China Civil Aviation Industry, Technology, Infrastructure: News & Discussions

Beast · Sep 5, 2016

TaiShang said:
China’s aero-engine development industry sets lofty goals for next decade
By Kou Jie
September 05, 2016
People's Daily

[File photo]

After 60 years of development, China has established a relatively comprehensive research and development system for aero-engines, with about 90 percent of the country’s operational aircraft utilizing domestic engines at present, according to an expert.

“In the process of industrialization, China has established an independent sector for aero-engines. The performance of domestically produced imitational engines reached a remarkably high level in the 70s, and around 90 percent of China’s main operational aircraft are using domestic engines now,” said senior colonel Wu Guohui, who is also an associate professor at the PLA National Defense University, in an interview with the Beijing Times.

Currently, most of China’s fighter planes, attack aircraft, bombers and fighter-bombers feature domestic engines; only a small number of third-generation jet fighters are still using foreign engines, according to the newspaper.

Nevertheless, Wu explained, “Compared to the U.S., Europe and Russia, China still lags behind in the area of engines, as the country’s development and mode of management for engines are relatively outdated.”

China has historically relied heavily on foreign technologies when it comes to aero-engines. According to a CNN report in August, engines have accounted for 30 percent of all of China’s imports over the past four years.

This sobering reality made the domestic development and production of engines a major goal in China’s most recent five-year development plan. President Xi Jinping called for the acceleration of independent research, development and manufacturing of aircraft engines in order to make China a genuine aviation power. Xi’s remarks came on the heels of the establishment of the Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) on Aug. 28 in Beijing, Xinhua reported.

The founding of AECC will accelerate China’s development of new engines. According to Wu, it is possible that China will meet the current standards of international engine development within five to 10 years; however, a large-scale improvement is necessary in order to catch up with countries like the U.S.

There is a reason why this new corps employ 96000 people for work. Many people dont realise China produces large number of engines even its clone for its own usage. Its boasting domestic market and benefit within the country rather than exporting the money. What China aviation lack will be engines for civilian export and domestic use market.

ahojunk · Sep 7, 2016

Beast said:
There is a reason why this new corps employ 96000 people for work. Many people dont realise China produces large number of engines even its clone for its own usage. Its boasting domestic market and benefit within the country rather than exporting the money. What China aviation lack will be engines for civilian export and domestic use market.

The new company Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) has a staggering number of 96,000 staff.

Assuming that 20% of them are in R&D, that means they have 19,200 researchers/scientists. With this number of resources, I expect to see major development in China's aircraft engines.

If they need more money, they have plenty of that too!

Damn, it's getting more difficult to compete with China.

TaiShang · Sep 7, 2016

Learning to Fly: China Rolls Out Project to Create Its Own Aircraft Engines
07.09.2016

China has announced an ambitious plan to create its own world-class aircraft engines, in a bid to wean itself off foreign suppliers, according to the Russian newspaper Vzglyad.

In an attempt to overcome its dependence on foreign suppliers, China has launched a project to produce its own aircraft engines, the Russian newspaper Vzglyad reported.

The newspaper referred to the recent establishment of the Aero-Engine Corporation of China, a crucial step, given that all of the country's aircraft engines had previously been developed and built by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China.

"We will try to find a path along which we can innovate independently in conducting fundamental research, making key technological breakthroughs and produce strategic aircraft engines," Liu Tingyi, President of the Chinese Aeronautical Establishment, was quoted by Chinese state media as saying. Establishing a new company was a "strategic move" which will help turn China into an aviation power, according to the country's President Xi Jinping.

He called for accelerating the research, development and manufacturing of aircraft engines and gas turbines to help China build a strong aviation industry.

In this context, Vzglyad cited the website defense-aerospace.com as saying that "despite China having made tremendous achievements in science, technology and industrial manufacturing, aircraft engines remain one of the few fields in which the country still lags largely behind top players, especially the United States."

