Page 18 - AAA JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2019 Online Magazine

Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) strategy and enjoys strong sup-
port from the business community. “With the fleet of widebody
aircraft in the Asia-Pacific region set to triple to around 4,800
aircraft over the next 20 years, the project represents a sound busi-
ness opportunity for both our companies,” said Guillaume Faury,
President Airbus Commercial Aircraft.

Strong Demand
The Boeing 2018 market outlook forecasts that in the next 20 years
16,930 new aircraft will be delivered in the Asia-Pacific region and
the area will have the world’s largest number of aircraft, making
up 37 per cent of the global fleet with narrow-bodies growing from
5,270 to 12,880. Boeing predicts that global spend on maintenance,
engineering, parts and upgrades will grow from US$75.6 billion to
US$164.7 billion with Asia-Pacific spending $US60.3 billion, up from
US$22.2 billion in 2017. By 2037 the region will be spending double
what is spent in North America or Europe to become the dominant New Infrastructure
market for MRO services.Airbus has also signed a Memorandum of Another facility coming up is at Bangkok’s Don
Understanding (MoU) with Thailand’s Civil Aviation Training Center Mueang International Airport (DMIA). MRO
(CATC) to work together on projects to develop and implement prospects at DMIA also received a boost last
maintenance training and pilot training courses in the country. June, when THAI and aircraft engine manu-

Under the agreement, Airbus and the CATC will identify ways in facturer Rolls Royce announced a commercial
which they can deepen their cooperation in the training of aviation tie-up that will see the local company under-
professionals in the country. Airbus has begun working with the take repair and maintenance services for the
CATC on basic maintenance training courses, and this could be UK firm’s Trent engines at the airport. While
expanded to include additional maintenance courses as well as ab THAI uses the Trent engines in its own aircraft
initio flight training courses for pilots. fleet, the authorized maintenance centre, likely
to be opened by the end of this year, will also
The goal is to support the development of the country’s avia- be able to serve other carriers in the region.
tion industry by helping to ensure that there is a steady supply In Vietnam, Singapore-based ST Aerospace
of pilots, engineers and mechanics for Thailand’s MRO centres. has entered into a joint venture with Vietnam
Airbus is forecasting a demand for 220,000 new pilots and more Airlines to provide component maintenance,
than 260,000 new technicians in the Asia-Pacific region over the repair and overhaul solutions.
next 20 years. The effort to raise the country’s profile in the MRO
market is in line with the government’s Thailand 4.0 industrialization The JV project is based at Noi Bai International
policy, which identified the segment as one of 10 industries to be Airport in Ha Noi, Vietnam, and will provide
prioritized for investment and expansion.To incentivize MRO, the MRO services to Vietnam Airlines’ A321CEO
government has been rolling out a number of support mechanisms and A321NEO fleet, and other operators in the
for the sector, such as the National Competitiveness Enhancement region. Initially, the JV will offer support for
for Target Industries Act of 2017, which includes extended exemp- various technology groups, including pneumat-
tions on corporate and import taxes. ics, hydraulics and electrical components. It
has future plans to provide aerostructure and
airframe MRO, as well as other services. The
JV will benefit from subsidiary Vietnam Airlines
Engineering Company (VAECO)’s existing facil-
ities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as
ST Aerospace’s expertise in MRO capabilities.

It expects to reduce Vietnam Airlines’ turn-
around time for maintenance and repairs with
work being conducted in Vietnam. The JV
also aims to offer cost savings and improved
operational efficiency to Vietnam Airlines. ST
Aerospace president Lim Serh Ghee said,
“The robust development of the economy and
a burgeoning middle class have created an
ideal environment for the growth of the avi-
ation industry in the Asia Pacific region, and
Vietnam’s double-digit growth in the air travel

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