Rockwell Collins, an avionics and communications company, signed a joint venture agreement with Beijing Bluesky Aviation Technology Co Ltd on Wednesday, Jan 15.

The joint venture, to design, manufacture and market commercial flight simulators, will be located in the Airport Economic Area in the northern port city of Tianjin with a first phase investment of 50 million U.S. dollars, according to an official with the economic area.

Products offered by the joint venture, including simulators of the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, will serve Chinese airlines and flight training institutions.

The joint venture is expected to be operational by the end of 2014. It will mainly cater for the Chinese market at the initial stage and tap the global simulator and flight training market in the future, according to the official.

China has become the largest simulator market in the world with the rapid development of its aircraft fleet. The market has long been monopolized by foreign companies.

Beijing Bluesky Aviation Technology Co Ltd is a subsidiary of Aviation Industry Corporation of China, a state-owned aerospace and defense company.