Under a plan under titled "it will be produced in China by 2025," the production of aircraft engines is one of the 10 industrial sectors that are of critical importance to the country, which is why the project will be fully supported by the government, according to Vzglyad. As for the Aero-Engine Corporation of China, it will reportedly have 50 billion yuan (7.5 billion dollars) in registered capital and 96,000 employees; the enterprise is due to focus on developing both military and commercial jet engines.

Even though China produces its own planes domestically, the country has struggled for decades to create its own jet engines which could be in line with international standards and boost China's military power.

According to RT, China's air force currently imports Russian-made engines, while the Chinese C9191 narrow-body commercial aircraft is powered by engines produced by a US-French joint venture, with engines for the ARJ21 airliner made by General Electric.

As far as the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force is concerned, most of its best aircraft, including the J-10 fighter jet and Y-20 transport plane, "rely heavily on engines imported from Russia, while the new-generation J-20 stealth fighter jet also used Russian-made engines for its test flight," the defense-aerospace.com recalled. Some experts, meanwhile, did not rule out that when creating its own engines, China may resort to using so-called reverse engineering method, when the country's specialists create drawings of dissembled parts of a foreign engine in order to start assembling it using Chinese plants.

Read more: https://sputniknews.com/asia/20160907/1045058818/china-development-aircraft-engines.html

TaiShang · Sep 14, 2016

China to be world's 1st trillion-dollar plane market: Boeing
Xinhua, September 14, 2016

China will become the world's first aviation market to exceed US$1 trillion in value in 20 years, U.S. airplane giant Boeing forecast Tuesday.

It projected a demand for 6,810 new airplanes in the country over the next two decades, estimating the total value of the new aircraft at US$1.025 trillion.

"As China transitions to a more consumer-based economy, aviation will play a key role in its economic development," Randy Tinseth, vice president of marketing with Boeing Commercial Airplanes, was quoted as saying in a company statement.

With travel and transportation becoming key services, passenger traffic is expected to grow 6.4 percent annually in China over the coming 20 years, he said.

China will need 5,110 new single-aisle airplanes through 2035, accounting for 75 percent of the total new deliveries, according to the statement.

Driven by China's growing e-commerce business, air cargo is expected to become a key driver for the continuous growth of aviation in the country, with a need for 180 new freighters and 410 converted freighters in the future, said the statement.

Globally, Boeing predicted investment of US$5.9 trillion for 39,620 new commercial airplanes to be delivered during the next 20 years, with China accounting for 17 percent of the total in both value and number.

***

Local manufacturers need to race against time and seize a sizable portion from this booming industry before it matures.

ahojunk · Sep 15, 2016

Boeing also sources some parts in Japan, Australia and Europe.

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China manufacturer delivers components for new Boeing airplanes
(Xinhua) Updated: 2016-09-10 10:53

A Boeing 737 MAX sits outside the hangar during a media tour of the Boeing 737 MAX at the
Boeing plant in Renton, Washington in this December 8, 2015 file photo. [Photo/Agencies]

CHENGDU - Chengfei Commercial Aircraft Company (CCAC) has delivered a batch of key aircraft components on Friday: rudders made in Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province, for Boeing's new 737 MAX and 787-10 Dreamliner.

CCAC is a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the country's largest State-owned aircraft producer.

"Boeing is proud to join AVIC and CCAC to celebrate another exciting milestone in the growing relationship among our companies. The delivery of rudders is for not just one but two of Boeing's airplane development programs," said Ian Chang, Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice-president of supply management in China.

"We are proud to work with AVIC companies, including CCAC, to meet Boeing's requirements for high quality, affordability and on-time delivery while expanding China's aviation manufacturing capabilities."

The 737 MAX which is a more fuel-efficient version of the best-selling 737 family will be delivered to customers starting in 2017 while 787-10 Dreamliner, the largest member of the technologically advanced 787 family, will be delivered to customers starting in 2018.

