China Business Expands in Aerospace

A number of companies are expanding relationships and manufacturing in China, partly to gain business in the growing economy.  

There were many news items in the last month regarding aerospace activities in China. No coincidence perhaps, ince China’s major airshow, the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition, was held in Zhuhai from November 13 through 18, 2012. 

COMAC and Bombardier sign agreements for common parts between the C919 and the CSeries aircraft. Their ‘Phase I,’ signed on March 21, was completed on November 13, according to a joint press release from Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd (COMAC) and Bombardier. This phase achieved ‘mutually beneficial outcomes’ for the development of the two planes in terms of: 1) the cockpit human-machine (crew) interfaces, 2) the electrical system, 3) the development of aluminum-lithium standards and specifications, and 4) technical publications, according to the press release.

They also announced a letter-of-intent to pursue a second phase to “explore further possibilities for C919 and CSeries aircraft commonalities, marketing and sales cooperation,expanded joint customer service capabilities, collaboration on product testing and certification, as well as opportunities for collaboration on future COMAC and Bombardier product lines.” Source: Bombardier

FlightGlobal (11/8, Toh) describes the relationship as unique, with Bombardier sharing the cockpit design with COMAC. “The Canadian airframer says it is sharing its CSeries cockpit design with COMAC but the latter will decide how much of it to adapt. One aspect of the duo's collaboration is making the look and feel of the two types' cockpits similar to reduce training and maintenance costs for carriers who buy both aircraft.”

Boeing and the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) also announced a partnership on Nov. 13. The two companies announced they will work together to expand AVIC capabilities to include interior commodities such as passenger seats, galleys, lavatories and in-flight entertainment systems for commercial airplanes. According to the press release, “Global demand for Boeing airplanes is at an all-time high with more than 4200 airplanes in the company's backlog. The collaboration with AVIC will support China's growing aerospace manufacturing industry and expand opportunities for airlines around the world to continue to customize airplane interiors to create market differentiation. …Boeing has been working with AVIC for more than 20 years, and AVIC currently manufactures parts for the Next-Generation 737, 747-8 and 787 Dreamliner. As the largest non-Chinese customer of China's aviation industry, Boeing has purchased more than US $1.5 billion in hardware and services from China since the 1980s and expects to double its annual procurement in coming years. Some 6000 Boeing airplanes fly throughout the world with parts and assemblies built in China.” Source: Boeing

GKN Aerospace and Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Company (SAMC) also announced on November 15 revising an MOU covering manufacturing development and intellectual property rights for structures for the COMAC 919. SAMC is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Commercial Aircraft Company of China Ltd (COMAC). According to the press release, GKN Aerospace ‘In collaboration with SAMC’ is to manufacture and assemble the composite horizontal tail plane (HTP) for the C919. The carbon fiber HTP is made using current advanced composite processes. It consists of two major torque-box assemblies joined together at ac enter rib and includes the elevator assemblies.” GKN noted its 25 year-long presence in China, employing 5000 people in 12 locations across China. Source: GKNAerospace