ANDREW DOYLE & STEWART PENNEY / SINGAPORE
Embraer, KAI and Pilatus respond to Singapore air force request for information
The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has launched a competition to replace the aircraft operated at its basic flying training school at the Royal Australian Air Force base at Pearce in Australia.
Airspace restrictions mean RSAF training is spread around the world, with pilots attending BAE Flying Training in Australia for elementary tuition before flying the SIA-Marchetti S211 jet-powered basic trainer at Pearce. Advanced training is also located abroad, with the first pilots having recently completed the Bombardier-operated NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) programme. Lead-in fighter training and operational conversion are also conducted overseas.
Industry sources say Embraer, offering the Super Tucano, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) with an unarmed version of the KO-1 (an upgraded version of the KT-1 basic trainer) and Pilatus with the PC-21, answered a request for information (RFI), as did Bombardier with a proposal to operate a school. Sources suggest Raytheon also responded with a T-6 Texan-based bid. The PC-21, which Pilatus has yet to launch, is the favoured candidate, they add.
A manufacturing source says the RSAF is seeking an aircraft to be operated by a private company. A KAI source says the manufacturer is prepared to become a full partner in any school if the KO-1 wins.
The RSAF is now evaluating the responses. The service is understood to be seeking 24 turboprops to replace its 28 S211s.
Source: Flight International