Boeing is the largest international customer for China's aviation manufacturing industry. Chinese suppliers produce components and assemblies for all five Boeing Commercial Airplanes programs, and more than 9,000 Boeing aircraft are flying with components and parts made in China.

As a Boeing supplier, CCAC produces rudders for the entire 787 family, and the rudder and other components for the 737.

AVIC deputy general manager Geng Ruguang said that AVIC attaches great importance to its partnership with Boeing and will continue to improve innovation and research and development capabilities, enhance competitiveness, and deepen cooperation with Boeing to achieve mutual benefits and meet customer needs.

ahojunk · Sep 17, 2016

This is a temporary reduction in HK airport while the new system is being phased in.

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Big cuts: 2,500 Hong Kong flights to be axed in November to phase in new air traffic control system

Aviation regulator insists move is necessary to avoid overloading controllers and prevent new system from crashing

Danny Lee, SCMP
PUBLISHED : Friday, 16 September, 2016, 7:31am
UPDATED : Friday, 16 September, 2016, 2:44pm

The cost of switching from an out-of-date and unreliable air traffic control system to an over-budget and much delayed upgrade will see 2,500 flights to popular travel destinations (temporarily) axed.

Hong Kong’s aviation regulator announced 90 passenger flights a day would be temporarily halted to help air traffic controllers transition to the new technology, which will eventually see them handle many more flights.

Citing safety reasons to avoid overloading controllers and prevent the new system from crashing, airlines were ordered to reduce flying schedules from October 30 until November 26, as first revealed by the South China Morning Post in May.

The planned reduction of overall flights by 6.7 per cent is in reality around 8 per cent because cargo flights have been spared. Some 2,520 flights will be temporarily axed over this period.

Non-peak season

Cathay Pacific and its subsidiary, Dragonair, which operate a combined total of more than 450 daily flights and form Hong Kong’s biggest airline group, face the largest cut among carriers.

The transition period for the air traffic upgrade was chosen because November is the busiest month for cargo flights but a non-peak season for passenger operations.

Destinations across Asia such as Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei and Bangkok will be affected, as will San Francisco, London and Vancouver among other routes.

A Civil Aviation Department spokeswoman said: “The airlines concerned have committed that special arrangements will be made to meet market demand if necessary and they will make every effort to minimise the impact on travellers.”

‘Appeals for understanding’

Acting assistant director general of civil aviation Cheung Sau-tak insisted the flight reduction was standard practice for most authorities around the world. Cheung cited Britain and Dubai where flying schedules were reduced by 10-26 per cent for up to two months.

“We fully recognise the impact to the trade and the public arising from the slot adjustment, even though it is a short-term arrangement,” Cheung said. “The department highly appreciates the cooperation and support from the airlines and the industry in implementing this temporary arrangement and appeals for public understanding.”

It stressed the upgrade would bring long-term benefits on top of the planned third-runway system.

ahojunk · Sep 21, 2016

| Tue Sep 20, 2016 | 5:39am EDT
Lufthansa, Air China sign route joint venture deal

Planes of the Lufthansa airline stand on the tarmac in Frankfurt airport, Germany, March 17, 2016. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo

By Paul Carsten and Brenda Goh Reuters | BEIJING,

Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) has signed a route sharing deal with China's flagship carrier Air China (601111.SS)(0753.HK), capping off two years of talks that will boost Germany's biggest airline's access to the world's fastest growing aviation market.

The deal, which began with the signing of an accord in July 2014, will see the companies share revenue by allowing them to sell each other's tickets on some routes. It represents the closest agreement such carriers can enter short of a full-scale merger.

The German airline has sought closer ties with Air China to improve its position in the Chinese aviation market as European traffic slows and to stem competition from fast-growing Persian Gulf carriers on lucrative long-haul routes.

"It complements the group of joint ventures Lufthansa has around the world, and it was always our strategic goal to have a joint venture partner in the top five intercontinental markets, and today's joint venture completes that set," Lufthansa chief executive Carsten Spohr told reporters.

