China's First RJ To Enter Service In 2009

Last week, CAE was awarded a contract to provide the world's first full-flight simulator for China's upcoming ARJ21 regional jet being developed by AVIC I Commercial Aircraft Co. (ACAC).

The first aircraft to be entirely designed and built in China, the ARJ21 regional jet is a 90-seat aircraft that is expected to enter into service in 2009. Current plans by ACAC call for the production of 340 ARJ21 jets for China's domestic market, and 160 for the international market by 2026.

"CAE is honored to have been chosen as ACAC's partner for the ARJ21 project," said Marc Parent, CAE's Group President, Simulation Products, at the contract signing ceremony. "We feel confident that CAE's extensive experience in building prototype simulators for new aircraft as well as our significant presence in China over the last 15 years has prepared us well for this new and exciting project."

CAE representatives tell Aero-News the company has long been active in the Chinese market, having first sold a CAE-built full-flight simulator to China Southern Airlines in 1990. With a list price value of approximately C$15 million, the contract brings the total number of full-flight simulators that CAE has sold this fiscal year to twenty-one.

CAE is a provider of simulation and modelling technologies for civil aviation and military customers. With annual revenues of approximately C$1 billion, the company operates in 18 countries around the world, and has sold nearly 700 simulators and training devices to airlines, aircraft manufacturers, training centers and defense forces for air and ground purposes in more than 40 countries.

FMI: www.cae.com