The First Aircraft Institute of AVIC-I Chooses PLM Solutions from IBM and Dassault Systèmes for Regional Jet Program

Chinese aircraft developer cites earlier success using PLM solutions as reason for choice of CATIA® V5 and ENOVIA™ to design new commercial jets

Beijing, China and Paris, France - October 10, 2003 - IBM and Dassault Systèmes (Nasdaq: DASTY; Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) today announced that The First Aircraft Institute of AVIC-I (FAI), a leading Chinese aircraft research institute, has selected their Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions to develop China’s Advanced Regional Jet Program, ARJ21.

IBM PLM Solutions, with CATIA® V5 for collaborative product design and digital mock-up creation, and ENOVIAVPM™ for product data and process management, both developed by Dassault Systèmes, will enable the institute’s engineering teams to share data and work in a common 3D development environment across its multi-site operations. FAI’s adoption of the PLM solutions will help the institute optimize aircraft quality and performance, and reduce development costs and time to market.

The ARJ21 is China’s new regional commercial jet based on advanced international standards. It will carry 78 to 85 passengers and be available in 2007. The ARJ21 program addresses China’s growing need for air transportation. IBM and Dassault Systèmes will support FAI to address this market requirement and position the company in the global regional aircraft market.

The First Aircraft Institute of AVIC-I is responsible for research and development for the ARJ21 program. It was created through the merger of the Xi’an and Shanghai Aircraft Design and Research Institutes. FAI is engaged in development of medium and large aircrafts.

“The ability of our engineers at the Xian and Shanghai facilities to share data and collaborate on the ARJ21 is of critical importance to us,” said Huang Qiang, president of FAI. “CATIA V5, ENOVIAVPM and ENOVIA Portal enable the multi-site collaboration we required and have dramatically improved our design and research efficiency.”

“FAI is making world-class aviation advancements with its PLM solutions from IBM and Dassault Systèmes,” said Wu Jie Qin, the vice chief engineer for IT in FAI. “FAI developed the first full-scale digital mock up and virtual model of an entire aircraft in China using CATIA V5 and ENOVIAVPM.”

Gary Kuo, Executive, Industrial Sector, IBM Greater China Group, said, “As we celebrate the 100th year of manned flight, IBM also celebrates over 60 years of involvement in the development of commercial aircraft. IBM technology supported the launch of the first commercial jet airliner and IBM PLM solutions are at the core of virtually all the world’s major new aircraft programs. Today’s announcement further demonstrates our will to accompany aircraft manufacturers in their quest to build better aircrafts. The First Aircraft Institute has assembled a group of manufacturers to develop a strategic regional jet program and will rely on the collaborative solutions of IBM PLM to enable them to realize this ambitious project. We are honored to support FAI in its endeavor to become an even more competitive and profitable global player in the mid-size jet market.”

"Dassault Systèmes has enjoyed a successful relationship with AVIC-I for the past 20 years based on trust, friendship, and excellence,” said Francis Bernard, executive committee advisor, Dassault Systèmes. “We are proud that FAI has decided to extend this relationship by selecting our solutions for the ARJ21 program. We are committed to the success of the project and to helping Chinese aviation industry to take its place on the international stage with highly sophisticated, competitive products."