The renewed relationship between the two Canadian companies confirms that Flying Colours will continue delivering the full-service interiors offering, including preliminary inspections, repair work, modifications and refurbishments, to complement Bombardier’s comprehensive line and heavy maintenance services.
With the ratification of the agreement, Flying Colours Corp. is now developing its own expansion strategy in order to best align with Bombardier’s growth in Asia. Initial plans include extending the workshop area which will double the existing footprint, the addition of two more climate-controlled spray booths, and an increase in workforce capacity. With the new Bombardier facilities expected to be operational in 2020, Flying Colours Corp. is scheduling growth to meet the anticipated rise in demand at this time.
Flying Colours Corp. already works closely with the Bombardier Singapore team to conduct interiors refurbishments and repairs in parallel with maintenance work. Business demand is also being stimulated by the rise of pre-owned purchases in the Asian market, which can result in the need for small repair projects through to complete interior overhauls, a service Flying Colours Corp. supports at the Seletar site. The reduced downtime through provision of the high-quality interiors work conducted in the region is valued by owners and operators.
“Our interior workload is expected to rise with the addition of the larger MRO hangar, exterior paint facility, and workshops that Bombardier is adding. We’ve invested significantly in training, tooling and developing a state-of-the-art interiors facility to mirror the quality and skills available at our North American facilities. We are pleased to have extended our agreement for a further five years,” said Eric Gillespie, Executive VP Flying Colours Corp.
Photo Caption: Rendering of Global Express refurbishment undertaken at the Flying Colours Corp. Singapore facility.
As General Manager for Flying Colours Corp PTE., Singapore-born Hin Wee is responsible for providing overall leadership, overseeing daily operational standards, as well as determining vision and direction for the future. With the expansion of the Bombardier Aerospace Seletar facility, and the subsequent announcement of the renewal of Flying Colours contract to provide interior services, Hin Wee will also be responsible for increasing the Singapore team numbers in alignment with the OEM’s growth. Wee is well positioned to take up the role. He brings some twenty years of aviation technical and maintenance experience, extensive knowledge of Bombardier Challenger and Global programmes, and significant aviation project management experience to the business.
“We will be working with Bombardier for at least the next five years which means we have to grow our team and operational capacity. Hin Wee’s experience with Bombardier, the product and the customers makes him a valuable addition as we enter the next phase of expansion here in Asia,” said Eric Gillespie, Executive VP Flying Colours. “Asia has always been an important region for our company, and we are pleased to have developed a fantastic team here. With the planned facility expansion and the knowledge that many of the Bombardier fleet is coming up for 90- and 120-month checks, we anticipate we have a very busy time ahead and are confident that with Hin Wee at the helm we will continue to meet partner and customer expectations.”
Hin Wee adds, “It is an exciting time for business aviation in Asia as the sector continues to advance. I’m looking forward to working with the Flying Colours senior executive team to develop successful strategy, implement new efficiencies and execute our business objectives for the region.”
Flying Colours will be attending ABACE – booth A639 – to meet customers, potential new clients and promote its presence in the region. Housed in the Bombardier Aerospace Singapore Service Centre, the Flying Colours facility became fully operational in early 2015 and has built a strong reputation for high quality standards. The business offers a complete range of interiors services including preliminary interior inspections, interior removals and installation, interior repair work, interior modification work and interior refurbishment work. The full-service interior offering complements Bombardier’s comprehensive line and heavy maintenance services at the same facility.
More than 230 people sent resumes prior to the event, and of those 50 face-to-face interviews were held with pre-screened candidates. An additional 110 walk-in candidates attended and met with human resource and technical professionals to discuss opportunities.
Existing employees explained their roles, management responded to specific company questions and the HR team accepted resumes and organized interviews. “We’re optimistic that we found some great candidates and will be working over the next week or two to make offers to some of those interviewed,” says Ian Ross, director of human resources, Flying Colours Corp. “It was obvious from the look of surprise on some of the faces that they were impressed by the scale of our operation here and our capabilities in terms of program quality and complexity. As well as finding some great new talent I think we clarified to many just what we do. With a Global business aircraft on display, we also showcased the diversity of skills it takes to complete and maintain such a machine. It was an extremely successful event and we anticipate we’ll hold more here in Canada, as well as in the USA over the next year.”
A combination of existing and new roles were highlighted as the business plans to fill in excess of 50 openings in its paint, avionics, maintenance, interiors, cabin installation and upholstery departments by the mid-summer.
Get in touch
Peterborough, Ontario
901-120 Airport Rd
Peterborough, Ontario
Canada, K9J 0E7
Phone +1 (705) 742-4688
AOG +1 (855) 742-4688
Fax +1 (705) 742-8861
St. Louis, Missouri
525 Turbine Ave
Chesterfield, Missouri
USA, 63005
Phone +1 (636) 530-7000
AOG +1 (314) 602-5366
Fax +1 (636) 530-7001
With the support of the Government of Canada though the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. Avec le soutien du gouvernement du Canada par l’entremise de l'Agence fédérale de développement économique pour le Sud de l'Ontario.
