SINGAPORE: The ST Aerospace aviation centre at Seletar Aerospace Park officially opened on Wednesday, bringing a new addition to the aviation scene in Singapore.

Covering more than 75,000 square metres, the three-storey centre will offer integrated aviation services to international aircraft operators.

At the opening of the centre, Senior Minister of State for Transport and Finance Josephine Teo had some words of advice for ST Aerospace.

Mrs Teo said: As we grow, it cannot be more of the same, it has to be qualitatively different, and this will require us to be imaginative, creative and at the same time quite disciplined in the types of activities we choose to pursue -- not going for everything, being quite careful, thoughtful about the kind of activities that will help our aviation hub be different from others.

The company seems to have found one such niche, as it focuses on the growing demand for pilot training.

Goh Yong Kiat, executive vice president of Aviation and Training Services at ST Aerospace, said: The aviation landscape in the world and particularly in this region is growing in a very dynamic pace. You can see airlines growing, their fleets are expanding.

So, because of that, you will need more pilots, more engineers. An aviation centre like this is poised or positioned to meet this demand for pilots, quality engineers and technicians.

Experts agree that ST Aerospace will be well-positioned going forward, especially with its training academy.

Paul Ng, global head of aviation at Stephenson Harwood LLP, said: In the next 20 years, the industry will require several hundred thousand pilots -- 40 per cent of those pilots will be making their way to the Asia Pacific. So there is a huge demand for pilots.

"You've already seen other competitors, like in Australia, which are expanding, building new wings to their facilities... so having a facility to be able to (cater to more pilots and train them faster) will be a competitive edge for ST Aerospace.

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New ST Aerospace aviation centre opens