France's biggest avionics manufacturer, Sextant Avionique, has made an unprecedented offer for an "across-the-board" alliance with Aviation Industries of China (AVIC) for local development and manufacture of avionics for civil aircraft and helicopters.
The offer, which comes a month before French president Jacques Chirac visits China, parallels overtures from US manufacturers Honeywell and Rockwell-Collins - although these are connected mainly with avionics for the proposed A318/AE100 airliner to be developed jointly by China, Europe and Singapore. While Sextant Avionique declines to reveal precise details of its offer, it is understood to be targeted towards a "grand alliance" with AVIC - which is leading the AE100 programme - covering potentially its entire product range.
Sextant president Jean-Robert Martin has held a seminar in Beijing to present a plan for a "long-term co-operation in aerospace and space with operators and industry in China".
One industry source says that Sextant Avionique has proposed to AVIC licence-manufacture of flight-control computers for Airbus single-aisle aircraft, as well as a plan for joint development of the flight-control system of the AE100. It also foresees joint manufacture and marketing of its civil-aircraft head-up displays, and co-operation in training and support.
Source: Flight International
