thanks to SIA A380 Team:
Update dated 2 Nov 2005 published in 'Stay Up To Date On SIA A380 Issue 06/05'.