Boeing BBJ customers in the region could have another option for completions and upgrades following a new agreement between Boeing and French MRO firm Sabena Technics

Azerbaijan Airlines has become the latest customer for Aviation Partners Boeing’s winglets with an order to retrofit its Boeing 767-300ER and -300Fs.

Rolls-Royce is counting on large productivity gains to ensure it gets a sizable return from its S$700 million (US$558 million) investment in Singapore. The U.K. engine-maker has built an engine assembly plant, wide-chord hollow-titanium fan blade factory, training center and a research laboratory at Singapore’s Seletar Aerospace Park. It is the company’s first such fan blade factory outside of the U.K. and its first engine assembly plant outside Europe.

Singapore’s government is taking an active role in ensuring that the city-state retains its pre-eminence in maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) in the Asia-Pacific region, Lim Kok Kiang, executive director of transport engineering for the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), said at the Singapore Airshow. MRO comprises more than 90% of Singapore’s aerospace industry, and the city-state accounts for 25% of the Asia-Pacific region’s MRO industry. However, growing competition from nearby, lower-wage countries is giving Singapore pause, says Lim.

Pratt & Whitney used the Singapore Airshow today to announce a $19.2 million material management programme (MMP) contract with three, one-year options from the United States Air Force in support of F100-PW-220E engines powering the Royal Jordanian Air Force fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters.

Turkish Technic has signed a heavy maintenance services contract, which covers base maintenance C checks on Boeing 737-700s, including livery painting. The first maintenance work is being carried out at Turkish Technic's facilities at Istanbul, Turkey.

EGYPTAR M&E has won the contract from NAS Air for heavy maintenance checks for a number of aircraft types A320 & E-190.

Marie Epstein (see photo) has been promoted to VP-sales for the Americas from regional sales manager at Virgin Atlantic Cargo in New York. She was director of strategic accounts at Delta Air Lines/Northwest Airlines Cargo.