TAI Airbus

Airbus has selected Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) to supply section 19 fuselage panels for A320 family aircraft.

The companies have been working together on A320 section 18 fuselage panels for the past two decades.

The section 18 and section 19 panels are said to be key portions of the A320’s fuselage.

Airbus Group and Airbus chief procurement officer Klaus Richter said: "TAI’s workmanship quality, competitive prices and timely delivery performance paved the way for enhancing our relationship, as well as growing our presence in the Turkish industry with our modern aircraft family.

"When we look at the overall Airbus and TAI relationship, we also have to underline the work TAI performs for the A400M and A350 XWB."

In addition, TAI has delivered the first rudder for the A330-200 and A330-300 long-range commercial jets, as part of a contract signed in June 2013.

The rudder are one of the critical control surfaces of A330 aircraft, which is made of carbon fibre materials.

TAI has been single source supplier for the A320 programme. With the initial delivery of the first rudder, the company is set to become single source supplier for the A330.

TAI president and CEO Muharrem Dörtkasli said: "All of these activities demonstrate the fact that Airbus and TAI relationship is beyond a simple supplier customer relationship, it is rather a strategic partnership which carries potential to grow even further."

The company said it is investing in aero-structure segment, and creating strong supply chain within Turkey, to produce advanced components for Airbus.

Image: Airbus and TAI officials at the signing of contract for A320 section 19 fuselage panels. Photo: courtesy of Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc.