Cessna is looking at establishing a service centre in China and outsourcing aircraft components to Chinese manufacturers.
Textron China president Ee Soon Kiong says Cessna already uses Shenyang Aircraft to supply a small volume of tooling and is interested in sourcing larger components in China. He says Cessna has been reviewing a new programme by sister company Bell Helicopter to source cabins at Hafei Aviation Industry with the goal of forging a similar partnership with a Chinese manufacturer. “Cessna is at the beginning of exploring manufacturing opportunities in China,” says Ee.
Cessna sources say the manufacturer is also now evaluating applications from several potential Chinese partners interested in establishing a maintenance facility in China for Citation jets. Last year Cessna hired a field service representative in China and believes it needs to set up a local service centre to support China’s fast-growing Citation fleet.
Bombardier also says it is now in talks with several Chinese maintenance companies interested in setting up a service centre for its line of business jets and expects to select a partner within a year.
Most business jet operators in China maintain their own fleets and there is only one centre, operated by Hainan Airlines subsidiary Deer Jet, which is certified to work on third-party aircraft. Deer Jet won certification from Raytheon Aircraft earlier this year to service Beechcraft and Hawker aircraft at its maintenance facility in Haikou.
BRENDAN SOBIE/BEIJING
Source: Flight International
