(Invest in China) Interview with General Manager of Safran China: The aviation industry has not yet emerged from "the worst crisis in history"

　　China News Service, Beijing, February 24 (Reporter Li Xiaoyu) With reduced classes, grounding, and layoffs, the global aviation industry is facing an unprecedented crisis due to the epidemic.

　　In an interview with China News Agency reporters, Philippe Bardol, the general representative of Safran Group China and the general manager of Safran China, believes that the "most serious crisis in history" of the aviation industry will continue beyond 2021.

However, thanks to the effective prevention and control of the epidemic, China's civil aviation industry will continue to lead the global recovery this year.

　　Affected by the epidemic, bad news in the global aviation industry continues.

KLM’s passenger traffic last year was less than one-third of 2019, with a loss of 1.2 billion euros; European aircraft manufacturer Airbus had a net loss of 1.13 billion euros last year, and its operating income fell by nearly 30% compared to 2019.

　　Bai Huade said frankly that 2020 will be a difficult year for the global aviation industry, and it will also bring about the "most serious crisis" in aviation history, and the impact will continue beyond 2021.

　　Although the global aviation industry "sorrows everywhere", the Chinese market still has a relatively bright performance.

　　Bai Huade said that due to the effective prevention and control of the epidemic by the Chinese government, the domestic civil aviation industry quickly recovered. In December last year, the number of domestic flights had approached or even exceeded the level of the same period of the previous year, and new routes were opened.

Thanks to the "encouraging" market environment, Safran has made important achievements in China last year.

　　For example, Safran supported the delivery of aircraft equipped with Safran products-Airbus Tianjin final assembly line delivered the 500th A320 series aircraft, ARJ21 delivered to the three major airlines; Chinese airlines and operators signed and renewed aircraft data analysis with Safran The program and the helicopter fleet support related contracts; as a 50/50 equity joint venture between Safran and General Electric, CFM International signed a series of aircraft engine procurement and service agreements at the third CIIE.

　　Bai Huade believes that China's civil aviation will continue to lead the global recovery this year.

Under this circumstance, Safran Group will further strengthen its MRO (maintenance, repair, operation) business and customer support services in China, and plans to establish a new MRO project in China this year.

　　In addition, Safran will continue to support aircraft and helicopter projects for aircraft manufacturer customers.

COMAC C919 is expected to obtain the airworthiness certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China this year, and the delivery of the first aircraft is expected to be completed within this year. In addition to the LEAP-1C engine, Safran also provides a variety of aircraft equipment.

　　The AC352 helicopter of AVIC Helicopter will also obtain evidence.

This model is equipped with a turboshaft 16 engine jointly developed by Safran Group and two units of China Aero Engine Group. It is the first international cooperative aero engine certified in China.

　　As for the new development trend of the aviation industry in the post-epidemic era, Bai Huade believes that the epidemic has caused aviation companies to consider providing more diversified products to meet passengers' higher requirements for hygiene.

　　In addition, "green aviation" will become more important.

"We believe that the decarbonization of the aviation industry is a top priority," he said. After the crisis, we should be prepared to provide customers with equipment that can make air travel more environmentally friendly than ever.

　　Bai Huade said that they have now spent about 75% of their research and technical budgets on finding more environmentally friendly solutions, including new engine designs, alternative fuels, the electrification of propulsion systems and other aircraft systems, and advanced data analysis to improve Operational efficiency.

For example, LEAP engine, compared with today's best CFM engine, can reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by 15% for operators.

　　He revealed that Safran’s team of engineers is working on a “revolutionary engine” whose fuel efficiency will increase by 20% compared to LEAP engines, and it is planned to be put into use in 2035.

This engine will be 100% compatible with sustainable aviation fuel.

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