23 February 2016 - Philippine firms engaged in aircraft parts manufacturing, aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and aviation trainings pushed the country’s aerospace industry to greater heights as they joined the Singapore Airshow for the first time.  From February 16 to 21, 2016 at the Changi Exhibition Centre, the Philippines showcased world-class aerospace and aviation technologies and capabilities in the largest air show in Asia.  The country pavilion is at Booth K78.

The Philippine participation was jointly organized by the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Foreign Trade Service Corps and the Board of Investments (BOI); Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines; the Aerospace Industries Association of the Philippines (AIAP), and the Aviation Schools Association of the Philippines.  They had a series of meetings with key business contacts to present investment prospects in the Philippines for Singapore and the region.

“Our participation in the Singapore Airshow affirms the confidence and competitiveness of the local aerospace manufacturing and aviation industries.  These industries have charted significant growth and we see these manufacturing industries ready to compete in the global market,” said BOI Industry Development Services OIC-Executive Director Corazon Dichosa.  “We maximized our presence at the Singapore Airshow as we position the Philippines to be the aerospace manufacturing hub in ASEAN.” 

The Philippines supplies to the world’s largest aircraft manufacturers from flight control actuation systems to galleys and interior fit-outs and serves as an emerging MRO hub for carriers.  Aerospace parts are currently being manufactured in CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) region, Clark and Baguio City.  MRO providers are located in Clark, and Manila, while aviation trainings are offered in Manila and the Central Luzon region. 

In recent years, the Philippines has become an attractive market for the industry because of its growing economy, cost-effective facilities, support from the government, and availability of technically-competent, English-speaking engineers at competitive fees.  Foreign companies have established their presence in the country including B/E Aerospace, DJ Aerospace, JAMCO Aerospace, Lufthansa Technik, MOOG Controls, Singapore Airlines Engineering Corporation and Airbus Helicopters, which is the newest company to join the roster.

In 2014, the AIAP came up with the Aerospace Industry Roadmap (AIR) in coordination with the BOI, and the Department of Science and Technology-Metals Industry Research and Development Center.  It outlines the industry’s targets, and interventions the industry needs to be globally-competitive.  The Philippine Aerospace Industry Roadmap targets export revenues of up to USD 1.5B in the next 10 years.  Export performance in 2008 was at USD 5.9M increasing to USD 226M in 2014.  By the third quarter of 2015, exports registered USD 309M. For 2016, strong growth is expected due to developments in the global market, and expansion of the supply chain, with new Airbus and Boeing products coming in. 

In the implementation of the industry’s workplan, collaborations with aviation schools are being enhanced to scale up the skills of students in aviation mechanics.  According to the Philippine Commission on Higher Education, there is an uptrend in the number of graduates of aviation and allied engineering programs in the country, from 6,894 in 2009 to 9,453 in 2013.

Another important initiative is the participation in the Singapore Airshow, seen to be a marketplace and networking powerhouse for the world’s aviation community.  The event is a must-attend event in the global aerospace and defense calendar.