Lead picture: RSAF’s F-15G and F-16Cs in joint aerobatic manoeuvres at the Singapore Airshow 2018 (photo: Experia Events)
The specially painted blue F-15SG was unveiled at the launch of RSAF50 on Day 2 of the Singapore Airshow 2018
The Singapore Airshow 2018 (6-11 February) concluded its trade segment on an optimistic note with strong commendations of “the wide range of extensive opportunities to connect stakeholders, disruptive technologies to drive change and unique interaction platforms to shape the future.” The show saw an over 10 percent increase in trade visitors, as well as 287 VIP delegations with over 70 percent of exhibitors committing to return to the Singapore Airshow 2020!
“The biennial Singapore Airshow plays a vital role in supporting the aviation ecosystem in Singapore and Asia Pacific upon which so many skilled jobs depend. It’s the place for current and potential customers and suppliers to meet, network, do business and evaluate new opportunities together. It’s also a great showcase for new technologies and important to encourage the next generation of aviation talent to seek employment in aviation. By focusing on next generation technologies, encouraging start-ups to exhibit for the first time and promoting the capabilities and offerings around Southeast Asia and beyond, the show provides a time-efficient way to develop new business,” stated Richard Brown, Principal, ICF International.
Halimah Yacob, President of the Republic of Singapore, takes a ‘wefie’ with Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, Chief of Air Force, Major General Mervyn Tan, Second Minister for Defence Ong Ye Kung, Senior Minister of State for Defence Dr Mohamad Maliki bin Osman, and senior Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Officers at the launch of the RSAF’ 50th anniversary celebrations at the Singapore Airshow 2018
Rafael’s Spyder in arsenal of the Singapore armed forces
Strategic partnerships established at the Airshow included focused discussions and showcased around digital data revolution to drive intelligence across the entire value chain of the aviation industry. Examples included Airbus’ Skywise Predictive Maintenance Services which enable open aviation data platform for full aircraft data and advanced predictive analytics and Rolls-Royce’s Intelligence Engine, an all-encompassing digital strategy which represents a paradigm shift in the way it designs, produces and supports propulsion systems. “We have been very satisfied with this year’s Singapore Airshow and in particular with the high-level visitor profiles, with customers and partners from across the region and beyond, and for every part of our business,” observed Sean Lee, Head of Communications, Asia-Pacific, Airbus.
Marking its unwavering commitment to the aviation industry in the region, more than 100 companies were featured at the US pavilion, making it the largest US presence ever at the Singapore Airshow. More than 60 of these participating companies comprising contractors, integrators, equipment manufacturers, small to medium enterprises and maintenance specialists were new to the Airshow. “The Singapore Airshow had a buzz right from the start. It has always been good, but 2018 is the best it has been in 10 years. The Singapore Airshow 2018 has been a tremendous success for the participating companies at the US pavilion centered around high quality of strategic dialogues and potential partnerships focused on new technologies and innovations,” stated Tom Kallman, President and CEO, Kallman Worldwide, Inc., US Representative and Organiser of the USA Partnership Pavilion.
Two F-35B Lightning IIs were there as well
A range of weapons at the Rafael stand
The 2018 edition also saw the participation of new global exhibitors such as the Turkish Aerospace Industries. “Our debut at the Singapore Airshow has been a fulfilling one with many opportunities for us to introduce Turkish Aerospace Industries’ services and products while also establishing strong collaborations within the industry,” stated Fahrettin Ozturk, Vice President, Strategy and Technology Management, Turkish Aerospace Industries. “For our participation at the next Airshow, we will bring a more extensive showcase, including our training jet and helicopter.”
