Taiwan’s AIDC Joins MRJ Team

Taiwan’s Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) has agreed to design and build the composite flaps, belly fairings, rudders and elevators and the metal slats for the Mitsubishi MRJ, the Japanese company announced in late January.

“With the participation of AIDC, we have just about assembled all of our primary partners required for the development and production of the MRJ,” said Mitsubishi Aircraft president Nobuo Toda. “With MHI, Mitsubishi Aircraft and our other first-class partners from around the world, the MRJ project has transitioned smoothly into the design and technical evaluation phase.”

Scheduled for certification and entry into service by the end of 2013, the 86- to 96-seat MRJ90, and its 70- to 80-seat sibling, the MRJ70, would use wings and an empennage consisting largely of composites. Major suppliers include Pratt & Whitney (PW1000G engines), Parker Aerospace (hydraulics), Hamilton Sundstrand (electrical power and air management systems and APUs), Rockwell Collins (flight control computers and avionics), Nabtesco (flight control actuators), Sumitomo (landing gear) and Spirit AeroSystems (engine pylons).