Maintenance and Modifications
Sustaining Military Aircraft in Southeast Asia
Customers in tropical environments require different care to keep their aircraft flying, and Boeing is working to accommodate them.

In September 2010, a Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Boeing AH-64D Apache suffered a dual-engine failure while conducting a test flight, resulting in a hard landing on an open field. No one was hurt in that incident, but the tail boom broke off on impact. Investigations revealed that the engine’s anti-ice start bleed valve had corroded over time, and with no official procedures to check the internal component during maintenance, the whole episode made everyone, including the manufacturers, realize that a different sustainment approach is needed for the harsh conditions in Southeast Asia.