A fully certified flammability test aviation laboratory and data centre is to be established in Singapore, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Singapore Polytechnic (SP) and Jamco Aero Design & Engineering (JADE). The parties said the centre would be the first of its kind in Asia Pacific. JADE is a joint venture between Jamco and SIA Engineering Company.
The five-year partnership will see SP and JADE co-build the flammability test laboratory within the grounds of the polytechnic in Singapore. It is expected to be ready in 2025.
The facility will enable the testing and certification of materials used in aircraft cabin components – such as wall, light and ceiling panels, door linings, seat belts, seat cushions and signage – prior to being fitted in an aircraft.
The partners said MRO companies and airlines would benefit from logistical savings, shorter turnaround times and greater progress visibility. They added that the move would make the testing process easier to understand for stakeholders, and support innovators to better manage their designs for passenger safety and comfort based on the testing results. They posited that these benefits would catalyse the expansion of niches of excellence in manufacturing, cabin interior design and modification, as well as aircraft conversion, in Singapore.
SP and JADE will start up the laboratory in SP’s Aero Hub. Both partners will provide testing and training capabilities aligned to industry benchmarks in areas such as certified training and accreditation, as well as front commercial agreements with external industries and parties for certified test services.
JADE will work with SP to offer relevant industry training, accreditation, final-year project collaborations and internships to SP students to build up talent pipelines, foster talent development, and upskill the workforce in relevant technical skills through co-development and co-teaching of continuing education and training (CET) courses leading to flammability certification.
“We are glad to be partnering Singapore Polytechnic to value add to the regional aviation industry and make this niche flammability testing knowledge more accessible to the students,” said Dr Desmond Ong, general manager of JADE. “We hope that building the flammability laboratory as a state-of-the-art training and test centre will provide the students with a deeper insight into the aviation world. Establishing it as a database centre to support R&D developments will further strengthen the position of Singapore as a global aviation hub.”
“Our goal for this exciting partnership is to establish Singapore as a leading regional aerospace training and test centre, as well as a key industrial solution partner with local and regional aviation companies.,” said Soh Wai Wah, principal and CEO of SP. “Through this collaboration, we will strengthen our students’ skillsets and update our curriculum so that we can continue to provide the country with a robust pipeline of talented workforce for the regional aviation sector, and promote the growth of new niches of excellence in aviation-related business services.”
Image: SIA Engineering
