Senior aviation executives have confidence in China

Senior executives from the aviation industry have shown confidence in the Chinese market, which still has big potential. 

“We have been in China for 40 years, and we will be here for the next 20 and 30 years and even longer. And we will continue to cooperate with the government and the local partners,” Steven Lien, president of Honeywell Aerospace, told the Global Times in a recent interview. 

The aerospace department of US-based Honeywell builds aircraft engines, cockpit and cabin electronics and wireless connectivity systems.

The latest example is that in March this year, Honeywell appointed Beijing-based Air Esurfing Information Technology Co as the exclusive distributor of its next-generation JetWave satellite communications hardware in China. 

The arrangement between the two companies will give Chinese airlines access to an all-in-one solution that enables high-speed in-flight Wi-Fi service and increases availability of fast, consistent, Ka-band connectivity for passengers flying on Chinese airlines. 

In terms of the China-made aircraft, Honeywell has been involved in the narrow-body C919 project for years in terms of the auxiliary power units, flight control systems, wheels and brakes, and navigation systems.

The value of the cooperation projects has reached $16 billion, according to Lien. 

“The company is bidding for the coming CR929 project, and the result will come out later this year or next year,” he added. 

Lien’s comment is echoed by Chinese officials, who have said that smart aviation will be a trend in the coming years for the Chinese aviation industry.

Li Xiaopeng, China’s Transport Minister, said in a recent forum held in Beijing that the Chinese transportation industry should accelerate the processes of digitization and networking, and new technologies such as intelligent high-speed rail, self-driving cars, unmanned ships and drones should also develop rapidly.

In a recent interview with Global Times, Chris Tam, executive vice president of France-based TLD, said China has done a great job in cutting emissions. 

Tract Easy is an electric driverless baggage tractor jointly launched by the company and the driverless car manufacturer EasyMile. It has a top speed of 25 kilometers. 

During operation, an evaluation is carried out through its own imaging system, and its autonomous navigation and obstacle detection system is used to avoid obstacles.

According to Tam, the TAXIBOT is an innovative technical system for reducing carbon emissions at airports. 

It can cut fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions during taxiing by 85 percent and reduce noise by 60 percent, Tam said.