Boeing

Singapore Technologies Aerospace's (ST Aero) Singapore-based subsidiary, ST Aviation Services Co (SASCO) today rolled out a DC-10 freighter, which will be redelivered later this month to The Boeing Company, 20 days ahead of contract schedule. ST Aero converted the airplane from a passenger to a freighter, making it the first DC-10 conversion program completed in South East Asia.

The DC-10 was inducted in June this year, following the signing of the Modification Services Agreement between SASCO and Boeing Airplane Services in February 2000. Boeing Capital Corporation, a worldwide provider of lease and loan financing for commercial aircraft, will place the aircraft with an operator. ST Aero is a member of Boeing Airplane Services' international network of modification and engineering facilities.

The passenger-to-freighter conversion program, rated the most technically complex of aircraft modifications, entails the reconfiguration of all the features of a passenger airplane, including installation of the main deck cargo door; replacement and strengthening of the floor beam and seat tracks; installation of cargo handling systems; conversion of avionics and electrical suites to a freighter configuration; heavy maintenance checks; and standardization to the customer's individual requirements. The complexity of installing the cargo door requires highly skilled expertise and technical competence to ensure compliance with aircraft structural safety and integrity requirements.

There are currently about 380 operational MD-11/DC-10s worldwide; more than 220 of these are passenger airplanes, which potentially could be converted to freighters.

SASCO is a leading third-party repair station, specializing in airframe heavy maintenance and modifications of commercial aircraft. Apart from being ranked one of the leading MD-11/DC-10 third-party facilities in Asia in terms of aircraft throughput, SASCO is also known for having turned around the Boeing 747 Section 41 modification in a record time of less than 40 days.

"ST Aero is honored to have been chosen by Boeing, the world's leading player in the aviation and space industry, to perform the first passenger-to-freighter conversion in South East Asia. ST Aero aims to deliver enhanced value for our customer's investments by providing high-quality skills, technical competence and cost-competitivenss, " said Wee Siew Kim, president, ST Aero. "We will strive towards achieving greater mutual benefits on our many collaborations with Boeing, here and in the United States, where we are working on the Boeing 757 conversion. "

"We are pleased with the modification work that ST Aero has done on the DC-10. ST Aero has been a premier partner for us on many programs, including the 757 conversion program," said Joseph Gullion, president, Boeing Airplane Services. "The redelivery of the DC-10 ahead of schedule comes as no surprise to Boeing as ST Aero has proven their capabilities on the other programs we are working on."

"We chose to convert the aircraft from a passenger configuration to a freighter after recognizing a need in the market for additional freighter aircraft," said Steve Novak, vice president, Commercial Aircraft Finance, Boeing Capital Corporation. "ST Aero has helped us improve the useful life and utility of a fine aircraft."