Approved Maintenance
New Organisation Status
F/S Marty Fitchett
Right Image: Mr Choo Han Khoon VP/GM STA Engines receives the AMO certificates from GPCPT Shaw James (CLG) during the May 2007 annual contract review meetings held in NZ.
After a long development and rigorous audit process, Singapore Technologies Aerospace (STA Engines & Systems) has been formally awarded ‘Approved Maintenance Organisation’ (AMO) status by the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), and is recognised as being competent and capable of conducting maintenance to the required standards on New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) aircraft and aeronautical equipment.
The AMO certificate recognises specific vendors supporting RNZAF Maintenance Repair & Overhaul (MRO) activities as having met all the prescribed RNZAF requirements for airworthiness as laid down in NZAP 6000 leaflet A5, and endorsed by the Technical Airworthiness Authority (TAA).
STA have been the RNZAF’s prime contractor in supporting the Iroquois T53 Engine and associated drive train components since 1993, and have developed a strong support relationship during that time that has enabled No. 3 Squadron Iroquois to meet not only the daily outputs but also surge requirements like East Timor and the Solomon Islands operations.
The AMO has become a mandatory requirement for all new contracts being put in place for supporting RNZAF MRO activities and is required to be in place prior to awarding a contract, but usually at the Request For Tenders (RFT) stage. The bulk of this responsibility will fall to the newly reformed Logistics Evaluation Unit (LEU) to undertake a range of audits from ‘desk top’ to a full ‘on site’ audit of vendors submitting tenders in support of potential contracts. Successful candidates can then be put forward for tender evaluation and possible selection.