Page 31 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2016 Online Magazine

FEATURE SELETAR

Aerospace Park. This includes land with First two phases are
runway access,” says Singapore Economic
Development Board (EDB) director transport already developed or
engineering, Tan Kong Hwee. the land is reserved. But
“JTC is the industrial landlord and they
have seen strong interest, so there is a need to there is still phase-three
balance and see which projects better fit the
interest that Singapore has going forward. So that accounts for 40
we have to be selective,” adds Tan. percent of the total land
Seletar Airport is primarily a business
aviation airport, but it is also home to some at Seletar Aerospace
commercial MRO companies such as Fokker
Services Asia. And it is set to also become Park. This includes land
a commercial airport. The Civil Aviation with runway access
Authority of Singapore (CAAS) announced
that commercial turboprop operators at
Changi Airport will have to re-locate to
Seletar by the end of 2018 when a new Tan Kong Hwee, Director Transport Engineering,
passenger terminal opens at Seletar. The Singapore Economic Development Board
new terminal, located on the east side of the
airport, will cater to both commercial and
business aviation passengers. While turboprop operators such as Firefly parking issue, JTC says its top management
The decision has angered both the are reluctant to move to Seletar, business is speaking with CAAS and Changi Airport
commercial turboprop operators and those aviation companies are also angered by CAAS’ Group about these matters, as it is “under
involved in business aviation. Turboprop decision. They are already concerned there is their purview.”
operators such as ATR operator Firefly want too little land at Seletar with runway access Singapore is arguably the number
to stay at Changi Airport, so their passengers and they also complain there is too little one centre in Southeast Asia for business
can use Changi as a hub to connect to other parking space for aircraft. So they fear that aviation by virtue of the fact that it has the
international flights. If they are forced to turning Seletar into a commercial airport, will largest fleet of business jets in the region
fly to Seletar, then they will be restricted to make the problem worse. and many of the top business aviation MRO
being purely a point-to-point carrier with no Another issue for business aviation companies have facilities at Seletar serving
transit traffic. companies at Seletar is that some of the the region.
The CEO of Firefly, Ignatius Ong, has larger business jets, such as the Gulfstream According to Asian Sky Research, the
also said publicly that the other reason he is G550, are unable to take off with a full load number of business jets based in Singapore
reluctant to fly to Seletar is the lack of public of fuel and passengers because the runway in 2015 was 63, making it the largest fleet
transport to Seletar. is too short. In 2011, the runway was extended of business jets in Southeast Asia. But it
JTC argues that Seletar Aerospace Park by 250m to 1,840m. It was announced at that also interesting to note that the number of
is well connected by expressways. It says a time that this length of runway was sufficient business jets based in Singapore last year did
new public bus service was introduced end to handle aircraft as large as a 737. not grow. Meanwhile, the number of business
of last year that connects Seletar to the But what was not made clear in the jets in Indonesia grew 16 percent to 52.
neighbouring northern areas of Punggol, announcement, was that they were referring EDB and JTC went to enormous effort to
Yishun and Sembawang. JTC also says it to 737s going to Seletar for maintenance attract these business aviation companies to
has introduced a shuttle bus service that work. Such aircraft fly in and take off with no Seletar. One can only hope that they – along
connects Seletar to train stations in the passengers and less than a full tank of fuel. with CAAS and Changi Airport Group - make
north and east of the island. When asked about the runway and as much of an effort to keep them.

Recent Investments into Seletar Aerospace Park

16 February 2016 17 April 24 May 2016
Sabena Technics opens component Airbus Asia Training Centre opens, a Safran Helicopter Engines opens
repair facility primarily to serve ATR joint venture between Airbus and regional headquarters and engine
operators in Asia Pacific Singapore Airlines to serve Airbus MRO facility
operators in the region

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