The show attracted nearly 80,000 visitors over the public day weekend on 10-11 February. Changi Exhibition Centre (CEC) hosted visitors from across the world of different ages to marvel at the spectacular aerial display performances and the latest commercial and military aircraft. Visitors to the Airshow were treated to aerobatics during the flying display performances including those by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)›s integrated aerial display team, comprising an F-15SG with a special livery to commemorate RSAF’s 50th anniversary, along with two F-16Cs fighters. They performed 15 exact manoeuvres, showcasing the high degree of precision and coordination required between the three aircraft. Their routine included six new integrated manoeuvres that was performed for the first time ever in public, such as the 3-aircraft Dedication Pass and the Golden Salute. Other flying displays included the Indonesian Air Force (TNIAU) Jupiter Aerobatic Team’s KT-1B, the US Air Force (USAF)’s F-16 and B-52 Stratofortress, the Sukhoi Su-30MKM from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), and Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF)’s JAS-39 C/D Gripen, which made their first appearances at Singapore.
Israel’s IAI Heron 1 in Singapore armed forces service
At the Static Aircraft Display Area, visitors were given opportunities to get up-close and personal with the wide range of commercial and military aircraft including a special livery RSAF F-15SG with a predominantly blue colour scheme that was specially designed and painted to commemorate the RSAF’s 50th anniversary. Key highlights of the static aircraft display included the F-35B Lightning II, the world’s first supersonic short take off/vertical landing (STOVL) stealth aircraft, making an appearance at an Airshow in Asia for the first time. Other military aircraft that made their appearance at an Airshow for the first time in Asia, was the Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning aircraft, the Royal Thai Air Force’s Gripen and the United States Air Force RQ-4B Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system (UAS).
There were a range of business and commercial aircraft which appeared for the first time at an Airshow in Asia. Among them were the Gulfstream G500 and G600 aircraft, Textron Aviation Cessna Citation Longitude and Embraer’s fourth prototype of a next-generation narrow-body jet – the E-190 E2 prototype. Nicknamed the “profit hunter”, the prototype had a brilliantly painted tiger’s face on its nose (below).
Boeing at the Singapore Airshow
Boeing showcased a wide range of products and services at this year’s Singapore Airshow. The scale of the company’s presence at the show reflected “the strong growth prospects and opportunities across its commercial, defence and services businesses in Asia-Pacific.” The Asia-Pacific region is arguably Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ fastest growing market with a strong demand for both single and twin-aisle airplanes. In addition to models of the 737 MAX and 787 airliners that have been delivered to numerous operators in the region, the Boeing exhibit also showcased a model of the new 777X now in development.
Chinook CH-47
Boeing Defense, Space & Security had a robust line-up of Boeing products on static display. The Republic of Singapore Air Force displayed the F-15SG multi-role fighter, the CH-47 Chinook and AH-64 Apache helicopters. The US Department of Defence exhibited the P-8A Poseidon and the F/A-18 Super Hornet, alongside the Integrator unmanned aircraft system from Insitu. The Boeing exhibit also included the Insitu ScanEagle and the Wave Glider, an ocean surface robot with seabed-to-space autonomous capabilities from Liquid Robotics.
Participation by Airbus
From the digitalisation of maintenance operations to aerial data collection by drones, Airbus’ growing portfolio of services took centre stage at the airshow, with a particular focus on the Asia-Pacific region. Announcements during the six-day biennial aerospace industry event included the signup of additional airline customers for Airbus’ predictive maintenance and flight hour services, the launch of Asia-Pacific operations for the company’s commercial drone services, and a new partnership to support military and police helicopters in Thailand.
AH-64D Apache
Airbus’ Skywise open-aviation data platform increased its user base with the announcement that AirAsia, Asiana Airlines and Etihad Airways would become the first airlines to use full aircraft data and advanced predictive analytics – with each signing a premium subscription contract covering Skywise Predictive Maintenance. A Skywise-equipped aircraft captures vast amounts of performance data and this quantity of information can be used by airlines to anticipate their maintenance needs with high levels of accuracy, and well in advance, thus maximising the operational reliability and utilisation of their jetliners.
