During Air Show China (Zhuhai, China), Turbomeca (SAFRAN Group) signed a "Joint Venture Contract" with Beijing Changkong Machinery (AVIC II company), in view of creating the first joint venture company between Turbomeca and an AVIC II company: Beijing Turbomeca Changkong Aero-Engine Control Equipment Co. Ltd.

This joint venture will assemble and test hydro mechanical units of turboshaft engines for both Turbomeca and Beijing Changkong, for their respective markets. It will be located 50 km North of Beijing in the Chinese partner new plant, located in a high-tech park.

Fuel Control Units (FCU) and Hydro Mechanical Units (HMU) will be assembled and tested in this new joint venture. The joint venture entry into operation with its relevant production agreement is targeted to be in October 2007.

Among the control system concerned, the WZ8C HMU (licensed Arriel 2C) powering the H425 helicopter designed and produced by Harbin Aviation Industry, an AVIC II company.

This agreement marks a major advance in the development of Turbomeca's helicopter business in China and the role Turbomeca intends to play, as well as for SAFRAN's expanding range of partnerships in the country. In China, one helicopter out of two is equipped with Turbomeca engines or licensed products. Today, about 500 Turbomeca engines are being operated in China.

As a reminder, a cooperation framework agreement was signed in 2005 with AVIC II (China Aviation Industry Corporation II), concerning the delivery of 200 Arriel 2C helicopter turboshaft engines to China, along with a partial production license. Turbomeca and AVIC II started working together in the 1980s, with a license for the Arriel 1 engine, initiated by China National South Aero Engine Corporation (SAEC).

Source:佚名