Aero launches production for Latecoere

09/04/2008 | AERO Vodochody a.s. launched production of Embraer aircraft subassemblies for the French aerospace company Latecoere Toulouse.

AERO Vodochody a.s. launched production of Embraer aircraft subassemblies for the French aerospace company Latecoere Toulouse. The contract on exclusive deliveries of hinges and inner structure of doors for the regional transport jet aircraft Embraer 170 and Embraer 190 in a total volume of around CZK one billion was signed on October 3, 2007. Representatives of AERO and Latecoere continue in negotiations on further extension of cooperation.

“The Latecoere Program has so far created more than thirty workplaces in AERO, which we have filled partially from inner resources, partially by new recruitment,” said Peter Ondro, President of AERO, adding that “recruitment of employees continues for the Latecoere Program as well as other projects.”
Also Technometra Radotin, a.s., the traditional producer of landing gears, 100% subsidiary company of AERO, will join the Latecoere Program, ensuring production of all machined parts. “Technometra is putting large investments into machinery reconstruction, extending production as well as personnel capacity. For the Latecoere Program, we are currently investing into a dozen of new machines,” said Ladislav Simek, General Manager of Technometra.

The Embraer 170 and Embraer 190 aircraft are nowadays the best selling regional transport jet aircraft. The production of the first Embraer 170 prototype was launched in 2001. Among key subcontractors in the program of the Brazilian company of the same name Embraer belong the Japanese company Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Belgian Sonaca and French Latecoere.

Aero plans finalization of the production line for Latecoere for May 2008, ensuring the complete production, including all parts fabrication, from February 2009. So far, subassemblies of first two types of doors, produced from parts delivered by Latecoere, were expedited. AERO will be producing a total of six types of door and four hinge subassemblies.

AERO cooperates with world leading aerospace manufacturers on aerostructures projects with high value added. The S-76C helicopter for Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation remains the largest aerostructures program, further deliveries continue for the Boeing Company (F-18 Gun Bay Door), Spirit Aerosystems (B747 subassemblies), EADS (A320/A340 subassemblies) or Vought Aircraft Industries (B747 parts). In 2007, AERO launched production of the C-27J Spartan Center Wing Box for the Italian customer Alenia Aeronautica.

AERO Vodochody a.s. is the largest aerospace manufacturer in the Czech Republic. 100 % of the shares of the company are held by private equity group Penta, which in 2007 successfully finished the restructuring project of AERO, the main result of which is profit reached, exceeding CZK 200 million.