Thai Aviation Industries (TAI) has completed a two-year upgrade of most of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) C-130H Hercules transport aircraft fleet at a cost of $24.32 million. Upgrade work on the eight aircraft began on 1 October 2020, mainly covering the replacement of multi-function displays, the installation of an improved Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (Version 7.1), and integration of Automatic Dependent The C-130Hs emerged from the capability upgrades with more advanced flight and navigation instruments to meet the existing requirements. In addition, the structure of the aircraft has been strengthened and certified according to international standards.
Closing ceremony of the project to improve the capacity of transport aircraft Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules, Squadron 601, Wing 6 Don Mueang at the aircraft repair shop Thai Aviation Industries (TAI) on September 26, 2022. There is a picture of the pilot of the aircraft carrier C-130H number 60110 in the 40th-anniversary pattern, including a glass cockpit, aircraft structures, components, equipment, and various engines that have been replaced. The Royal Thai Air Force did not provide details as to which of the C-130H aircrafts from the expected number. Eight engines completed performance improvements, including the new Rolls-Royce T56 Series 3.5 turboprop engine.
At present, the 601 Squadron, 6th Airborne Division, Royal Thai Air Force is stationed with a total of 12 C-130H transport aircraft, comprising 6 C-130H short-body transport aircraft and C-130H-30 transport aircraft. The details of 6 aircrafts is C-130H No. 60101, 60102, 60103, which entered service in 1980, C-130H-30 60104 in service 1983, C-130H-30 60105, 60106 entered service 1988, C-130H-30 60107, and C-130H 60108 entered service 1990, and the C-130H 60109, 60110 and C-130H-30 60111, 60112 into service 1992, with an average service life of between 30-32 years. The remaining 4 C-130H C-130H will be renovated accordingly in the budget of 2023.
Thai Aviation Industries (TAI) is Thailand’s aircraft repair and maintenance service center. The Thai government approved the establishment of TAI on 23 September 2003, by the Royal Thai Air Force. TAI’s headquarters is at Don Muang. In 2006, TAI opened its Piston Engine Repairing Division, Propeller Repairing Division and Aviation Electronics Repairing Division. the company expanded its services to two new maintenance services centers for light planes and aircraft for flight training at the Flying Training School (Nakhon Pathom Province) and Flight 604, Don Muang. At the end of the year, the Helicopter Repair Center at Lopburi Province opened.