C-17 Globemaster III of the USAF
Airbus’ expanded focus on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) was underscored at the Singapore Airshow, where the company officially launched its Asia-Pacific operations for Airbus Aerial commercial drone services. Singapore will serve as the region’s base of Airbus Aerial services, joining existing hubs in Munich, Germany and at Atlanta in the United States. Airbus Aerial is expanding from its initial focus on developing new imagery services, thereby leveraging the latest software and aerospace technologies to offer data and analysis from information provided by drones, satellites, high altitude aircraft and other sources.
Making its public debut: Airbus’ all new A350-1000
Airbus’ UAV focus was on the emerging business of package delivery, with the company’s Skyways UAV successfully completing its first flight demonstration at the National University of Singapore during the same week as the Singapore Airshow. During the demonstration, the drone lifted off from its dedicated maintenance centre and flew to the roof of a specially designed parcel station, where a parcel was automatically loaded via a robotic arm. The drone took off again and landed, showing its automatic unloading capability.
An RMAF A400M Atlas on static display
The Skyways drone concept, which also was displayed on Airbus’ exhibit stand at the Singapore Airshow, is designed for flight along aerial corridors to avoid collisions, while the central ground operations centre continuously monitors flight operations and unmanned air traffic. Airbus has arranged a trial project with Singapore’s postal service – SingPost – as its logistics partner to deliver parcels along designated stations at National University of Singapore.
The Singapore Airshow also highlighted the increased popularity of Airbus’ flight hour services in the Asia-Pacific region. It was announced that Hong Kong Airlines has selected Airbus’ FHS-TSP (Flight Hour Services - Tailored Support Package) for the carrier’s fleet of 21 Airbus A350 XWB widebody aircraft. The FHS-TSP contract provides integrated and guaranteed services ranging from the supply and repair of components to the manufacturer’s unique Fleet Technical Management service. An onsite Airbus team will manage daily maintenance activities, including spares, warehousing, and engineering.
AS332M Super Puma of the RSAF
For the rotorcraft business sector, Airbus and Thai Aviation Industries (TAI) announced an agreement at the Singapore Airshow to support all Airbus-built military and law enforcement helicopters in Thailand for two years. Under this arrangement, the Thai-owned maintenance and logistics support company will become main service provider in the country for Airbus helicopters operated by the Royal Thai Armed Forces and Royal Thai Police. The Royal Thai Armed Forces and Royal Thai Police currently operate a fleet of some 40 helicopters, which includes the Airbus-built light single engine H125M, the twin-engine H145, H145M and UH-72; the medium twin-engine AS365, H155 and H175; and heavy tactical H225M. These helicopters are utilised for various missions within the Royal Thai Air Force, Army, Navy, Police and the Survey Department.
At the Singapore Airshow’s static display line, Airbus’ all-new A350-1000 jetliner made an extended stopover amid a 12-city tour throughout the Middle East and Asia-Pacific region. Certified in November 2017 by both the European and American airworthiness authorities (EASA and FAA), the A350-1000 will enter service soon with launch operator Qatar Airways.
Also on display at the Singapore Airshow was an Airbus A400M Atlas military airlifter in colours of the Royal Malaysian Air Force.
Textron Aviation’s Cessna Citation Longitude
Textron Aviation Inc. have committed to strengthen its investment in the Asia-Pacific region, and displayed several of its commercial and special mission products. Notably, the Cessna Citation Longitude made its regional debut at the event (in picture below).
Gulfstream G500 and G600 make their debut
The two newest aircraft from Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. made their Asia debut at the airshow. The Gulfstream G500 and Gulfstream G600 flight-test aircraft were part of the Gulfstream static display, joining the flagship Gulfstream G650ER, the high-performing Gulfstream G550 and the Gulfstream G280. There are more than 330 Gulfstream aircraft in service in the Asia-Pacific region, 280 of them large-cabin.
