MA700

Aviation Industry Corporation of China’s AVIC Aircraft has awarded a contract to Parker Aerospace to provide flight control actuation and a hydraulic system for the new MA700 regional aircraft.

Under the deal, Parker, a unit of Parker Hannifin will work in partnership with AVIC Flight Automated Control Research Institute (FACRI) and AVIC Nanjing Engineering Institute of Aircraft Systems (NEIAS).

Parker Aerospace Asia Pacific regional general manager Pui Ho said: "We are thrilled to be a part of the MA700 turboprop and look forward to developing and supporting these work packages for our important customer, AVIC Aircraft."

Fly-by-wire flight controls are designed to replace hydro-mechanical flight control actuators, which operate using electrical commands from flight control electronics to link pilot commands to flight control surfaces.

"The hydraulic system supports functionality of the aircraft flight control system, landing gear, steering system and brakes."

The hydraulic system supports functionality of the aircraft flight control system, landing gear, steering system and brakes.

Parker and AVIC FACRI will create a joint venture (JV) called Parker FACRI Actuation Systems in Xi’an, where assembly and testing of MA700 flight control products will be carried out.

Named NEIAS Parker Aero Systems and Equipment, the Parker and AVIC NEIAS JV will manage assembly and testing of MA700 hydraulic system products.

The plant is currently working on fuel, inerting, and hydraulic systems for COMAC C919, and will also handle systems’ component assembly, test, and manufacture.

Parker Aerospace produces fuel, hydraulic, and flight control actuation systems for COMAC ARJ21 and C919 aircraft.

Image: A mock-up of Xian MA700 aircraft. Photo: courtesy of Captainm.