Boeing and Korean Air (KAL) Aerospace have partnered to create a regional support centre for Boeing-manufactured military aircraft at Gimhae airport in Busan, South Korea
The centre will immediately stock parts for AH-64 and CH-47 helicopters and F-15 fighters, as well as Lockheed Martin F-16s, and serve the South Korean military. Boeing and KAL Aerospace envisage a gradual expansion of the centre to supply parts for US military aircraft stationed in South Korea and aircraft operated by other Asian militaries.
Boeing general manager, spares and technical data military aerospace support, James Brunke, says Boeing plans to soon discuss with Taiwan and Singapore the possibility of using the new Asian support centre to support their Boeing-manufactured military aircraft. Malaysia and Thailand are other potential customers, but Japan cannot be pursued because of legal issues preventing them from trading parts with other operators.
Parts for all Asian countries are now supplied from the USA. But as part of its new global support network strategy, Boeing earlier this year opened a European support centre in Amsterdam with Fokker Services and a similar centre in Australia. "Korea is basically the third node," says Brunke. "We've got plans for Canada. We're thinking of ultimately opening one in the Middle East."
Source: Flight International
