Aircraft Maintenance Technology

MAY 2017

The aircraft maintenance professional's source for technological advancements, maintenance alerts, news, articles, events, and careers

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INDUSTRY OUTLOOK were Japan, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, and Netherlands. Although the U.S. wasn't ranked in the top five, it is continu- ously investing as Thailand is considered a distribution center in the region. WHY THAILAND 4.0? Thailand's government is promoting "Thailand 4.0" as a new economic model aimed to pull Thailand out of the middle- income trap in which it has been for over a decade. In the beginning of Thailand 3.0 stage, the Thai economy had enjoyed a robust growth which in recent years, has slowed down to 3 and 4 percent only. Thailand's growth slowed after having reached the middle-income levels. In other words, Thailand is moving on from a country with abundant, cheap, unskilled labor to an innovative high-income country based on "value- based economy." WHAT WAS BEFORE 4.0? Thailand has continuously been improving its economic model, starting from "Thailand 1.0," which focused on the agricultural sector, to light industries with "Thailand 2.0," where the country utilized cheap labor costs with a focus on domestic productions, through to "Thailand 3.0," which is focused on more complex industries attracting foreign investments making Thailand a production hub for exports. However, under Thailand 3.0, the country has faced the middle-income trap, growing disparities, and imbalanced development, major concerns which prompted the government to transform Thailand's economic structure to "Thailand 4.0." The Thailand 4.0 development plan is focused on 10 targeted industries, which can be divided into two segments: develop- ment of existing industrial sectors and efficient agriculture and biotechnology. Development of existing industrial sectors should be achieved by adding value through advanced technologies for five indus- tries (Next-Generation Automotive; Smart Electronics; High- Income Tourism, and Medical Tourism. Efficient Agriculture can be achieved by use of biotechnology and food innovation). THAILAND OUTLINES AVIATION ASPIRATIONS The Thailand's Cabinet recently approved an ambitious 15-year aviation development plan of the Ministry of Transport, which is part of a wider agenda to pursue the Thailand 4.0 plan. In February 2017, the Cabinet endorsed an Aviation Industry Development Plan; Thailand's Ministry of Transport has set the framework and is offering relevant incentives to grow aircraft maintenance facilities and expand the aircraft parts manufactur- ing industry including the development of human resources in a plan that goes till 2032. Thailand is competing — in this field — with Singapore, which is an important center for aircraft maintenance and is also the organizer of the region's major air show for commercial and military aircraft — a sales platform for the region's spare parts industry serving ASEAN aviation.

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