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Aviation History
2004
2004-09 - 1833.PDF
AIR TRANSPORT PROGRAMMES LEITHEN FRANCIS / JIUZHAIGOU ARJ21 suppliers plan local plants GE Aircraft Engines to establish MRO business in China Overseas suppliers to China's ARJ21 regional jet programme are preparing to build businesses in the country to support the aircraft. GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE) will be opening a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business in China before the first planned en gine overhaul, says Ron Schlecht weg, CF34-10 project manager. Fuselage-mounted CF34-10A engines will power the ARJ21 built by China's AVIC I Commercial Aircraft (ACAC). "Around 2010, if not before, we will open the MRO facility," said Schlechtweg, speaking at a confer ence in China organised by AVIC I to promote China's regional avia tion market. GEAE has yet to decide on the MRO firm's location, although it has signed a letter of intent with China's Shenyang Liming Aero Engine, which it plans to allow to perform main engine assembly and testing. Despite this, the earlier batches of engines will be built and assem bled in the USA. GEAE needs to build an MRO business because Chinese carriers want to avoid sending engines to the USA for repair. The US company has also kept open the possibility that its new MRO company might serve airlines in the region that use Embraer 190s and 195s powered by wing-mounted CF34-10s. "It is cer- Deliveries set for 2008 AVIC I president Tang Xiao Ping says the first ARJ21-700 will go into commercial operation in 2008. The previous deadline was 2007. Tang says flight tests will be conducted in 2007, mainly in Xian, but also in Shanghai. AVIC I, which has already completed the design of the ARJ21- 700, has so far secured 41 orders for the 78- to 85-seat ARJ21 -700 from four customers: Shandong Airlines (10), Shanghai Airlines (five), Shenzhen Financial Leasing (20) and Xiamen Airlines (six). But it is keen to secure an order from one of China's three largest carriers - Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines. Tang says the company is also aiming to secure its first order for the ARJ21-900, the 105-seat stretched version, next year. In the longer term, the manufacturer hopes to secure overseas orders from carriers in countries that have strong bilateral ties with China. AVIC I is targeting airlines in South-East Asia and South America, adds Tang. tainly possible but it is too soon to say," adds Schlechtweg. Parker Aerospace is another key ARJ21 supplier, and the company's vice-president of marketing for flight control and hydraulic sys tems, Jim Ryder, says it plans to build a certified repair station before the ARJ21 is introduced. Ryder says this initiative is still "in the plan ning process", so details on location and start date are yet to be finalised. The timing of GEAE's and Parker's investments remain sketchy because both companies want to ensure the support businesses open when ARJ21 airline customers need to use their facilities. open your P"yPS mind& 1 1 Q 1 t~\ PQQ Korea Aerospace & UJlllCOO Defense Exhibition 2005 SEOUL INTERNATIONAL AIR SHOW October 18-23, 2005 Seoul Airport www.seoulairshow.com Sitnul Intern Jiuiri jl Air Shaw Co-Organizing Orlict MINKTRYOfCOMMERCE L.,wnTT •MmnooMro INDUSTRY 4ND ENERGY j^jr*l\J^ t ilwnmn, R.O.K.AJR FORCE 14 28 SEPTEMBER - 4 OCTOBER 2004 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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