Chinese maintenance, repair and overhaul company Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering (TAECO) is working to become Asia's first approved cabin completion centre for Airbus corporate aircraft.
It has signed an agreement with Airbus to help create a cabin completion centre in China for corporate offerings of the manufacturer's aircraft. TAECO is majority owned by Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering and Boeing has a minority stake.
"According to the agreement, Airbus will assist TAECO in personnel training and other areas to enable TAECO to become qualified as a potential supplier for Airbus's cabin completion business," says TAECO, which will bring in Hong Kong-based Eltra as a partner in the project.
Under the agreement, Airbus will send specialists to Xiamen for the project, which is due to be completed by the end of 2009.
After the project's completion, TAECO aims to seek European Aviation Safety Agency certification and become an Airbus supplier.
TAECO says that if it successfully obtains the required qualification and sets up the cabin completion centre, it will become "the first approved cabin completion centre for Airbus corporate and business jets in China as well as in Asia".
Source: Flight International
