TAI & Airbus Group Relations
The relations between EADS and Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. (TAI) have a long history. This long-lasting tie established initially on the military platforms where TAI commenced the integrated aircraft assembly operations of EADS CASA CN-235 aircraft in 1990. More than fifty (50) CN-235 were delivered with success, left TAI’s runway flying, proving TAI’s world-class integrated manufacturing and assembly capabilities. In parallel, augmenting the number of platforms, TAI & EADS Eurocopter consortium has toned up the relations with the signature of Cougar Phenix-II contract in 1996. Around 30 Phenix-II helicopters were flight tested and delivered from TAI’s facilities in close collaboration of the then Eurocopter (Airbus Helicopters). TAI has also been building Cougar helicopters’ fuselage, tail boom and canopy, and delivering to Marseille, France since 2002.
In 2002, a brand-new chapter was opened with the introduction of A400M Program, when TAI became a major player in the foundation of Airbus Military (AMSL) and appointed as one of the four shareholders. In proportion with its 5.6% share in AMSL, TAI has been holding design & build responsibility for the entire structural work packages of A400M’s Forward Center Fuselage (FCF), Upper Shell, Tailcone, Ailerons & Spoilers, Doors, Center & Rear Harnesses, Lighting, Water-Waste and Ice Protection Systems. TAI was completed the development phase back in 2010 under partner shareholders’ and appreciation; where today, has been assembling the A400M MSN 27 FCF in serial phase. Reaching the maximum rate in 2016, TAI has designed and structured its A400M major component assembly line to support the deliveries of three aircraft per month.
Mapping its future around the vision of “becoming a world brand aerospace company with indigenous products and global competitive power”, it is not wise not to have a strong existence and interest in commercial platforms. We have been working and closely monitoring the global commercial platform demand shoulder to shoulder with Turkish Airlines to make sure TAI has the right position for future aero-structure work packages of most successful passenger jets.
With the first deliveries in early 2000s, TAI has been delivering A320 Family Section 18 Panels to Airbus as low as six ship sets at the beginning and nowadays up to 36 ship sets per month. TAI is under contract to provide Single Aisle (SA) Section 18 Panels as the single source hitting the 42 ship sets per month in June 2014. TAI and EADS Relations have been opened out to another dimension when TAI was awarded in competitive environment as a Risk Sharing Partner (RSP) for designing and building A350XWB Ailerons in 2008. This was a significant step for TAI to undertake the whole design-to-built responsibility of a new Airbus platform’s composite control surface. Following the completion of last ship set deliveries for flight test aircraft, the serial production shall take place with confidence. As an RSP, TAI started delivering Ailerons for all versions of A350XWBs.
Paris Airshow 2013 was an eyewitness of another important event, the award of Airbus Long Range (LR) Rudder built-to-print contract to TAI as the sole supplier, revealing our global competitive power. By awarding TAI, Airbus has simplified its supply chain as well as benefitting from TAI’s affordable solutions. The first TAI-manufactured LR Rudder shall be delivered in 2015.
In this new period, while observing significant growth in global commercial aircraft demand, TAI, along with its vision and growing capability can contribute more to Airbus by assuming bigger responsibilities as a first tier design-to-built partner. To reach that target, TAI is also considering opening a facility near Airbus final assembly locations to increase efficiency and logistical support of the OEM. On defence and space side, there are also opportunities for TAI and Airbus Defence & Space by considering bilateral needs of respected governments from both parties taking into account product portfolio of parties, new collaborations can be set up similar to successful A400M partnership TAI projects great benefit for both parties to act together and expand the scope of existing relations both in commercial and defence areas, and the conditions of today is the most appropriate time to bolster these efforts.
