Airbus, AVIC deal paves way to lighter aircraft

Airbus Beijing Engineering Center Ltd and AVIC Composite Corp Ltd signed a cooperation agreement on Tuesday, and the two will jointly conduct research and development on electrically conductive composite materials for application on aircraft.

Currently, the new generation of materials is not applied in any aircraft manufacturing globally. Composite materials are light and with high performance, but they do not perform well in terms of conductivity. With good conductivity, they can bring major changes to the fuselage.

This kind of new composite material is expected to have a significant potential. It would help to reduce the weight of aircraft, protect against lightning and icing, and facilitate maintenance. If developed successfully, it will also help to reduce environmental pollution and extend the life span of aircraft, according to European aircraft manufacturer Airbus SE.