Smiths Aerospace has been selected by Middle River Aircraft Systems (MRAS), a wholly owned subsidiary of General Electric Aircraft Engines (GEAE), to provide the Thrust Reverser Actuation System (TRAS) for the new ARJ21 Regional Jet.
The ARJ21 is being developed by China's AVIC 1 Commercial Aircraft (ACAC). Potential sales for this programme could exceed $60 million. The system will be designed and manufactured at the Smiths facility in Los Angeles with development hardware deliveries beginning in 2004. Middle River Aircraft Systems is responsible for the design, development and manufacture of the nacelle, including the thrust reverser, for the new GEAE CF34-10A engine.
This contract puts Smiths in a strong position to support future derivatives of the ACAC ARJ21 and GEAE's CF34-10 engine family. The win also strengthens the industry leadership position of Smiths in TRAS, adding to awards in the past three years, including the Airbus A318 (PW6000), Embraer ERJ 170 (CF34-8E) and ERJ 190 (CF34-10E), Challenger 300 (AS907), Falcon 2000 EX (PW308) and Falcon F7X (PW307).
This is the second major TRAS program for which Smiths has been chosen by MRAS. Smiths' experience and the successful partnership of the two companies on the existing thrust reverser programme, for the CF34-10E which powers the Embraer ERJ190, was a strong contributor to winning the -10A contract.
Comprehensive
The demand for low-cost regional jets in the People's Republic of China has convinced the state-owned Aviation Industries of China and ACAC to launch the development of a 79 to 105-seat RJ known as the ARJ21. The concept, first unveiled at the 2001 Beijing Air Show, represents China's most comprehensive effort to build an international supplier base for an indigenous aircraft. First flight of the ARJ21 is expected in mid-2006, aircraft certification in mid-2007, and entry into service by end of 2007.
Source: Flight Daily News
