Singapore Polytechnic (SP) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jamco Aero Design & Engineering (“JADE”), a joint venture between Jamco Corporation and SIA Engineering, to jointly establish the first fully certified flammability test aviation laboratory and data centre in the Asia Pacific region.
Under the terms of the five-year partnership, SP and JADE will co-build the lab within the grounds of the polytechnic in Singapore, in SP’s Aero Hub. They will equip the laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment, enabling both partners to provide testing and training capabilities that are aligned to industry benchmarks in areas such as certified training and accreditation, as well as to front commercial agreements with external industries and parties for certified test services. Construction of the laboratory is expected to be completed in 2025, when it will add new capability to and strengthen Singapore’s position as an aviation hub in the region.
The facility will be used for the testing and certification of materials used in aircraft cabin components, such as sidewalls, lighting and ceiling panels, door linings, seat belts, seat cushions and signage, prior to being fitted in an aircraft. By carrying out flammability tests in Singapore, JADE’s MRO operations – and airline clients – can enjoy savings from lower logistical costs and shorter turnaround times, as well as greater visibility in the progress of their jobs.
JADE says that adding this new testing capability will also make the testing process easier to understand for aviation stakeholders, and support innovators by enabling them to evaluate their designs in terms of passenger safety and comfort. The partners believe these benefits will “catalyse the expansion of niches of excellence in manufacturing, cabin interior design and modification, as well as aircraft conversion in Singapore”.
JADE will work with SP to offer relevant industry training, accreditation, final-year project collaborations and internships to SP students, in order to build up talent pipelines, foster talent development, as well as upskill the workforce in relevant technical skills through co-development and co-teaching of continuing education and training (CET) courses leading to flammability certification.
Dr Desmond Ong, general manager of JADE said, “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. 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.”
Mr Soh Wai Wah, principal & CEO of SP added, “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. 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.”