The Embraer E2 at Singapore
The company presented its products and solutions for the commercial aviation, business aviation and defence and security sector. Embraer’s presence at the Show included a pavilion featuring the full-scale cabin interior mock-up of the latest E-Jets E2 commercial aircraft family displaying the various seating configurations and a Virtual Reality booth where one could pilot the E-Jets E2 aircraft. Embraer has more than 330 aircraft in 17 countries in Asia Pacific and China. The Embraer E190-E2 made its first appearance at the Singapore Airshow, this commercial aircraft, dubbed as the “profit hunter” by Embraer featured a tiger’s face spray-painted on its nose – “depicting Asia”! Also on display were some of Embraer’s business jets such as the Legacy 500, Phenom 300 and Legacy 650.
Bombardier’s presence at Changi
Bombardier Commercial Aircraft displayed a Philippine Airlines dual-class 86-seat Q400 regional turboprop, as well as an airBaltic CS300 aircraft. The Asia-Pacific region is Bombardier Commercial Aircraft’s fastest growing market with strong demand for small, single-aisle aircraft like the C Series, as well as larger regional turboprops and jets. Singapore is headquarters for Bombardier’s operations in the Asia-Pacific region and the company has been steadily growing its after-sales support in Asia-Pacific to keep pace with the ever increasing fleet of its aircraft. The company’s Customer Services network for commercial aircraft in the region includes five Regional Support Offices in Shanghai, Tokyo, Delhi, Singapore and Sydney. Bombardier authorised Service Facilities are operated by STAECO in Jinan, China, Hawker Pacific in Cairns, Australia and GMR Aero Technic in Hyderabad, India.
The CS300 aircraft
Bombardier’s products at the airshow also showcased a Challenger 350 and Global 6000 corporate aircraft.
Bombardier Q400
Saab at the Singapore Airshow 2018
Saab displayed its air defence and surveillance product line-up including the Gripen fighter, Swordfish MPA, GlobalEye AEW&C, RBS 70 NG air defence system and Giraffe 1X radar. “The Asia Pacific region, with Singapore as a hub, is a dynamic and fast-growing market where Saab is pursuing opportunities across all of its product domains.” At the show Saab displayed how in today’s complex and turbulent world, “Saab’s thinking edge delivers the innovative and advanced solutions that safeguard people and society.”
Saab’s stand at Changi
The Royal Thai Air Force came to Changi with a pair of Gripens, a two-seater on static display while a Gripen C carried out an awesome display over the Straits
Dassault’s Falcon 8X in first appearance
Dassault Aviation featured its new flagship, the Falcon 8X, at this year’s Singapore Airshow which was the first appearance of the ultra-long range Falcon 8X at the six day event. The 8X was presented alongside a Falcon 2000LXS twinjet. All Falcons, and in particular late generation models like the Falcon 8X and 2000LXS, draw upon Dassault’s extensive experience with combat aircraft – a heritage unique among business jet manufacturers. “Falcons and Rafales are designed by the same engineering teams and built on the same production lines to the same exacting quality standards.” Falcons also benefit from the advances in aerodynamics, structural design, digital flight control and the manmachine interface conceived for Rafale fighters, keeping them “on the cutting edge of executive aircraft technology.”
Leonardo at Singapore
With an established presence in Singapore, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Australia, Japan and Indonesia, Leonardo “considers the Singapore Airshow a major opportunity to showcase its range of solutions that can meet the requirements of both government and commercial customers.” Leonardo is targeting the growing demand for border security, maritime patrol, air traffic control and rotorcraft in the region, offering comprehensive advanced technology solutions. The Company’s presence at the Singapore Airshow was part of its plan to further develop existing long-standing relationships and develop new ones with future customers.
“Leonardo is proud to have a successful association with the Republic of Singapore. In 2010 the Republic of Singapore Air Force became the first export customer for Leonardo’s M-346 Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT). The flight envelope, high thrust/weight ratio, the ability to develop high angles of attack and extreme manoeuvrability allow the M-346 to offer flight conditions comparable to those of new-generation combat aircraft. This maximises training effectiveness and reduces the need to fly sorties on the far more expensive and complex variants of frontline types. These features make the M-346 an optimal solution also for the Aggressor and Companion Trainer roles. The aircraft, already ordered by the Air Forces of Italy, Singapore, Israel and Poland in its AJT configuration, will soon be available in a fully operational configuration (M-346 Fighter Attack), as well.”
