China Aviation Industry (AVIC) Ihas wrapped up the selection of ARJ21 suppliers, with contracts for the flight-control system and landing gear, and aims to sign up airline launch customers next week, writes Brendan Sobie.
Honeywell and Parker Hannifin have beaten Thales and Moog in a competition to supply the regional jet's primary fly-by-wire flight control system. AVIC I has also selected Liebherr and Aircraft Braking Systems (ABSC) over Messier Dowty and Messier Bugatti to provide landing gear.
AVIC I Commercial Aircraft (ACAC) president Tang Xiaoping says the two new contracts round out a supplier team that already included Parker Hannifin and Liebherr, but not Honeywell or ABSC. Over the past year, AVIC I has selected General Electric engines; Rockwell Collins avionics; Hamilton Sundstrand power systems; Parker Hannifin hydraulics and fuel systems; Liebherr environmental control, bleed air and wing anti-ice systems; Sagem cabin systems; and Kidde Aerospace fire-protection systems.
Honeywell values its role in the programme at $200 million, based on ACAC's projections to sell 500 aircraft. Honeywell says it will develop and produce a fly-by-wire control system that requires no mechanical back up.
ACAC has set a target of 35 launch orders by year-end. Tang says "part" of these should be signed next week at Aviation Expo China 2003 in Beijing. The company plans to deliver its first aircraft, with about 78 seats, at the end of 2007.
Tang says AVIC I's Shanghai and Xian facilities are set to begin manufacturing the first prototype in December. Shanghai will be responsible for the horizontal stabiliser and final assembly while Xian will build the wing and centre fuselage.
The first ARJ21 is scheduled to fly in mid-2006.
Source: Flight International
