OREANDA-NEWS. September 25, 2007. During the AVIATION EXPO/CHINA’2007 international aviation exhibition, V.F.Shmyriov, First deputy Designer of ANTONOV ASTC and Mr. Bai Songbai, President of SAC (China) signed Memorandum of Understanding on establishment of joint Aviation-Engineering Centre in Beijing. This enterprise will perform research and design works on design of the new and modernization of the existing airplanes, initiate and base projects of design new airplanes, develop their new layout, conduct necessary preliminary researches. The primary tasks of the established centre include works on the further development of Y8F600 transport aircraft programme.

D.S.Kiva, General Designer of ASTC when commenting this event, said: “Establishment of such a centre is a considerable step in development of our business relations with CPR. Forming this joint structure we reach new, more high level of cooperation. We join the efforts not in the limits of separate programme, but for development and realization of the whole row of projects. ANTONOV brings into this union its know-how and rich experience in development, tests and certification of the airplanes of the different class and purpose. I am sure the new successful joint programmes will become the result of the centre’s work.