Editing Safran Landing Systems (section)

==History==
The origins of the company dates back to the formation of a 50/50 joint venture between the France-based [[SNECMA|Messier]] and the United Kingdom-based [[Dowty Group]], then owned by [[TI Group]], in 1995.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/decisions/m368_en.pdf |title = Case No IV/M.368SNECMA / TI |publisher = [[European Commission]] |date = 17 January 1994}}</ref> That same year, the company announced its intentions to develop a universal landing gear platform that would be shared between multiple [[airliner]]s; the aim of such commonality was a 20-40% reduction in the cost of the landing gear to manufacturers and end customers.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/messier-dowty-plans-to-lower-cost-of-landing-gear-for-airbus/13632.article |title = Messier-Dowty plans to lower cost of landing gear for Airbus |publisher = Flight International |first = Andrew |last = Doyle |date = 22 November 1995}}</ref> According to Tony Edwards, the chief executive and chairman of the merged entity, while acknowledging the new entity had been experiencing some difficulties due to a lack of preparation, he regarded it as being: "a successful example of European integration that works".<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/dowty-shows-benefits-of-eurobonding/2770.article |title = Dowty shows benefits of Eurobonding |publisher = Flight Global |date = 15 June 1997}}</ref> During early 1998, Messier-Dowty was purchased outright from TI Group by the [[SNECMA]] group.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/snecma-lands-in-full-control-of-messier-dowty-as-ti-sells-out/18809.article |title=Snecma lands in full control of Messier-Dowty as TI sells out |publisher=[[Flight International]] |date=17 December 1997 |access-date=30 December 2019}}</ref>

During 1998, the company decided to invest $30 million in the creation of a new US subsidiary, known as ''A-Carb'', to produce [[Reinforced carbon–carbon|carbon brake]]s for both [[Airbus]] and [[Boeing]] airliners.<ref name = "flight droprig98"/> That same year, Messier-Dowty and ''Messier Bugatti'' teamed up to form a new SNECMA-held subsidiary, ''Messier Services'', which specialised in delivering the maintenance of both landing gear systems and brake units.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/messier-services/21938.article |title = Messier Services |publisher = Flight International |date = 15 July 1998}}</ref> During late 1998, Messier-Dowty announced that, to support future product development and testing efforts, it was planning to construct the world's largest landing gear drop test rig at its facility in [[Toulouse]], France.<ref name = "flight droprig98">{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/messier-dowty-plans-giant-drop-rig/23257.article |title = Messier-Dowty plans giant drop rig |publisher = Flight International |date = 16 September 1998}}</ref>

In 1999, Messier-Dowty announced plans to create a design office in [[Seattle]], [[United States|America]], as part of an effort to work closely with [[Boeing]] on both its civil and military programmes.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/seattle-landing/26932.article |title = Seattle landing |publisher = Flight International |date = 16 June 1999}}</ref> That same year, it was announced that a new manufacturing facility would be established in [[Singapore]] as a joint venture between [[Singapore Aerospace Manufacturing]] and Messier-Dowty.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/singapore-site-for-new-gear-jv/29459.article |title = Singapore site for new gear JV |publisher = Flight International |date = 17 September 1999}}</ref> In June 2001, Messier-Dowty was awarded a $2.9 million contract for research into the field of low-noise landing gear; this deal was a part of the ''SILENCE(R)'' initiative, a four-year European effort launched to improve the environmental qualities of commercial aircraft.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/hush-please-messier-dowty-quest-for-quieter-landing-gear-/37947.article |title = Hush please! Messier-Dowty quest for quieter landing gear |publisher = Flight International |first = Geoff |last = Thomas |date = 18 June 2001}}</ref> During 2002, the company opened the world's largest landing gear test centre in [[Gloucester]], England.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/new-messier-dowty-test-centre-is-world-beater-/43823.article |title = New Messier-Dowty test centre is world-beater |publisher = Flight International |date = 22 July 2002}}</ref>

