AgustaWestland has joined Eurocopter, MD Helicopters and Sikorsky in forging deals with Chinese manufacturers for the local assembly of civil helicopters.
AgustaWestland sealed at Zhuhai a long-anticipated deal with Changhe Aviation Industries covering assembly of A109Es for the domestic Chinese market. A new joint venture company, 60% owned by Changhe and 40% by AgustaWestland, will take over all A109 sales activities in China and begin deliveries next year.
AgustaWestland chief executive Amedeo Caporaletti predicts a market in China for up to 150 A109s over the next 10 years. He says the joint venture company may also have "an opportunity to sell outside China in countries they have good relations with" because the Italian assembly line now has a three-year backlog.
MD Hongdu Helicopters displayed its first helicopter, an MD600N assembled in Nanchang last month. The aircraft will be used as a demonstrator, along with a 500E, 530F and 520N to be assembled over the next few months.
MD Hongdu also signed letters of intent at Zhuhai with its first two customers. A construction company has tentatively agreed to take a 520N and a leisure project development company a 600N. MD Hongdu is not a joint venture company; instead Hongdu Aviation Industry has signed a subcontracting and assembly agreement with MD Hongdu, which acts as the original equipment manufacturer.
"It's our intention with the next step to start with manufacture of aircraft parts and components," says Hongdu MD chief executive officer Albert Heinz Haider.
Harbin Aircraft Industry says the agreement it finalised with Eurocopter this year for EC120 assembly will result in first delivery at year-end to civilian operator Flying Dragon. The army also plans to order the aircraft.
Shanghai Sikorsky Little Eagle has already delivered 10 Schweizer helicopters and is preparing to manufacture aircraft parts. General manager Chris Jaran says the joint venture company will move into a new factory next month.
Source: Flight International
