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Updated: 20th February 2009, 0800 hrs
Singapore remains committed to Seletar Park and Aerospace R&D
By Jonathan Peeris
Singapore is staying committed to developing the Seletar Aerospace Park and grow its R & D efforts, despite the aviation industry taking a nosedive.
Although the immediate outlook for the aerospace sector appears turbulant, the Economic Development Board believes the long-term prospects remain positive.
Singapore took a decision in 2006 to develop the 300-hectare Seletar Aerospace Park as an integrated aerospace business cluster.
The park will host maintenance, repair and overhaul activities, as well as some manufacturing and other aviation business.
Giving an update on the park, EDB's Director for Transport Engineering Sia Kheng Yok says the development is proceeding as planned and upgrades to Seletar Airport began last month.
He adds that it will take about 18 months to complete the extension of the runway to 1,800 metres.
This would enable larger aircraft to land at the airport.
Charles Chong, President of the Association of Aerospace Industries of Singapore, says the Seletar Park and similar developments in China and India will see the Asia-Pacific region taking a higher stake of the global aerospace pie.
"The outlook is still a little bit uncertain but all is not doom and gloom. There are many areas where there are opportunities and I think research and development is one of them. We have to find new methods to do things more efficiently, to reduce costs and so on, it will be a pity if companies because of this current economic problems cut back on that, then we would never improve."
Dr Jasbir Singh agrees.
He's the Deputy Director of A*STAR's Science and Engineering Research Council.
"There are planes still flying in the sky that need to be maintained, that need to be taken care of. There are new technologies coming in, new planes coming in. So we really need to keep up with all of this...I think this lull period is a time where we are trying to get more people to come on board and hopefully reduce their risk in investing in these ideas on their own."
8 new companies have just joined the Council's Aerospace Programme to conduct R&D into areas such as the development of intelligent sensors, advanced materials for aircraft bodies, improvements for maintenance, repair and overhaul practices.
Singapore remains committed to Seletar Park and Aerospace R&D
By Jonathan Peeris
Singapore is staying committed to developing the Seletar Aerospace Park and grow its R & D efforts, despite the aviation industry taking a nosedive.
Although the immediate outlook for the aerospace sector appears turbulant, the Economic Development Board believes the long-term prospects remain positive.
Singapore took a decision in 2006 to develop the 300-hectare Seletar Aerospace Park as an integrated aerospace business cluster.
The park will host maintenance, repair and overhaul activities, as well as some manufacturing and other aviation business.
Giving an update on the park, EDB's Director for Transport Engineering Sia Kheng Yok says the development is proceeding as planned and upgrades to Seletar Airport began last month.
He adds that it will take about 18 months to complete the extension of the runway to 1,800 metres.
This would enable larger aircraft to land at the airport.
Charles Chong, President of the Association of Aerospace Industries of Singapore, says the Seletar Park and similar developments in China and India will see the Asia-Pacific region taking a higher stake of the global aerospace pie.
"The outlook is still a little bit uncertain but all is not doom and gloom. There are many areas where there are opportunities and I think research and development is one of them. We have to find new methods to do things more efficiently, to reduce costs and so on, it will be a pity if companies because of this current economic problems cut back on that, then we would never improve."
Dr Jasbir Singh agrees.
He's the Deputy Director of A*STAR's Science and Engineering Research Council.
"There are planes still flying in the sky that need to be maintained, that need to be taken care of. There are new technologies coming in, new planes coming in. So we really need to keep up with all of this...I think this lull period is a time where we are trying to get more people to come on board and hopefully reduce their risk in investing in these ideas on their own."
8 new companies have just joined the Council's Aerospace Programme to conduct R&D into areas such as the development of intelligent sensors, advanced materials for aircraft bodies, improvements for maintenance, repair and overhaul practices.
