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GE and COMAC Inaugurate the Second Wave of the Global Civil Aviation Talent Program

July 08, 2015

GE (including AVIAGE SYSTEMS, a 50/50 joint company between GE and AVIC) and Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) held a special ceremony in Beijing to celebrate the graduation of the first wave and the inauguration of the second wave of the jointly established Global Civil Aviation Talent Program (GCAT). The 12 graduates of the first wave will return to their former companies.

The GCAT program will continue to provide a two-year leadership and technical training for the second wave of 16 participants from GE, COMAC and AVIAGE SYSTEMS. This joint program aims to enhance the development of high potential technical aviation talent and support China’s growing commercial civil aviation efforts. The collaboration with COMAC on talent development is a manifestation of GE China’s strategy of “In China, for the World”.

Global civil aviation is developing rapidly in recent years. According to an ICAO forecast, the global aviation transportation volume will grow by 4.6% annually, while the volume in Asia Pacific will lead the regions with 6.2% annual growth. Therefore, there will be a stronger demand for versatile talent who possess a global vision. The aviation industry has a high density of technology and talent. However, the Chinese civil aviation has been in the early development stage. The long cycle and high requirement to develop talent with versatile skillsets have caused an imbalance between demand and availability.

The GCAT program was jointly launched by GE and COMAC in 2013 with goals to enhance collaboration with partner businesses; to cultivate and build expertise for China’s commercial aviation initiative; to create a collaborative culture with best practices sharing between the partners; and to jointly advance the civil aviation technical and leadership skillset. The two-year GCAT program incorporates annual seminars and three rotations in the partner businesses with technical assignments, technical and leadership training and mentoring by GE, COMAC and AVIAGE SYSTEMS. The curriculum focuses on mechanical engineering, avionics systems, software development and certification.

“The development of the future civil aviation not only depends on the global collaboration in technology, but more importantly, the development of aviation talent with global mindset,” GE’s Chairman Jeff Immelt said. “Our collaboration with COMAC is a very good start. Through the GCAT program, we share the common technical platform and develop the leadership and technical talent inventory, which will have a significant impact in China and further improve the global civil aviation industry.”

“COMAC and GE have established long term strategic partnership, and have been collaborating closely on the ARJ21 and C919 programs,” said Chairman Jin Zhuanglong of COMAC. “The GCAT program is an innovative exploration in talent development and is a milestone program in the cooperation between the two companies. It will play an important role in promoting further and deeper collaboration, enhancing core competiveness and developing future high level technical talent pipelines.”

GE, COMAC and AVIAGE SYSTEMS have worked together for many years. COMAC and CFM International (CFM), a 50/50 joint company between GE and Snecma (SAFRAN Group), signed the Master Contract for the C919/LEAP Integrated Propulsion System (IPS) in 2011. As part of this contract, CFM will be the sole overseas supplier for an integrated propulsion system, and the LEAP-1C engine will be the sole Western powerplant for China’s first large commercial aircraft, C919, developed by COMAC. GE is also the engine supplier for COMAC’s ARJ21 regional jet.

AVIAGE SYSTEMS, the joint company between GE and Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has been selected by COMAC to provide avionics core processing systems, display systems, on-board maintenance systems, flight recording systems and avionics integration services to C919.

GE Aviation is an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), and a world-leading provider of jet engines, components, avionics, digital and integrated systems for commercial and military aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings.