Czech aerospace manufacturer Aero Vodochody announced that it has strengthened its partnership with Airbus, completing its 600th set of wing leading edges for the A220 programme and advancing to Tier 1 supplier status within Airbus's supply chain. Aero has built leading edges for the A220 since 2013, meaning components manufactured at its Vodochody site, near Prague, now fly on more than 600 aircraft worldwide.

The move to Tier 1 status followed Airbus's acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems' A220 operations, which gave Aero a direct supply relationship with Airbus, including access to its procurement system for raw materials and a stronger platform to bid for further Airbus work. Aero also obtained new technical qualifications to repair composite A220 parts, after its specialists completed Airbus-led training combining classroom and hands-on instruction at Airbus's Belfast site, a capability that now allows Aero to carry out local composite repairs rather than referring work back to Belfast. 

The Belfast link is notable for UK industry: Airbus's Belfast site is one of the UK's most significant aerospace facilities, and Aero's direct relationship with it, now reinforced by Tier 1 status, places Czech composite manufacturing and repair capability inside the same Airbus production network as UK wing-build operations. For UK aerospace primes and Tier 2/3 suppliers managing capacity constraints across the Airbus supply chain, Aero Vodochody's track record, fresh certifications and elevated supplier status make it a credible partner for risk-sharing, overflow production or composite repair work as Airbus continues to ramp up A220 output. 

This again demonstrates Czech Republic's maturity in the aerospace sector, built upon a long tradition of building complete aircrafts as well as supplying key parts to leading manufacturers across the globe.

Source: Aero Vodochody 

Prepared by the CzechTrade United Kingdom & Ireland office.