Safran and AVIC signed today [11.11.2014], through their respective companies Snecma and SAIC, a framework agreement on the creation of a common entity in China in the field of turboprop engine for commercial aircraft. The aim of this cooperation is to design, test and produce power turbines and flame tubes for the two parent companies. This agreement was signed by François Planaud, Snecma (Safran) Vice President & General Manager Commercial Engine Division and Peng Jianwu, Chairman of SAIC (AVIC), with the presence of Maurice Gourdault-Montagne, Ambassador of France in China; Bruno Cotté, Executive Vice President-International of Safran; and Li Fangyong, Executive Vice-President of AVIC.
Snecma and SAIC will hold respectively 50% of total stock right in this new common entity located in China, which will hire around fifty specialized engineers (most of them will be recruited locally), meanwhile, this new entity will have facilities of design, testing and production.
After the announcement of this project and the signature of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in March 2014, presented by the President of the French Republic, Mr. François Hollande and the President of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. XI Jinping, therewith the signature of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) in July 2014, this signature marks a crossing of a new stage for the cooperation between these two groups.
The agreement has, moreover, extended the partnerships established over 30 years among Safran, AVIC and other companies of aviation industry and of Chinese civil aviation. It completes particularly the agreements signed in the past: such as Ardiden 3C / WZ16 (developed through the cooperation between Safran Turbomeca and AVIC Dong’An); COMAC ARJ21 Program (flight control restitution system supplied by Sagem) and C919 program (equipped with LEAP engine of CFM International*, nacelle of Nexcell** and wiring systems of Labinal).
This signature strengthens also years’ partnership in the academic sector through university cooperation, and further exchanges and joint seminars will be continued between Safran University and AVIC subsidiaries.
During the signature ceremony, Bruno Cotté appreciated, on behalf of Safran, this new step which increases the momentum of cooperation with AVIC, in line with the strategic agreement signed between these two groups in 2010. Li Fangyong, on behalf of AVIC, said that this cooperation is a breakthrough and witnesses once again decades of the friendly cooperation relationship between China and France in aviation, which laid a solid foundation for the new generation turboprop’s research and development for both sides.
* The LEAP engine is a product of CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (Safran), France and GE, USA.
** Nexcelle is a 50/50 joint venture of Aircelle (Safran) and Middle River Aircraft Systems (GE Aviation).
Source / Author: Safran