Are Chinese aviation tires facing the risk of "neck sticking"?

Tech 2023-07-01 08:46:55 Source: Network

Reporter from our newspaper, Zhao Juehuan, Liu YupengAs Western sanctions against Russia become increasingly severe, Russian media recently reported that the supply of Russian aircraft tires cannot be guaranteed and forced to reduce the frequency of aircraft takeoff and landing. Industry insiders remind that similar risks are also worth being vigilant about in China's civil aviation industry

Reporter from our newspaper, Zhao Juehuan, Liu Yupeng

As Western sanctions against Russia become increasingly severe, Russian media recently reported that the supply of Russian aircraft tires cannot be guaranteed and forced to reduce the frequency of aircraft takeoff and landing. Industry insiders remind that similar risks are also worth being vigilant about in China's civil aviation industry. At present, in the domestic civil and General aviation industry, aviation tires are mainly monopolized by French Michelin, Japanese Bridgestone and American Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. On June 18, Pirelli, an Italian tire company, said that the Italian government had deprived the company's largest shareholder, Sinochem, of the right to appoint a CEO, raising the debate about whether the Chinese tire industry was constrained by political factors.

Russia's Izvestia reported earlier that some of the world's major tire manufacturers announced the suspension of business in Russia. French Michelin Corporation stated that due to difficulties in supplying raw materials and semi-finished products, disruptions in capital flow, and operational restrictions caused by exchange rate fluctuations, the company has suspended operations at its production base in Russia. At the same time, Bridgestone's factory in Ulyanovsk was also suspended. The German Continental Tire Company has also announced a suspension of its business in Russia. Russian experts point out that due to the withdrawal of these companies, there is a shortage of tires in Russia.

A former procurement engineer from a domestic airline told Global Times reporters that aircraft tires are a mandatory inspection item for maintenance during every takeoff and landing. The replacement of tires is not regular and depends on the degree of wear. Once the tire "meets the line", which means exposing the inner fabric layer of the tire, it needs to be replaced. Some airlines may have stricter standards, requiring tire grooves to be replaced when worn. In addition, if the maintenance believes that the tires have been severely worn and affect flight safety, they will also be replaced.

The above person stated that the lifespan of tires is related to various factors, such as model, weather, and the wear and tear of the front and rear wheels. Generally speaking, a set of tires can withstand hundreds of ups and downs, and can last for several months to six months, but some may not last that long. However, after changing the tire, it is usually repaired, repaired, and reused. At present, the tire maintenance capabilities in China are very mature.

Global Times reporters interviewed domestic tire industry professionals and learned that there are already domestic enterprises that can provide aircraft tires. But whether the airline purchases or not depends on whether these tires are included in the authorization list of aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus. Unauthorized aircraft materials are not airworthy. The person believes that compared to equipment such as engines, landing gears, and auxiliary power devices, tires are "not particularly core" in the components of civil aircraft.

Industry insiders told Global Times reporters that although both are tires, aircraft tires and car tires are completely different. Aircraft tires have much higher wear resistance, resistance to high and low temperatures, and resistance to pressure differences between inside and outside the tires than automotive tires. In addition, due to the buffering effect of aircraft tires during landing, there are high requirements for impact resistance. The person stated that tires from a parts factory need to undergo a validation cycle of 5 to 10 years or even longer to enter the aircraft manufacturing supply chain. The core technology of the aviation tire industry has long been in the hands of a few large foreign companies, with only over ten global aviation tire production enterprises.

The key point in building the aviation tire industry chain is the need for domestic aircraft platforms. Yan Zhenyu, CEO of Aviation Industry Network, analyzed to Global Times reporters that China can achieve self-sufficiency in military aviation tires, so technically speaking, Chinese enterprises have the ability to independently manufacture aviation tires. But the supply chain of civil aviation aircraft is an industrial issue that needs to be based on commercial logic. Michelin, Bridgestone and other international tire giants have formed a stable industrial chain with Boeing and Airbus. Therefore, in order to build an independent civil aircraft industry chain, it is necessary to first establish one's own large aircraft platform in order to attract companies that produce various subsystems. The Chinese commercial aviation industry chain has overcome the problems of passenger aircraft brake pads and some antenna technologies. In this field, China's manufacturing level has been improving

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