Singapore Technologies Aerospace (ST Aero) plans to open early next year a maintenance facility in Panama to overhaul narrowbody aircraft for Copa and other operators in the Americas.
ST Aero signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at Asian Aerospace with AAEEPP, the Panamanian government agency overseeing the redevelopment of the former Howard US AFB. ST Aero president Tay Kok Khiang says a “definite agreement” should be finalised within “a couple of months’ time”. The new maintenance, repair and overhaul facility will initially use four existing hangars, each of which can accommodate three narrowbody aircraft. ST Aero will later consider building a widebody hangar.
ST Aero has not yet lined up any partner or customer for the facility, but Tay confirms it is in talks with Copa, which operates a fleet of Boeing 737-700/800s and Embraer 190s and may take a stake in the new facility. Copa and its Colombian subsidiary AeroRepublica, which operates Boeing MD-80s and McDonnell Douglas DC-9s, outsource their heavy maintenance to US-based providers.
ST Aero hopes to attract other Latin American carriers, for some of which it carries out engine overhauls. ST Aero, in addition to operating MRO facilities in Singapore and the USA, has a joint venture facility in the UK and last year signed an MoU with Turkish Airlines to set up an MRO centre in Turkey.
ST Aero is the first aerospace company Panama has been able to attract to Howard, which closed in 1999 but still handles government VIP flights. The government is seeking to redevelop part of the base, initially focusing on MRO and later air cargo. It is now working on certifying the airport for civilian flights.
Source: Flight International
