A380 mega private jet for the super-rich

by Derek Yeo - LE BOURGET - 21 June 2007

SALES 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.

Mr Leahy, however, did not disclose the buyer's identity, who was believed to be Middle-Eastern.

Although the mega-jet's delivery date was unknown, fitting of the aircraft interior was estimated to take more than a year.

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.

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.

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.

Copyright © 2007 AIRMENews*. All rights reserved.

Asia's largest airshow's on schedule

by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 12 June 2007

"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."

A STRONG endorsement, indeed, from Boeing Company's Vice-President (Asia-Pacific) Douglas Miller.

Eight 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.

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.

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.

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.

As in previous shows, the anchor exhibitor - Singapore Technologies Aerospace - will showcase the best on the Singapore aviation scene.

The new show venue debuts with:

1. A static display park - 90,000 square metre in area - designed specially for aircraft display.
2. An indoor cooled exhibition hall - 40,000 square metre in area - equipped with the latest technologies.
3. An outdoor picnic park for spectators viewing aerial displays and aerobatics.
4. An improved registration and security check system to screen visitors and introduction of a secured buffer zone.
5. A new airport taxiway linking the static display park to the runways. This provides easier access for aircraft taking part in flight displays.
6. A 2000-lot carpark.
7. Two hundred chalets for exhibitors and their staff.
8. A viewing platform for aerial displays.
9. A display area for air and surface defence equipment.

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.

Perhaps Singapore Technologies Engineering's President and CEO Tan Pheng Hock best summed up the Singapore Airshow 2008 in these words:

"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".

For, trade and visitor enquiries, please click on singaporeairshow.com.sg in the side-bar on the left. Alternatively, enquirers may email sales@singaporeairshow.com.sg or call +65 6542 8660 or fax +65 6546 6062.

LATEST! 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.

Copyright © 2007 AIRMENews*. All rights reserved.

US air force receives new Globemaster

by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 1 June 2007


THE UNITED States Air Force yesterday received its 165th C-17 Globemaster III from the Boeing Company.

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.

By 2008, another 12 Globemaster IIIs will join 436th Airlift Wing.

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.


Copyright © 2007 AIRMENews*. All rights reserved.

Singapore's A380 pilots win pay arbitration

by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 25 May 2007

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.**

Through their professional union, Airlines Pilots Association - Singapore, they had argued that the bigger capacity Airbus justified their case.

SIA disagreed. The airline argued that the Airbus pilots should be paid less because the A380 is easier to fly than the Boeing plane.

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.

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.

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.

** Note: See commentary dated 29 April 2007 by DEREK YEO

Copyright © 2007 AIRMENews. All rights reserved.

My earliest recollections beckon

by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 22 May 2007

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.

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.

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.

On lazy afternoons, I would spent hours sitting on the sea-front gazing curiously at the airfield's activities across the water.

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.

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. When he wasn't teaching, Mr Hee flew Harvards and Tiger Moths with MAAF pilot trainees.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Anyway, I was glad to see my old schoolmate, SGT Terry Teo, again.

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.

*NOTE: In the eighties, the Workers' Brigade merged with the Singapore Fire Brigade to form the Singapore Civil Defence Force.

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