SIA Engineering and Panasonic Avionics Open First IFEC Centre of Excellence in Asia
PACSS, a joint venture owned by SIAEC (42.5%) and Panasonic Avionics (57.5%), was officially opened today by Mr Leo Yip, Chairman of the Economic Development Board. PACSS is Panasonic Avionics Corporation’s first joint venture worldwide.
The joint venture combines the expertise of Panasonic Avionics Corporation and the service excellence of SIAEC to provide airlines with fast turnaround IFEC checks during aircraft transits at Changi Airport, as well as high quality repair services for IFEC components. As the first IFEC Centre of Excellence in Asia, PACSS is poised to meet the region’s increasing demand for high reliability IFEC operations, particularly with the rising induction of new-generation aircraft by airlines.
EDB Chairman Mr Leo Yip said: “I am delighted that Panasonic Avionics Corporation and SIA Engineering Company have chosen Singapore for their in-flight entertainment and communications systems MRO Centre-of-Excellence in Asia. Singapore is committed to growing and deepening our capabilities in avionics. This new centre will further strengthen Singapore’s position as the leading MRO hub in Asia.”
Mr William Tan, Chief Executive Officer of SIAEC, said: “We are honoured that Panasonic, a global leader in in-flight entertainment systems, has chosen SIAEC as its partner to develop the first IFEC Centre of Excellence in Asia. The new facility joins our suite of 15 joint ventures in Singapore, which are forged with leading OEMs. Over the years, SIAEC and its OEM partners have invested S$600 million in establishing cutting-edge aerospace capabilities in Singapore. Through these OEM facilities, airlines have direct access to OEM support, spares and proprietary technology. These benefits, integrated seamlessly with the MRO services of SIAEC, offer airlines a one-stop solution to achieve higher operational reliability and faster turnaround at lower cost.”
Mr Yasu Enokido, Panasonic Avionics Corporation’s President and Chief Operating Officer, said: “We are very excited to announce this new centre of excellence for IFEC repair and maintenance in Singapore. Asia is an extremely important market for Panasonic Avionics Corporation, and today we are even better positioned to provide responsive, high quality maintenance services to our customers in this region.”
The office opening of PACSS is not expected to have a material impact on SIAEC’s financial performance in FY2011/12. None of the Directors or executive officers of SIAEC has any interest, direct or indirect, in PACSS.
Source: SIA Engineering
