Airbus’ latest JV in China to become sole supplier of A350 XWB elevators

Harbin Hafei Airbus Composite Manufacturing Centre (the Manufacturing Centre), a joint venture between Airbus and Chinese partners, signed a contract for the work package of A350 XWB elevators with the Spain-based Aernnova Aerospace SAU (ANN) which is a major supplier of aerostructures to Airbus.

Under the contract, the Manufacturing Centre will become the sole supplier of A350 XWB elevators to ANN. The Manufacturing Centre is responsible for both manufacturing and assembling the complete set of elevators, mostly made of composites, and which are part of the A350’s horizontal tail plane. Production in China is expected to start in 2012 after an initial industrialisation phase in Europe.

Following the agreement for the A350 rudder and A350 S19 maintenance door, the A350 XWB elevator is the third A350 work package allocated to the Manufacturing Centre. It is also the largest A350 XWB component allocation contracted in China to date and is a significant part of the five percent of the A350 airframe to be manufactured in China.

“We are very proud to have obtained another work package from Airbus for the A350 XWB programme and to start cooperation with Aernnova,” said Liu Guanglin, Chairman of the Manufacturing Centre. “The building of the new facilities is on track and the training of Chinese staff is underway. We are confident in our ability to deliver the aircraft components on time and on quality.”

Firm orders for the A350 XWB now stand at 505 from 32 customers worldwide.