ST Engineering aerospace arm, Xiamen Airlines expand pilot training partnership

ST Aerospace Academy to train more pilots.

In a release, Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (ST Engineering) announced that the commercial pilot training business of its aerospace arm, ST Aerospace Academy (STAA) has been awarded a contract to train pilots for Xiamen Airlines.

Under the agreement, Xiamen Airlines’ cadet pilots will undergo STAA’s Commercial Pilot Licence with Instrument Rating programme, followed by its High Performance Aircraft Training (HPAT) course.

The first batch of 30 cadet pilots are expected to begin their 60-week long flight training at STAA’s flying school in Ballarat, Australia in March 2013, upon completion of an eight-week intensive English language course at Xiamen Airline’s facility in Xiamen, China. They are expected to graduate in April 2014. STAA expects to increase the intake to at least 50 for subsequent batches.

HPAT serves to help cadet pilots to transit smoothly from handling low power single engine and multi engine aircraft that are used in basic training to multi turbo engine aircraft as an intermediary transition to airliners that are operated by commercial airlines. STAA’s HPAT programme is the only one in the region where all flights are conducted on international air routes. This has the value add of allowing cadet pilots to gain valuable real life experience communicating with air traffic controllers from different countries, as well as flying in varied weather conditions and terrains.

“STAA stands out as a premier pilot training academy with quality programmes, accredited training methodologies, comprehensive range of aircraft and well-equipped facilities. We are fully confident of STAA’s capabilities in helping us to meet our operational need for well qualified pilots. This confidence is also built on the strong foundation of ST Aerospace’s reliable and consistent maintenance services for Xiamen Airlines’ aircraft fleet over the last two decades,” said Capt Zhang Chaoshun, General Manager, Flight Standards Department, Xiamen Airlines

“STAA is delighted to be selected as Xiamen Airlines’ preferred pilot training partner. This contract demonstrates Xiamen Airlines’ confidence in STAA’s programmes and capabilities. STAA is fully committed to build on and further deepen the strong relationship that ST Aerospace and Xiamen Airlines have established,” said PEH Teng Keng, President, ST Aerospace Academy.

With this contract, ST Aerospace and Xiamen Airlines will extend their two-decade long partnership beyond aviation maintenance. ST Aerospace’s support for Xiamen Airlines first started in 1992 with the airline’s JT8D engines and this was later expanded to include CFM56-3B engines. In 2007, the work scope was further extended to include Maintenance-By-the-Hour™ programme for CFM56-7B22 engines that power Xiamen Airlines’ Boeing 737-700 aircraft.

The contract is not expected to have any material impact on the consolidated net tangible assets per share and earnings per share of ST Engineering for the current financial year.