General Electric/Thomson CSF/JV - Civil flight simulator training
Background
Creation of a joint venture between General Electric and Thomson CSF in the field of civil flight simulator training. The joint venture will carry on the civil flight simulator training activities currently provided by GECAT, a subsidiary of the General Electric, and ORBIT, a subsidiary of Thomson.
Assessment
The Commission stated that civil flight simulator training is a distinct product market from real flight training carried out in aircraft during flight. In the view of the parties’ market shares, the Commission concluded that there is no risk of creation or strengthening of a dominant position. Moreover, even if Thomson is a manufacturer of flight simulators, in the Commission’s view the vertical relationship between Thomson and the joint venture does not give rise to foreclosure effects on the market for flight simulator training. (Case n° COMP/M.1786, Decision of 02/02/00).
