Situated in the heart of Asia, Thailand is gearing up to become a full service hub and major player in the region’s US $13 billion dollar a year aircraft maintenance industry. With Bangkok recently soaring up the list to15th in the global rankings measuring the world’s busiest airports in passenger throughput, from an earlier rank of 26th, and as the cargo and passenger volume continues to accelerate further investments in aircraft maintenance becomes even more lucrative. Bangkok already ranks within the top twenty locations in the world for cargo traffic, which was a hefty 1.18 million tons.
Asia’s economic boom, Thailand’s export driven economy and its ever increasing popularity as an international tourist and even medical tourist destination has kept the sky filled with aircraft from every corner of the globe. Aircraft that need refueling, repairing, maintaining and refitting! The opportunities are as vast as the skyline.
The Boeing Company forecasts a market for the Asia-Pacific region of about 7,200 new airplanes worth $770 billion over the next 20 years (March 07, 2006)
In 2006 alone the Asia-Pacific route registered an increase to 978.29 million passengers, jumping 10.3% from the previous year and 22.28% of the global total. That same year, there were a total of 42.8 million passengers serviced by Bangkok’s Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi airports.
“We chose Thailand to set up our first production facility outside the US because of the quality of its workforce, favorable laws and central location in Southeast Asia.” Joseph C. Berenato, chairman and chief executive officer, Ducommun Incorporated.
Thailand’s many strengths:
• GDP rising at an average of 5 percent per year since 2001, and similar levels of growth projected for the near future.
• Skilled, educated and motivated workforce: 96% literacy.
• World class infrastructure: 7 international airports, 8 deep-sea ports, rail and road lines linking every province, modern telecommunications.
• Signatory of free trade agreements, including the ASEAN Free Trade Area, granting access to a market valued at US$700 billion, and the Australian Free Trade Agreement.
• Ranked by the United Nations as the top 3 location in Asia for FDI, by the World Bank as among top 20 in the world for ease of doing business and in the Grant Thornton International Business Report as the #6 location in the world for executive opportunities for women.
Parameters for Success
Thailand has the infrastructure in place for repair services, including overhaul of aircraft engines, and is already a major hub for the electronics and electrical appliance industry, which opens opportunities for cluster development of avionics and communications equipment.
Suvarnabhumi International Airport has significantly boosted the growth potential of the aviation industry in the country, with a capacity to service 45 million passengers per year, 3 million tons of cargo and 76 flights per hour. In November 2009, the Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) won approval to build a new domestic passenger terminal, which is expected to be completed by 2013 and will boost the Suvarnabhumi airport’s capacity to 65 million passengers per year.
Don Mueang Airport’s reopening for arrivals and departures of domestic flights only increases the opportunities. DMK can serve 60 flights per hour, 11.5 million domestic passengers a year, and 12,490 tons of domestic cargo per year. (Source: AOT)
Chiang Mai International Airport has completed a 2 billion baht expansion, and now has an infrastructure that can support its aspiration to become a truly regional aviation hub. The airport can now handle 8 million passengers a year.
Phuket International Airport: In December 2009, the government approved a 5.8 billion baht plan to increase the airport’s capacity to 12.5 million passengers by 2018. This is on top of the recently completed second terminal.
Excellent Aircraft Maintenance Infrastructure Thai Airways:
Setting the International Standard
A founding member of the Star Alliance and a GE-approved CF6 Center for Excellence
The THAI Technical Department of Thai Airways International is one of the foremost maintenance centers in Asia.
Suvarnabhumi: World’s largest maintenance hangars for 3 A380 aircraft
Facilities
• 3 bays for A380-size aircraft
• Size: length 270m x width 90m x height 45m
• Maintenance apron 26,100sqm
• Workshop 5,315sqm
• GSE 4,833sqm
• Aircraft spare parts store 19,872sqm
• Office & building 21,450sqm
Capabilities
• Technical support for small aircraft up to B747, A380
• Landing gear change
• Wheel & brake workshop
• Sheet metal workshop
• Painting shop
• NDT shop
• Welding shop
• Emergency shop
• Tools & equipment repair workshop
• GSE workshop
• New hangar for A-Check to C-Check
• MCC to handle all problems of line maintenance
U-Thapao facility: The THAI Technical Department’s new US$120 million facility at U-Thapao, 125 kilometers southeast of Bangkok, adds 240,000sqm and three bays to the 170,000sqm and six bays already in service at its main facility at Bangkok International Airport.
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited’s Technical Department recently received the “Requalifier Identification Certificate” from the U.S. Department of Transportation. This certifies that the quality of THAI’s Aircraft Emergency Equipment Maintenance process has achieved the international standard.
