Page 7 - AAA NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 Online Magazine

NEWS

Industry News and Updates

Harbin delivers on A350 promise
Harbin Hafei Airbus Composite Manufacturing Centre (HMC), a joint venture
between Airbus and Chinese partners, has started to deliver elevators for the
Airbus A350 XWB. Elevators manufactured at HMC are delivered to Spain-based
SIA and Tata fly together Aernnova Aerospace (ANN), which will integrate them into the A350 XWB tailplane
at the Airbus plant in Getafe, Spain. Production in China started in 2012, on the back
National carrier Singapore Airlines and of an agreement signed by Airbus and the Chinese government in 2007 that agreed
Indian conglomerate Tata Sons have to allocate 5% of the A350 XWB airframe to Chinese manufacturing. “It’s inspiring
signed an MOU to establish a new LCC for the Chinese aviation industry to be involved in the development and production
airline in India. Described in a release of the A350 XWB,” said Geng Ruguang, EVP of AVIC, the parent company of HMC.
as designed to “further stimulate “The development of HMC will also constitute a pulling force for the relevant local
demand for air travel” the new start industries, and to become an integrated part of Airbus’ global supply chain.” Airbus
up will face various hurdles before it said the delivery of the first set of A350 XWB elevators by HMC is an important
gets airborne. Although approved by milestone in it long-term partnership with the Chinese aviation industry, and a
the Foreign Investment Promotion pillar for a long term collaboration and mutual success.
Board (FIPB), there are issues such as
airport operations, fleet size, parking More phones on board
space, slots and routes to be sorted.
According to one report in The Hindu, The recent US FAA announcement
Aviation Minister, Ajit Singh has agreed that it is relaxing rules restricting the
to seek fast clearances for the project. use of portable electronic devices in
“I don’t see any problems. The Director flight (like tablets, smart phones and
General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will have e-readers) has been welcomed by
to be satisfied. There are issues … but t Asian operators. Andrew Herdman,
depends on how fast Tata-SIA gives all the DG of the Association of Asia
data and documents,’’ he said. Subject Pacific Airlines (AAPA), said airline
to regulatory approvals, the airline will passengers will certainly welcome
be based in New Delhi and will operate more clarity about the use of personal added that passengers want a
under the full-service model. Tata Sons devices, but that more standardised consistent flying experience, but given
will own 51% and Singapore Airlines will rules would be welcome instead of the number of individual regulators
own 49%. “We have always been a strong varying requirements across carriers involved worldwide it would take some
believer in the growth potential of India’s and governments. “In an ideal world time to implement the necessary
aviation sector and are excited about such requirements would be more or changes. “Asian airlines will certainly
the opportunity to partner Tata Sons in less standardised worldwide. This be encouraging governments to agree
contributing to the future expansion of the was a point recognised by the expert on harmonised global standards,
market,” said Singapore Airlines CEO, Mr group which carried out the evaluation, preferably on a multilateral basis
Goh Choon Phong. He added that he saw which indeed recommended that working through the International
the time as being “right to jointly bring efforts should be made to work with Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO),” he
consumers a fresh new option for full- other international stakeholders to said. Inflight voice calls and electronic
service air travel.” harmonise such rules.” Herdman messaging will still be prohibited.

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