FACC – already a long-time trusted partner of Airbus – is to further expand its relationship with the airline manufacturing giant with the announcement that it will produce empennage components for A220 aircraft.
Worldwide, an aircraft with FACC technology on board takes off every second – Airbus has also been relying on FACC’s innovative strength for many years.
“The first product that FACC, which at that time was still the development department of Fischer Ski, developed for Airbus back in 1981 was a supporting rod for the floor crossbeams of the Airbus A300,” says Robert Machtlinger, CEO of FACC AG. “Now, 40 years later, we are represented on all aircraft platforms – the A220, A320, A330, A340, A350 and A380 – with our innovative lightweight components for the wings and engines, the empennage and the passenger cabin.
“The new order is not only a sign of our expertise and good cooperation, but also an important indicator for the years to come. Together, we will work on the development of new solutions that will shape the future while implementing our climate and sustainability goals step by step.”
Sustainable strength
With the production of empennage components of the A220 aircraft, FACC is further expanding its know-how and safeguarding attractive jobs and thus its prominent role as a leading company in the region.
“In order to establish ourselves as an innovative, stable and reliable partner to Airbus as well as to other major customers, FACC has invested more than 500 million euros in its plants and in highly automated facilities over the past 10 years. This is also a commitment to the location and to our crew,” says Machtlinger. “The state of Upper Austria has always been at our side as a close partner during these challenging times. With the new order from Airbus, we are now particularly pleased to be able to create new jobs and thus sustainably strengthen the region.”
The Airbus A220 aircraft also impress with state-of-the-art technology, and are the most efficient in their class thanks to low operating costs and noise emissions. The new order for this successful aircraft family positions FACC as an important long-term technology partner to Airbus and supports the company’s growth strategy for the future.
With this new order, FACC is further expanding its close cooperation with Airbus in the Aerostructures segment, and thus consolidating its strong position in the aviation industry in the long term. FACC is the sole supplier for the A220 rudder and elevator. The first components will be delivered in early 2022. With its consistent growth strategy and clear commitment to top performance, the aerospace group is breaking new ground together with its partners and is already working today on the innovations of tomorrow – to make international airspace not only safer and more efficient, but also more environmentally friendly and sustainable.
A220 empennage components as primary structures for Airbus
The project comprises the manufacture and assembly of the rudders and elevators, and represents another milestone for FACC in its partnership with Airbus. “Technological leadership as well as the move towards more complex aircraft structures is a central topic in the aircraft industry, and we have been working on this intensively for years. FACC has achieved an internationally leading role as a result of vigorous research and development work,” says Machtlinger. “This is certainly one of the main reasons why Airbus now uses FACC’s know-how for the empennage components of the A220.”
The elevators and rudders serve to control and stabilize the aircraft in the air, and therefore play a central role in the flight operations of the Airbus A220. The technical requirements for the production of the primary structural elements are naturally demanding and complex: with a length of 6.4 meters and a width of 1.9 meters, the production of the rudder, for instance, not only requires the utmost precision, but also high-level logistical management. A sophisticated manufacturing concept and the in-house production of the metal components at FACC by means of a highly efficient automated 5-axis CNC milling machine will ensure compliance with the high technical requirements.