Thai Aviation Industry: Expertise and Experience
AEROTHAI : Aeronautical Radio of Thailand
With more than 50 years of experience, AEROTHAI provides air traffic services recognized to international standards.
Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited
A public company since 30 September 2002, AOT has six international airports under its administration: Don Muang International Airport, Chiang Mai International Airport, Hat Yai International Airport, Phuket International Airport, Chiang Rai International Airport, and Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
Civil Aviation Training Center
CATC is the specialized Civil Aviation Center of the region, with world-class human resources learning.
Thailand an Excellent and Expanding Market
Thai Airways International and All Nippon Airways sign an agreement for THAI to conduct heavy maintenance on ANA’s Boeing 747-400 aircraft. (February 2007)
THAI’s Board of Directors approve 200 new positions to recruit staff for the Heavy Maintenance Department to improve efficiency in aircraft maintenance, along with a US$14.5 million purchase of additional maintenance equipment. (March 2007)
Thailand has the infrastructure in place for repair services, including overhaul of aircraft engines, and is already a major hub for the electronics and electrical appliance industry, which opens opportunities for cluster development of avionics and communications equipment.
Price, quality and service define Thailand’s E&E industry, which has made the country the world’s largest manufacturer of hard disk drives, and a major exporter of integrated circuits and consumer electronics. And with the addition of Ducommun’s manufacture of high performance and high reliability commercial microwave switches, the benefits to aircraft maintenance become even stronger.
Added traffic with the opening of the new Suvarnabhumi International Airport has significantly boosted the growth potential of the aerospace industry in the country, with a capacity to service 45 million passengers per year and 76 flights per hour. Don Muang’s reopening for arrivals and departures of domestic flights only increases the opportunities.
International Scheduled Flight Movements
Bangkok International Airport
Excellent Aircraft Maintenance Infrastructure
Thai Airways: setting the international standard
A founding member of the Star Alliance and GE-approved CF6 Center for Excellence
THAI Technical Department of Thai Airways International is “one of the foremost maintenance centers in Asia.”
Bangkok facility: one the largest aircraft maintenance centers in Southeast Asia
With over 40years of experience, a staff of more than 4,000 operate a facilities area of 170,000 sqm and offer superior engine maintenance, engine overhaul and component repairs that meet the highest European standards.
• 5 Hangars (6 Bays) of B747 size with full support system for wide body aircraft
• 1 bay of B737 size or equivalent
• 20,000 sq.m of apron area
• 46.100 sq.m Workshop
• 29,000 sq.m Spare Parts Storage Area
• 100,000 lbs. and 150,000 lbs thrust Computerized Engine Test Cell
U-Thapao facility
The Thai Technical Department at U-Thapao offers high-quality/low-cost airframe overhaul services for Boeing 737, 747, 777 series and for the Airbus A-300 series, as well as a full range of modification services including Section 41, Strut modification, Engine pylon, and TCAS.
The Thai Technical Department prides itself on excellence and safety, and has received international certificates from RAB (USA), TTA (Germany), RVA (Netherlands), UKAS (United Kingdom), COFAC (France), JAS-ANZ (Australia & New Zealand) and SCES (Switzerland), as well as approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) and the Department of Aviation of Thailand (Thai DOA).
Thai Aviation Industries
“An expertise and experience in military aircraft depot level maintenance, aircraft modifications & upgrades, refurbishment, major structural repairs & corrosion control, and engine and components repair/overhaul.” Source: www.taicomp.com
Aerothai : Aeronautical Radio of Thailand
With over 50 years of experience, AEROTHAI has provided Air Traffic Services and related services with recognized international standards. AEROTHAI has used its know-how in air traffic control and engineering to expand its business in the aviation industry, especially in the Asia region.
This business expansion includes:
• Air Traffic Service and related services
• Communication Network Services
• Airline and Airport Communication Services
• Flight Inspection Service
Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT)
A public company since 30 September 2002, AOT has 6 international airports under its administration: Don Muang International Airport, Chiang Mai International Airport, Hat Yai International Airport, Phuket International Airport, Chiang Rai International Airport and Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Civil Aviation Training Center
"CATC is the Specialized Civil Aviation Center of the Region with Learning Organization of World-Class Human Resources."
Source: Civil Aviation Training Center
Thailand: an excellent and expanding market
“Thai Airways International and All Nippon Airways signed an agreement for Thai to conduct ‘heavy maintenance’ on ANA’s Boeing 747-400 aircraft” (February 2007)
Thai’s Board of Directors approve 200 new positions to recruit staff for the heavy maintenance department, to improve efficiency in aircraft maintenance, along with the purchase of US $14.5 million in additional maintenance equipment. (March 2007)
Aircraft Parts and Components
For complete details please visit the BOI at www.boi.go.th.
