ST Aerospace redelivers first converted 757-200 to RNZAF

PRLog (Press Release) - Aug 12, 2008 -
Singapore Technologies Aerospace Ltd (ST Aerospace) today celebrated the redelivery of the first of two 757-200 aircraft to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). In November 2005, ST Aerospace announced it won a US$38m (about S$52m) contract from the New Zealand Ministry of Defence that involved design, development and conversion to multirole configurations, including a passenger to freighter conversion, an avionics upgrade programme and other modifications to enhance the capability of the two RNZAF 757-200 aircraft in military and remote operating environments. ST Aerospace is the aerospace arm of Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (ST Engineering).

Conversion work on the aircraft was carried out at ST Aerospace’s US facility, ST Mobile Aerospace Engineering (MAE), where MAE converted the aircraft from an all passenger arrangement to a multirole configuration that allows the carriage of passenger, freight, mixed passenger-freight, Very-Important-Persons (VIP) and Aero-Medical Evacuation. Aircraft NZ7571 was inducted at MAE in Mobile on 16 April 2007 for the modification. With data licensed from Boeing, the engineering design and development conversion was undertaken at ST Aerospace to allow for the multiple-role configuration. The prototype aircraft made its first flight out of the Brookley Field in Mobile on 22 June 2008, completing a four-hour test flight to check the basic aircraft systems and begin its flight test programme. Since then, the aircraft has also completed flight tests on the other modifications including cabin noise measurement and military navigation and communication systems. The flight test programme was successfully completed on 23 July 2008, after a total of 5 sorties, 19 hours and 36 minutes of flight time. Work on the second aircraft is in progress and it is expected to be completed end 2008.

“The Ministry of Defence and Royal New Zealand Air Force are delighted to accept the Boeing 757 back from ST Aerospace after a significant upgrade and modification project. The ST Aerospace team has faced many challenges meeting this passenger-to-combi conversion programme, and we have no doubt that this product will enhance the RNZAF’s strategic airlift capabilities.” ~ Air Vice-Marshal Graham LINTOTT, Chief of Royal New Zealand Air Force

“The RNZAF programme is a complex and interesting one, and today’s redelivery is only possible through the teamwork from RNZAF, Boeing and our staff. The accomplishments on this aircraft to enable it to be used flexibly to meet the different needs of the Royal New Zealand Air Force is a reflection of the complex operational requirements and the engineering efforts put in. We are pleased to deliver a quality product that would support RNZAF’s operational needs for the next couple of decades.” ~ TAY Kok Khiang, President, ST Aerospace

ST Aerospace is the aerospace arm of ST Engineering.  Operating a global MRO network with facilities in the Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe, it is the world's largest airframe MRO provider with a global customer base that includes many of the world's leading airlines, airfreight operators and military operators.  ST Aerospace provides a full spectrum of maintenance and engineering services through its two business segments: Aircraft Maintenance & Modification (AMM) and Component & Engine Total Support (CETS).  Its services include airframe, engine and component maintenance, repair and overhaul; engineering design and technical services; and aviation materials and management services, including Total Aviation Support.  ST Aerospace has a global staff strength of more than 7,000 engineers and technical specialists.  Please visit http://www.staero.aero.

Media Contacts:
Sharolyn Choy
SVP, Corporate Communications
ST Engineering
Tel: (65) 6722 1883
Fax: (65) 6720 2293
Email: sharolynchoy@stengg.com

Audrey Tan
Head, Corporate Communications
ST Aerospace
Tel: (65) 6380 6152
Fax: (65) 6280 8213
Email: audreytan@stengg.com