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Airbus and AVIC I Herald New Stage in Cooperation
Airbus Industrie and the China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC I) heralded a new stage in their bilateral cooperation Tuesday with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on joint manufacturing of Airbus single-aisle wings.
The Shenyang Aviation Corp., under the AVIC I, also succeeded in producing the 1,000th interspar rib for Airbus's single-aisle aircraft here today.
Airbus began industrial cooperation with China in 1985. Over the years, the program has evolved from manufacture of interspar ribs and other elements in the early years toward full manufacture and assembly of Airbus's most popular A320 aircraft wings.
Under an agreement signed between the companies in June 1999 in Paris, Airbus transferred technology to AVIC I regarding the manufacture of its best-selling single-aisle wing elements in different phases, with the eventual aim of full assembly in China.
Subsequently, Airbus has signed working packages with China's Shenyang and Xi'an aviation companies. The MOU signed Tuesday is follow-up action to that framework agreement.
"Airbus aims to partner China through the delivery of advanced aircraft, comprehensive support to the airlines and mutually beneficial industrial and technological cooperation with Chinese aircraft manufacturers. This MOU testifies once again to our long-term commitment to China and represents a new step towards more extensive cooperation," said P. de Montgofier, president of Airbus (China) Industrie.
Shi Chuan, deputy general manager of AVIC I, said, "This joint manufacturing program with Airbus Industrie has enhanced our technological edge, boosted our manufacturing capabilities and drawn us closer to the international aviation market. This is a mutually beneficial program."
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