Page 4 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015 Online Magazine

THE AERIAL VIEW

EDITOR’S NOTE CREDITS

Seoul On Song! Editor
Vittorio Rossi Prudente
vittorio.prudente@gbp.com.sg
KAI Korea Aerospace Industries in Sacheon has entered a growth phase with Associate Editor
rising demand for Korean aircraft from the global defence industry. A robust Jay Menon
backlog in the firm’s commercial aviation business is also fueling the growth. jay.menon@gbp.com.sg
Operations Director
KAI’s main business in the commercial aviation sector is supplying key parts Siva Sachi
and frames to Boeing and Airbus. According to estimates KAI’s backlog siva.sachi@gbp.com.sg
of commercial orders stands at around 5 trillion won (US$4.9 billion). Art Director
Arthur Chan
arthur.chan@gbp.com.sg
Compared with defence orders, the firm’s commercial business
has been relatively unknown to the public, but the latter business Web Director
Elmer Valencia
made up 33 percent of the firm’s total sales in 2013. elmer.valencia@gbp.com.sg
Circulation Manager
Few know that KAI is the sole manufacturer of the wing ribs for the Khairul Naem
Airbus A350 XWB, and of the wing box for Boeing’s 787. The plane khairul.naem@gbp.com.sg
maker has also been the sole manufacturer of fuselages for the
Apache, Boeing’s advanced attack helicopter, since 2004. ADvERTISING CONTACTS:
marketing@gbp.com.sg
KAI says it will invest more in its commercial business, looking
to make the sector account for 50 percent of its sales. Europe – Canada and all other countries:
Global Communications sas
Tel: +39 049 723548
The emergence of KAI as a key supplier for Boeing and Airbus Helen@global-communications.it
results not only from the company’s advanced technology, but USA
also from cost cuts through the automation of production. Contact: Josh Mayer
Tel : +1 972 816-6745 Fax : +1 972 767 4442
Email : jm@mayeradvertising.com
Interestingly, it was the world’s first trial to build an automated process
to manufacture wing ribs of an airliner for the A350. Another automation Israel
project run by KAI is its newly built Sancheong plant to supply 460 Contact: Tamir Eshel
Tel : + 972 544 508 028 / +972 989 117 92
wing-bottom panels for the A320 aircraft over the next 12 years. Fax : +972 989 199 65
Such excellent outcomes and efforts have been recognized Email : eshel_tamir@yahoo.com
by world-leading aircraft manufacturers. China
Contact: Xu Yixin 徐一新
Mob: +8613811688955
In addition to winning the orders for A350 wing structures, A320 Tel: 86-10-58354055 / Fax: 86-10-84043033
wing top panels, and B787 wing and fuselage connection parts, the E-mail : xuyixin@cannews.com.cn
company won the order for A320 wing bottom panels(WBPs). South East Asia
Also, KAI signed a major export contract with Boeing, agreeing Contact: Siva Sachi
to supply B737 empennage, B777 FLE(Fixed Leading Edge), B787 Mob: +6012-905 6825
PBH(Pivot Bulkhead) and other major structures until 2024. E-mail : siva.sachi@gbp.com.sg
KAI has expanded its aerostructure business based on cooperation
with the world’s leading aerospace companies and seeks to
grow into an aircraft manufacturer of its own right. Global Business Press Pte. Ltd.
ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS
The success of the two automated plants will give a strong and Level 34, Centennial Tower,
3 Temasek Avenue, Singapore 039190.
unique competitive edge to KAI amid strong competition to win Tel: +65 6549 7706 Fax : +65 6549 7011
Email : enquiry@gbp.com.sg Web : www.gbp.com.sg
multibillion-dollar orders from passenger jet makers.
JAY MENON
Associate Editor
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