Philippines-based business aviation services provider Aviation Concepts Technical Services Inc (ACTSI) has signed a lease agreement with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to transform Subic Bay International airport, a former United States Navy base, into a hub for business aviation in the Asia Pacific region.

Under a 25-year partnership with the SBMA, ACTSI is committed to providing hangar parking, corporate jet maintenance, MRO services and aircraft corrosion preventive solutions at the airport, to ease the congested hangar parking and maintenance burdens in the region. An upgrade of the close-to 18,000 sqm ACTSI hangar facility is scheduled to complete in the third quarter of 2019.

SBMA's chairperson and administrator attorney Wilma 'Amy' T Eisma comments: “This is is very exciting for Subic Bay International airport and SBMA. With the added push coming from government, we will be able to jointly launch ACTSI's services this year together with Subic airport's 24/7 capability.”

ACTSI's general manager John O'Meara adds: “We are delighted with and optimistic for our partnership with the SBMA, helping it realise the airport’s potential as a premiere hub for business aviation in Asia and servicing business jets around the region.”

Located within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in the Philippines, the airport was built in 1951 as the Naval Air Station Cubi Point of the US Navy. It was converted into a commercial airport under the SBMA and became the Asia One hub of Federal Express until 2009. The slot restriction-free airport is only a 90-minute flight time from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, and a mere three hours to key South East Asia cities such as Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

The newly-refurbished MRO hangar facility is set to meet the standards of expectation of both aircraft OEMs and clients. Its 9,000 ft runway will accommodate easy take-off and landing by even large size aircraft.

The ACTSI Subic hangar facility has Part 145 approvals from the civil aviation authorities of Cayman Islands and Bermuda, and it is currently working towards expanding its capabilities to include an FAA 145 approval.

ACTSI is led by John O'Meara, a former Gulfstream test pilot with over 40 years’ aviation experience, and a team of certified engineers who dedicate their efforts to providing hangar parking, corporate jet maintenance services and aircraft corrosion solutions to clients in the Asia Pacific region.