The Harbin Hafei Airbus Composite Manufacturing Centre (HMC), a joint venture between Airbus and its Chinese partners, has delivered its 1000th locally manufactured rudder for the Airbus A320 Family. A ceremony was held today in the Northeastern Chinese city of Harbin for the delivery of the 1000th rudder. Among the participants, were Chinese government officials, executives of Airbus and its partners, including AVIC and employees of the Manufacturing Centre.

"Today's delivery is the fruit of our close cooperation in the past years, which contributes to a further deepening strategic partnership of the two parties", said Cao Shengli, General Manager of AVIC Harbin Aircraft Industry Group Co. Ltd. "We hope in the future HMC will continue to achieve business success, while becoming a model in our practices to support "China Made 2025" strategy and "Belt and Road" initiative."

Francois Mery, Airbus Commercial Aircraft China Chief Operating Officer, said: "Congratulations to Harbin Composite Manufacturing Centre, which is an integrated part of Airbus' global supply chain. Today's delivery is an important milestone for the Manufacturing Centre and for our long-term partnership with the Chinese aviation industry as well. HMC will continue to play the important role in contributing to the success of the programme."

The rudders manufactured at the HMC are to be delivered to the Airbus site in Stade, Germany, where they will be fixed to the A320 Family vertical stabilizer, and then delivered to the A320 Final Assembly Lines around the world.

Rudders are one of the major components that HMC manufactures for the Airbus A320 programme. The Manufacturing Centre started production in December 2009 with A320 work packages. HMC is responsible for manufacturing and assembling the complete rudder (a rudder is the control surface attached to the vertical stabilizer used to steer the aircraft).

Contributed by Airbus