| Type | Defence and Advanced Technology |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace, defence, and telecommunications |
| Founded | 1975 |
| Founder(s) | Greek State |
| Headquarters | Tanagra, Greece |
| Products | Aircraft Projects, Aviation Upgrades, Defence Systems |
| Net income | €236,1 million (2003 est.) |
| Website | [1] |
Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI, Greek: Ελληνική Αεροπορική Βιομηχανία or ΕΑΒ) is the leading aerospace company of Greece. The company has undertaken over the years a great deal of subcontracting work with major International Aerospace companies (including Boeing, Airbus, Alenia, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, EADS and many others) and has accomplished many original developments in military electronics, telecommunications equipment, night vision equipment, wind generators and composite material technology.
Original designs include a number of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (the Pegasus model), first flown in 1982 and currently in service with the Greek Air Force.
HAI is located 65 kilometers north-west of Athens, with facilities covering an area of 200,000 sq.m.
Its industrial capability is organized by production centers geared to deliver high technology services and products in a wide range of activities, that include:
HAI's Quality System is certified by BVQI, ISO 9001:2000, ISO 9001:1994 and TickIT Guide and EN/AS 9100. The company applies Total Quality Management and Six Sigma (6σ) methodology. In addition, HAI has been inspected, verified and accepted by nearly every major manufacturer in the sector of Aerospace Industries.
HAI has been approved and certified by the HCAA (Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority) as a repair center to provide services for Civil aircraft components and engines in compliance to JAR-145 requirements and by major engine manufacturers for the repair and overhaul of engines, such as T53 by Honeywell Aerospace, T56 / 501D by Rolls-Royce and ATAR K-50 by Snecma Moteurs.
Furthermore, it has been approved and certified as a maintenance center for the C-130 aircraft by Lockheed Aeronautics, King Air aircraft by Raytheon and P-3 aircraft by the Hellenic Navy.
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HAI was founded by the Greek State in 1975 to undertake all aircraft-related construction activity, so that the historic KEA factory would concentrate on maintenance work. A huge factory was built in Tanagra, 65 km north of Athens eventually employing thousands.
In 1979 started the development of the E1-79 Pegasus, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), in collaboration with KETA (Hellenic Air Force Research & Development Center) and its first flight was made in 1982. By 2003 it was already operational, being upgraded in 2005 to Pegasus II level.
Other similar projects by HAI include the TELAMON, a very advanced, jet-powered UAV, jointly developed with Northrop, based on the latter's Chuckar III UAV. It was introduced in 1986 but the project did not proceed, considered too expensive for the Greek Air Force requirements.
In 1990, HAI developed in collaboration with DASA of Germany, Alenia of Italy and Per Udsen of Denmark the "Advanced Amphibious Aircraft" (AAA) which, however, was not produced. Other developments that were not completed mostly for financial reasons at the time, include a trainer for the Greek Air Force of own design and many joint projects.
In 1996, HAI entered the "F-16 Fighting Falcon" co-production program with Lockheed Martin and since 2000 the "Next Generation Fighter" (construction of the rear fuselage, tail pipe and integration bench) and the "Eurotrainer" development and co-production programs with Dassault Aviation, EADS, Saab, RUAG and Alenia.
In January 2006, HAI signed a "Memorandum of Understanding" with Aermacchi for the "M-346 Advanced Trainer" co-production project.[1]
In March 2007, HAI joined EADS in the "Eurofighter" project, undertaking the construction of a composite fuselage part (Vary Cowl) for the Typhoon. On the 29th of the same month, HAI signed a Momerandum of Understanding with the Russian Aerospace Industry IRCUT, for the co-production of the Russian firefighting aircraft Beriev Be-200 if it is to be chosen by the Hellenic Air Force in the near future.
In April 2007, HAI signed an agreement with the United States Air Force for the structural and electronic upgrade (C.C.I.P.) of all US F-16 fighters that harbor in Europe, in its facilities in Greece. This agreement concerns approximately 100 aircraft of the US Air Force. The program begun in November 2007 and the first upgraded US fighter was delivered to the US Air Force in March 2008.
Since 2005 HAI has been actively involved in the design and construction of part of the new Boeing Dreamliner 787 and specifically the CDS (Cargo Door Surround) of this new airliner. The aircraft is the first environmentally friendly aircraft to be exclusively constructed by composite material. HAI looks forward to be the exclusive supplier of the CDS worldwide and construction will begin in the mid 2008. HAI is also involved in the design and construction, using composite material, of the prototype part of the internal force structure of the wing of the new AIRBUS A380 (TANGO project).
The Aircraft Maintenance Facilities cover a wide range of military & civil fixed and rotary wing aircraft. All aircraft accessories, components and avionics are covered. Services include depot level maintenance, major electromechanical, pneumatic and electronic systems, modification/upgrade programs on aircraft and avionics systems, structural reworks, aircraft painting and corrosion control. In addition the facilities can undertake crash damage repair for a large number of aircraft types.
With regard to Civil Aviation aircraft, HAI provide technical support on "A" and "B" level checks and is presently in the process of increasing this capability to "C" and "D" checks. HAI's Aircraft & Accessories maintenance capabilities cover a large number of aircraft types, such as:
The Engine Maintenance Facilities cover an area of 16,000 sq.m which house 18 production shops capable of providing repair, overhaul, modification and testing to a wide range of aircraft turbofan, turbojet, turboshaft, turboprop and reciprocating engines. The Engine Maintenance Business Unit is an authorized service center to provide maintenance support to third parties for:
The Engines Maintenance Business Unit performs activities on:
The Electronics Facilities are housed in a 16,000 sq. m. building and include four major activity areas :
The Aerostructures Manufacturing Business Unit is housed in a building covering an area of 29,000 sq.m. and existing manufacturing equipment capabilities cover the following production range:
Product Manufacturing capabilities include,
HAI's Research and Development projects are listed bellow:
Lockheed Martin has provided valuable assistance both in terms of workload and new technology through the F-16 co-production program and has also invested on HAI’s aerostructures facility expansion to accommodate growth of this program. Lockheed Martin and HAI are currently exploring the possibility to establish HAI as a Single Source supplier for a number of F-16 fighter aircraft structural subassemblies.
HAI and Pratt & Whitney have established a Joint Venture titled "1st Source Aeroengines Services". The mission of this new company will be the MRO of a number of controls and accessories on a variety of commercial and military engines operating worldwide.
HAI operates as one of the world’s six T56 Engine Authorized Maintenance Centers (AMC’s) under certification by Rolls-Royce and is also certified as AMC for the C-130 aircraft by Lockheed Martin, for the M53 engine by SNECMA and the T53 engine by Honeywell.
HAI is also a strategical partner with Airbus, Dassault Aviation, EADS, Raytheon, Boeing, SNECMA, Aermacchi and General Electric.
Finally, HAI is a partner to the Hellas Sat Consortium S.A. and is participating in a number of European Consortia for the co-production and development of weapon systems, such as IRIS-T, STINGER, ESSM, and the Integrated Eurotraining System (ITS).
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