Singapore-based firm ST Engineering announced on Tuesday a contract to provide the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) with a full scale maintenance and modernisation programme for three of its C130 Hercules transport aircraft, to be delivered through the company's aerospace arm.
The work will be undertaken at the ST Aerospace facility in Paya Lebar, Singapore, and will include major servicing of the aircraft, repair and overhaul of aircraft components, as well as Rolls Royce engines and other accessories.
A significant part of the contract will also see the modernisation of the aircraft cockpit, with the first aircraft expected to be sent to Singapore in the third quarter of this year and to return in 2014.
"RAFO has enjoyed an excellent working relationship with ST Aerospace for over 20 years. We selected ST Aerospace because it is a one stop centre for C130 Hercules aircraft and has extensive capabilities on this aircraft platform," said Matar Ali al Obaidani, commander, RAFO.
Under the modernisation programme, ST Aerospace will equip RAFO's fleet of C130 aircraft with an avionics suite that is Global Air Traffic Management compliant. The suite will include a six-display full glass cockpit, digital flight control system and flight management system. ST Engineering also said that RAFO would benefit through improved operational efficiency and lower maintenance requirements, while enhancing its overall aircraft availability.
In a statement, Cheow Teck Chang, president, ST Aerospace, said that the company was honoured to be awarded the contract and said they were proud of the long-term relationship with RAFO.
"ST Aerospace shall leverage its vast experience and expertise on the C130 Hercules aircraft platform to ensure that we deliver a highly reliable and effective system to RAFO," he said.
ST Aerospace's relationship with RAFO began in 1988, when it was selected to perform component repairs for RAFO's C130 Hercules fleet. Over the years, the partnership progressed to include airframe, component and engine programmes.
© Muscat Daily 2013
