The state-run Aerospace Industrial Development Corp (AIDC) four years ago won the contract to extend the life of the air force's AT-3 jet trainer but only last year got up to speed in refurbishing the planes, according to the latest issue of an internal publication of the AIDC.
The AIDC overcame a variety of technical and management problems last year to reach for the first time the annual target set for the AT-3 life extension program, next month's edition of the AIDC Monthly says.
The company overhauled 20 AT-3 planes last year, the highest since winning the contract from the air force four years ago.
The AT-3 is the air force's main jet trainer. It was developed by the predecessor of the AIDC, the Aerospace Industrial Development Center, also known as AIDC, in the early 1980s. A total of 65 of the aircraft were built for the air force.
The AT-3 life extension program began in 2000, when the company started working on two AT-3s on an experimental basis.
The experiment took two years, and the first two overhauled AT-3s were not delivered to the air force until the middle of 2002.
The prolonged experimental phase of the project caused the company to fail to reach the goal it set for 2002 of overhauling 7 AT-3s.
The effect of the work delay was felt strongly the next year. Last year the center should have delivered 14 overhauled AT-3s to the air force, but because six had not been completed from the previous year, in that year it had to finish a record number of overhauls.
The task was initially considered to be a "mission impossible" by the air force because the company had to overcome all sorts of technical and management problems to reach the goal, the AIDC Monthly says.
The problems that it encountered and overcame during the process were mainly technical ones, including lack of experience and shortage of equipment.
After completing the "mission impossible," the company now has the confidence to say it will be able to wind up the AT-3 life extension program in 2006 on schedule.
By 2006, a total of 51 AT-3s will have been overhauled and will stay in service until 2017.
Although overhauls will allow the AT-3s to fly for another 10 years, it is urgent for the air force to start planning for the construction or purchase of the next-generation jet trainer, a senior AIDC official said.
"The next-generation jet trainer, called for the moment AT-5, might be based on a blueprint bought from abroad. The whole project is still in the concept stage," the official said.
"Through the AT-5 project, the AIDC hopes to move from an OEM [original equipment maker] role to the OED [original equipment design] role, which will offer more competitive edge in the international market," he said.
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