Airbus partners with Chinese stakeholders

Zhuhai, 13 November 2024 – Airbus has signed a bundle of cooperation agreements and MoUs on aftermarket services with its partners at the Zhuhai Airshow. The cooperation covers a wide range of aftermarket services including flight training, Non Destructive Testing (NDT) training and assessment, cabin seat solutions and material services.

With over 2,200 Airbus aircraft in service in China, Airbus and its affiliates have continuously expanded local services to provide best-in-class support for operational safety and efficiency. After more than three decades in China, Airbus has provided services covering the entire aircraft lifecycle from pre-delivery technical support, in-flight operation solutions till the end of life recycling. The cooperation signed during the airshow includes:

• Flight training: Airbus and the Civil Aviation Flight University of China (CAFUC) have signed a cooperation agreement on developing the Competency Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) Air Transport Pilot integrated training programme and a Letter of Intent (LOI) on the support of subsequent programme implementation and commercial cooperation. This cooperation is in response to new flight training requirements by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). It will combine Airbus' international experience in CBTA development with CAFUC's local training experience to jointly develop the first CBTA integrated pilot training programme that meets both ICAO standards and CAAC regulations. The cooperation aims to promote CBTA in China's ab-initio flight training sector. Compared to traditional flight training methods, CBTA can further enhance the fight training efficiency and quality as it places a greater emphasis on the pilots’ performances and competencies. The course development will be completed within the next two years, followed by a trial at CAFUC supervised by CAAC before a wide application. The cooperation will pave the way for the introduction of CBTA training in China and contribute to improve civil aviation safety in China.

• Airbus, through its subsidiary Testia,  also expands its Non Destructive Testing (NDT) training and assessment in China, both certified by the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT) and the UK National Aerospace NDT Board.

Testia is expanding its worldwide presence with the Airbus’ joint venture with China Hua-Ou Training Co,.Ltd. It will provide  NDT competences  in China, to and through the Hua-Ou's training facility, contributing  to elevate the industrial standards and support the growing demand for skilled professionals in this crucial field. Testia has been performing  training and assessment in this field for over 30 years, supporting  industrial players  in aerospace manufacturing, assembly, maintenance, repair and overhaul worldwide. With this milestone, Hua-Ou will be the first training hub for Testia in the Greater China region outside the home base in Toulouse, France.

• Cabin seat power supply retrofit: Airbus subsidiary Eltra signed a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) engineering service agreement with Colorful Guizhou Airlines. Eltra will provide a customized retrofit solution of cabin seat power supply for the airline’s A320 fleet, including engineering design solutions, retrofit solution implementation and technical support and training. The STC retrofit solution approved by CAAC will enhance the comfort and functionality of the aircraft to better meet the market demand. 

• Material services: Satair, an Airbus Services company, signed agreements on Integrated Material Service (IMS) solutions with HNA Aviation Technic, Xiamen Airlines and China Southern Airlines. Satair’s IMS solution will not only maximise spare parts availability but also optimise stock levels, helping Chinese customers to boost cash flow and improve overall operational performance. Satair also signed a customised spare purchasing program with Juneyao Airlines, offering the customer greater predictability and a heightened service level on a comprehensive scope of part numbers and budget control.

As a key stakeholder in China's aviation industry, Airbus continues to build its presence and partnerships in this important and growing aviation market to continue supporting its customers.