Xi'an Aircraft (AVIC group) and Sagem (Safran) today signed a Letter of Intent providing for the joint development and supply of the cockpit flight controls on China's planned MA700 regional jet.

Developed and produced by Sagem, this new cockpit system will include all primary components, namely the control column/yoke and pedals. For this program Sagem will team up with AVIC subsidiary LANFEI, a company that Sagem has worked with for some 30 years, especially on autopilots.

"The agreement between Xi'an Aircraft and Sagem on the MA700 falls within the scope of the strategic partnership signed by AVIC and Sagem in 2011," said Martin Sion, Chief Executive Officer of Sagem. "In particular, it will enable us to tackle a number of upcoming opportunities for collaboration, including the future Chinese widebody jet project."

Whether on mainline, regional or business aircraft, Sagem's flight control systems have proven their capabilities under all circumstances, and with maximum flight safety.

Sagem is the European leader in flight control systems and safety-critical software for aircraft. The company develops and produces a wide range of innovative flight control components and systems for all types of civil aircraft, including miniature side stick units, throttles, pedals, actuators, autopilots, sensors and flat display screens.

The MA700 is a new twin-turboprop regional aircraft from China, with 70 to 80 seats. It has been under development by Xian Aircraft Industry, a subsidiary of state-owned AVIC, since 2008. The first MA700 should be rolled out in 2017 for the start of flight tests, with revenue service scheduled to start in 2019. The MA700 will be the first turboprop aircraft in the world to use fly-by-wire flight controls.

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