Safran and AVIC have extended their long-standing partnership in airplane and helicopter engines to encompass aircraft equipment.

Yves Leclère, Safran Executive Vice President, Aircraft Equipment, and Hu Xiaofeng, President of AVIC Aircraft, today signed a framework agreement concerning landing systems and engine nacelles.

Also present at the contract signing in Beijing were Lin Zuoming, President of AVIC, Jean-Paul Herteman, CEO of Safran, Marc Ventre, Safran Executive Vice President, Aerospace Propulsion, and MA Fuan, AVIC Engine President.

The two partners will collaborate on all aspects of these two product lines, including design, production, assembly, and support. The agreement includes the planned establishment of new facilities in China, based on the partners' existing assets.

Drawing on Safran's leadership positions in aircraft equipment, coupled with AVIC Aircraft's proven expertise and industrial capabilities, the partners will be able to submit competitive proposals for new Chinese aircraft, such as the COMAC C919, as well as other applications.

The partnership between Safran and AVIC was initiated when AVIC Aircraft subsidiaries Landing Gear Advanced Manufacturing Corp., Ltd, Xi'an Aviation Brake Technology Co., Ltd. and The First Aircraft Institute, agreed with Safran group subsidiaries Messier-Dowty and Messier-Bugatti, to submit a joint proposal to COMAC for landing and braking systems on the C919.

The partnership took a further step forward today, with Nexcelle and AVIC Aircraft signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create a joint venture for engine nacelles.