Leonardo also presented its state-of-the-art Air Traffic Control (ATC) systems. The most recent contract was a multi-million Euro deal, signed in 2015, to enhance air traffic control surveillance at Singapore’s Changi Airport. Leonardo ATC Systems are also operating in other South East Asia Countries including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Leonardo’s’ excellence’ in rotorcraft was represented by successful helicopters such as the AW189, the market-leading supermedium helicopter and the intermediate models AW169 and AW139, comprising the Family of Leonardo’s new generation helicopters. Over 450 Leonardo helicopters of all types have been ordered to date by defence, government and commercial operators in the region. These aircraft carry out naval, utility, national security, search and rescue, EMS, transport and maritime patrol missions. Especially strong is its presence in Malaysia, Japan, Australia, Indonesia and Republic of Korea.
ATR sees further growth potential in Asia Pacific
ATR forecasts huge growth potential for the company in the Asia Pacific region. The manufacturer anticipates a demand for some 750 turboprops within the next two decades in the region (excluding China). Asia Pacific is ATR’s largest market globally accounting for over one third of the global fleet. As of today, there are nearly 1,200 ATRs around the world, of which some 420 are in Asia Pacific. The region ranks first in terms of number of ATRs in operation. Of the top ten countries in the world, in terms of ATR fleet size, four are in the Asia Pacific region. The biggest country globally, in terms of number of ATR aircraft in operation, is Indonesia with 99 aircraft. The other countries in Asia Pacific that made the global top ten are: Malaysia with 47 aircraft (No. 5 globally), India with 46 aircraft (No. 6 globally) and Myanmar with 34 (no. 10 globally). In addition, about one half ofthe ATR’s order backlog is from operatorsin Asia Pacific.
Rolls-Royce launches its “IntelligentEngine”
Rolls-Royce launched its IntelligentEngine vision at the Singapore Airshow. With more people flying than ever before and an increasing demand for more efficient travel, Rolls-Royce has defined “a vision for the future of aircraft power that will help deliver passengers more reliably and more efficiently than ever before.” The IntelligentEngine vision is based on a belief that product and service have become so closely connected that they are now inseparable. This trend was first identified when Rolls-Royce introduced the market defining Total Care service in the 1990s and, since then, advancements in digital capability have accelerated this change and further blurred the boundary between the two.
The coming together of product and service, supercharged by digital technology, offers Rolls-Royce a wealth of opportunities to improve the way it provides power to its customers. In addition to designing, testing and maintaining engines in the digital realm, the IntelligentEngine vision sets out a future where an engine will be increasingly connected, contextually aware and comprehending, “helping to deliver greater reliability and efficiency.”
Dominic Horwood, Rolls-Royce, Director, Customer and Services, Civil Aerospace, stated, “We are determined to pioneer the power that matters for our customers and our IntelligentEngine vision will allow us to do this. “We have the right people, the right skills and the right infrastructure to grasp this opportunity and deliver world-beating digital insight, helping us to deliver even greater value for our customers.”
The IntelligentEngine vision enables Rolls-Royce to find new ways of pioneering power, whether that is through its engines installed today, through its future UltraFan engine design, or even through the hybridelectric concepts of the future.
Rolls-Royce’s R2 Data Labs, an acceleration hub for data innovation launched in December 2017, will play a key role in achieving the aims of the IntelligentEngine. Using advanced data analytics, industrial Artificial Intelligence and machine learning techniques, R2 Data Labs develops data applications that unlock design, manufacturing and operational efficiencies within Rolls-Royce, and creates new service propositions for customers.
The Rolls-Royce stand at the event