ADDING MULTIMEDIA GE and AVIC Joint Venture Creates New Global Business Opportunities

New Company Targets Future Commercial Aircraft Programs
BEIJING--(Business Wire)--
GE Aviation of the United States and AVIC Systems of China today announced
agreement on forming a new joint venture company to develop and market
integrated avionics systems for commercial aircraft customers. The announcement
was made as part of "GE's Clean Technology Week in China" activities.

Jeff Immelt, Chairman and CEO of GE and Lin Zuoming, president of AVIC, signed a
framework agreement for open architecture avionics. Definitive documentation is
being put in place with the goal of launching a new JV company by mid-2010,
subject to receiving all required regulatory approvals.

"GE has a fabulous history of forming global partnerships that create new global
business opportunities," said Immelt. "This builds on one of GE`s great
strengths. The new company combines GE and AVIC capabilities to develop
commercial integrated systems to meet aviation`s growing demands. We will
utilize the best civil aviation technology, manufacturing capabilities, and
management practices to create a globally competitive company."

The new avionics company, to be headquartered in China, will offer fully
integrated, open architecture avionics and services for future commercial
aircraft programs. GE will build on its extensive avionics capabilities and its
China Technology Center in Shanghai to create a technology center of excellence
to serve the commercial aviation market.

"The joint venture and cooperation will offer customers highly competitive
solutions that will benefit from the expertise of two industry leaders," said
Lin. "AVIC and GE will work together to build on the most advanced open
architecture avionics in the world for the commercial aviation industry. The
joint team will create a competitive company with a global strategy to benefit
China and the United States."

"The joint venture creates approximately 200 jobs in the U.S., in addition to
creating bilateral industrial cooperation with China," said Lorraine Bolsinger,
president and CEO for GE`s Aviation Systems business. "Our immediate focus is to
jointly bid the best, competitive solutions to compete for the COMAC C919
narrow-body aircraft program. This includes an open architecture Integrated
Modular Avionics (IMA) platform."

"Aviation is a national priority in China to everyone`s benefit. The joint
venture creates a major integrated supplier to airframers worldwide," continued
Bolsinger. "Our participation helps the U.S. to grow high-tech jobs and
capabilities, while serving the aviation market with the latest technology. This
is an exciting opportunity for global careers in commercial avionics."

GE Aviation brings an extraordinary history, experience and knowledge to the
joint company, with more than five decades of avionics and integration
experience.

Zhang Xinguo, AVIC vice president, said: "AVIC and GE have been actively
responding to the requests for C919 key systems by COMAC. We are building a
long-term partnership through the joint venture and will provide C919 with
advanced technologies and products of avionics systems. The joint venture is
based in China but will target the U.S. and the global market as we work
together to achieve mutual benefits and win-win."

To learn more about GE news in China, visit http://www.ge.com/chinanews.

Listen to Lorraine Bolsinger's podcast regarding the announcement:
http://files.gecompany.com/gecom/news/chinanews/lorraine-bolsinger.mp3

AVIC has more than 20 years of experience providing integrated avionics systems
for various types of aircraft. AVIC has rich experience in developing and
manufacturing these systems and providing maintenance service.
http://www.avic1.com.cn/english/englishIndex.asp

GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE:GE), is a world-leading provider of
jet engines, components and integrated systems for commercial and military
aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings.
www.ge.com/aviation

GE Aviation is a global company offering unrivaled opportunities for aspiring
executives, managers and engineers. To learn more about these opportunities,
visit www.geaviation.com/joinus/

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:
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GE Aviation
Geoff Li, 86 21 3877 3046
geoff.li@ge.com
Jennifer Villarreal, 1-616-241-8643 or 1-616-617-7755
jennifer.villarreal3@ge.com
Rick Kennedy, 1-513-243-3372 or 1-616-607-0609
rick.l.kennedy@ge.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009