Airbus

My friend, Dietrich, sent me this e-mail awhile back and I thought I'd include it...just to show some Tianjin pride!

The next time you get on an Airbus, you might not want to automatically assume the jet was assembled in Europe.

That's because "the first Airbus A320 jet assembled outside Europe made its maiden flight Monday after its assembly in the northeastern Chinese city of Tianjin," The Associated Press reports. The Chinese Airbus facility is scheduled to begin delivering its first jets to customers next month.

As for the maiden flight, AP adds "the jet successfully conducted a four-hour flight from the Tianjin International Airport, (the The Airbus Final Assembly Line China) said. The plant is expected to be able to produce four A320s a month by 2011 and a total of about 300 A320 planes by 2016."

So, why is Airbus assembling some planes in China? To try and gain a leg up on Boeing, of course. AP says "the decision by Toulouse, France-based Airbus to make aircraft in China is seen as part of its long-term strategy to win a greater share of the Chinese market that for years was dominated by Boeing."

Still, the move doesn't come without risk to Airbus. For example, Reuters writes the company now "faces criticism from European unions who say the move adds to outsourcing fears amid the recession and could result in the loss of European technology to a potential jet-making rival."

The first Airbus A320 aircraft assembled outside of Europe lands at Tianjin Binhai International Airport following a four hour test flight. By Reuters/China Daily.