Harbin Hafei Airbus Composite Manufacturing Centre awarded A350 elevator work package
Airbus’ latest JV in China to become sole supplier of A350 XWB elevators
14 January 2010
Harbin Hafei Airbus Composite Manufacturing Centre (the Manufacturing Centre), a joint venture between Airbus and Chinese partners, signed a contract for the work package of A350 XWB elevators with the Spain-based Aernnova Aerospace SAU (ANN) which is a major supplier of aerostructures to Airbus.
Under the contract, the Manufacturing Centre will become the sole supplier of A350 XWB elevators to ANN. The Manufacturing Centre is responsible for both manufacturing and assembling the complete set of elevators, mostly made of composites, and which are part of the A350’s horizontal tail plane. Production in China is expected to start in 2012 after an initial industrialisation phase in Europe.
Following the agreement for the A350 rudder and A350 S19 maintenance door, the A350 XWB elevator is the third A350 work package allocated to the Manufacturing Centre. It is also the largest A350 XWB component allocation contracted in China to date and is a significant part of the five percent of the A350 airframe to be manufactured in China.
“We are very proud to have obtained another work package from Airbus for the A350 XWB programme and to start cooperation with Aernnova,” said Liu Guanglin, Chairman of the Manufacturing Centre. “The building of the new facilities is on track and the training of Chinese staff is underway. We are confident in our ability to deliver the aircraft components on time and on quality.”
Notes to the editors
About Harbin Hafei Airbus Composite Manufacturing Centre
Harbin Hafei Airbus Composite Manufacturing Centre Company Limited (the Manufacturing Centre) is a joint venture between Airbus China (20%) and a group of Chinese partners comprising Harbin Aircraft Industry Group Corporation Limited (HAIG, with 50%), Hafei Aviation Industry Company Limited (HAI, 10%), AviChina Industry & Technology Company Limited (AVICHINA, 10%) and Harbin Development Zone Infrastructure Development Company Limited (HELI, 10%). The Manufacturing Centre commenced production of elevators for Single-Aisle Airbus aircraft in December 2009. By end of 2010, it will produce major components for the A350 XWB programme, using the latest composite manufacturing technology.
About China and the A350 XWB airframe production
On 26th November 2007, Airbus signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Development and Reform Commission of China to formalise the commitment of manufacturing five per cent of the airframe of the A350 XWB aircraft in China.
About the A350 XWB
The A350 XWB Family is Airbus’ response to widespread market demand for a series of highly efficient medium-capacity long-range wide-body aircraft. With a range of up to 8,300nm / 15,400km, it is available in three basic passenger versions. Moreover, it has the widest fuselage in its category, offering unprecedented levels of comfort, the lowest operating costs and lowest seat-mile cost of any aircraft in this market segment. Powered by new-generation Rolls-Royce Trent engines, the A350 XWB Family is designed to confront the challenges of high fuel prices, rising passenger expectations, and environmental constraints.
Firm orders for the A350 XWB now stand at 505 from 32 customers worldwide.
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