In February 2004, Messier-Dowty officially opened its new Chinese production facility in the city of [[Suzhou]]; it was the first Chinese operation to be wholly owned by a SNECMA company.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/messier-dowty-sets-up-shop-in-china/53799.article |title = Messier-Dowty sets up shop in China |publisher = Flight International |date = 25 February 2004}}</ref> Around this period, the company won several key bids; in February, it secured a deal to provide the main landing gear for the [[Airbus A400M]]; in March, it was appointed to supply both the main and nose gear of the [[Boeing 787]], as well as the integrated landing gear of the [[Sukhoi Superjet 100]] in October 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/messier-dowty-gets-into-top-gear/55700.article |title = Messier-Dowty gets into top gear |publisher = Flight International |date = 20 July 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/messier-dowty-secures-rrj-landing-gear/51283.article |title = Messier-Dowty secures RRJ landing gear |publisher = Flight International |date = 4 November 2003}}</ref> In 2010, Messier-Dowty became the first company in the world to incorporate [[composite material|composite]] braces onto the main landing gear of a commercial aircraft, this being the Boeing 787.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/farnborough-first-composite-landing/95008.article |title = Farnborough: First composite landing |publisher = Flight International |first = Alan |last = Peaford |date = 23 July 2010}}</ref>

The 2005 merger of [[SAGEM]] and SNECMA made Messier-Dowty part of the new ''Safran'' company.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/obituary-jean-paul-bechat-the-industrialist-who-steered-the-safran-merger/115283.article |title = Obituary: Jean-Paul Bechat, the industrialist who steered the Safran merger |publisher = Flight International |first = Murdo |last = Morrison |date = 3 December 2014}}</ref> During December 2007, [[Airbus]] announced that ''Messier-Dowty'' had been confirmed as the supplier for the main landing gear of the upcoming [[Airbus A350 XWB]]; under this arrangement, it was responsible for the design, development, qualification testing, manufacturing and in-service support of the main gear.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/messier-dowty-lands-gear-contract-for-airbus-a350xwb/77835.article |title = Messier-Dowty lands gear contract for Airbus A350XWB |publisher = Flight International |date = 14 December 2007}}</ref> In the following year, the firm invested around C$2 million in the introduction of robotic surface finishing of its landing gear outer fittings at its plant in [[Mirabel, Quebec]], [[Canada]].<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/messier-dowty-to-adopt-robot-surface-finishing-for-landing-gear/80894.article |title = Messier Dowty to adopt robot surface finishing for landing gear |publisher = Flight International |first = Rob |last = Coppinger |date = 10 June 2008}}</ref>

In March 2010, Messier-Dowty opened a new undercarriage components factory in [[Querétaro]], [[Mexico]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/safran-mexico-idINN1718361120100317?pageNumber=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306111334/http://in.reuters.com/article/safran-mexico-idINN1718361120100317?pageNumber=1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 6, 2016 |title=Mexico eyes aerospace growth as Safran opens plants |access-date=18 March 2010 |publisher=[[Reuters]] |date=24 September 2010}}</ref> The facility was part of a larger deal between Safran and the local Mexican government; expansion into the production of increasingly advanced components was seen at the time as being highly likely.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/safran-looks-to-further-expand-mexican-operation/85609.article |title = Safran looks to further expand Mexican operation |publisher = Flight International |first = Rob |last = Coppinger |date = 10 June 2008}}</ref>

In May 2011, ''Messier-Bugatti-Dowty'' was formed through the merger of three Safran subsidiaries: Messier-Dowty, Messier-Bugatti and Messier Services.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.safranmbd.com/spip.php?rubrique25&lang=en|title=About the merger |access-date=24 February 2012 |publisher=Messier-Bugatti-Dowty |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120908140518/http://www.safranmbd.com/spip.php?rubrique25&lang=en |archive-date=8 September 2012}}</ref> During 2014, the firm became the sole owner of French joint-venture maintenance company ''Hydrep'' after acquiring the other 50% share formerly held by [[Sabena Technics]].<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/messier-bugatti-dowty-to-take-over-mro-venture-hydrep/114050.article |title = Messier-Bugatti-Dowty to take over MRO venture Hydrep |publisher = Flight International |date = 29 July 2014}}</ref> In May 2016, Messier-Bugatti-Dowty became ''Safran Landing Systems''.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.safran-landing-systems.com/media/20160519_messier-bugatti-dowty-becomes-safran-landing-systems |title = Messier-Bugatti-Dowty becomes Safran Landing Systems |publisher = Safran Landing Systems |date = 19 May 2016}}</ref>