The deal, which will also include Lufthansa's units Austrian Airlines and Swiss Air, will initially cover routes from China to cities including Frankfurt, Vienna and Zurich and be eventually expanded to all routes between China and Europe operated by the two carriers.

It will start in the summer of 2017 and no cash investment was committed to the deal.

Lufthansa has in recent years built up a network of revenue-sharing agreements around the globe by striking similar deals with Singapore Airlines (SIAL.SI), United Airlines (UAL.N) and Japan's ANA Holdings (9202.T).

"There is infrastructure restrictions in China, especially when it comes to slots at the big, important airports in Shanghai and in Beijing and also when it comes to entry points on the Chinese border," Spohr said.

"Joining forces between Air China and Lufthansa will help us to optimize our schedules and, therefore, reduce those infrastructure restrictions which exist without disadvantaging the passengers."

The deal furthers cooperation between the two firms, which have been operating passenger flights under codeshare agreements since 2000 and are partners in the world's biggest airline alliance, Star Alliance. They also have an aircraft maintenance joint venture Ameco Beijing.

Air China's Chairman Cai Jianjiang said that the two firms would share revenues and risks and would endeavor to cooperate in other areas without elaborating.

Air China's domestic rivals have also been forging alliances with overseas peers. Last year, China Eastern Airlines Corp Ltd (600115.SS)(0670.HK) agreed to sell a 3.55 percent stake to Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL.N).

(This version of the story has been refiled to correct spelling of Lufthansa CEO's surname in paragraph 8)

(Reporting by Paul Carsten; Brenda Goh in SHANGHAI; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)

Three_Kingdoms · Sep 21, 2016

人民网：国产C919大型客机各项试验稳步推进年底或首飞
2016年09月07日 16:25 来源：人民网-军事频道

　　

　　中国商用飞机有限责任公司市场营销部副部长陆峥回答记者提问（来源：中国网）
Deputy Minister of Marketing China Commercial Aircraft Co., Ltd. Lu Zheng answered a reporter's question (Source: China Network)

　　7日上午，第十一届中国国际航空航天博览会（简称“中国航展”）新闻发布会在北京举行。中国商用飞机有限责任公司市场营销部副部长陆峥表示，C919大型客机各项试验稳步推进，力争在2016年底前后实现首飞。

　　谈到C919大型客机的首飞问题，陆峥表示，C919大型客机于2015年10月2日下线，目前各项试验正在全力稳步推进，前期静力试验已经开始。后续还将开展航电、飞控、液压等各系统试验以及机载系统集成试验和全球定位试验等。项目团队共规划了首飞前的试验200多项、1800多个科目，其中实验室系统集成试验有140多项，机上试验近80项。飞机首飞前需要完成系统调试、试飞试验设备和仪器安装等工作，这些工作都在有序的开展。

　　陆峥说，C919是我国首次严格遵循国际试航标准研制的大型民用飞机，在设计、试验、系统研发和集成等方面都存在挑战，需要开展全方位的技术攻关。首飞是重要的技术节点，但必须符合试航要求。所以，中国商用飞机有限责任公司本着安全第一的原则，在脚踏实地完成各项试验的前提下，力争2016年底前后实现首飞。具体时间还需依据后续的试验和工程进度而定。再要强调的是，C919各项研制试验工作进展总体是顺利的。

google translation:

People's Daily: China-made large passenger aircraft C919 the end of the year or the first flight test steadily
September 7th, 2016

7 morning, the Eleventh China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition (referred to as "China Air Show") press conference held in Beijing. Deputy Minister of Marketing China Commercial Aircraft Co., Ltd. Lu Zheng expressed, C919 large passenger aircraft of the test steadily, and strive to achieve first flight around the end of 2016.

Turning first flight problem C919 large passenger aircraft, Lu Zheng expressed, C919 large aircraft on October 2, 2015 off the assembly line, the test is currently in full swing steadily, preliminary static test has begun. Follow-up will also carry out the avionics, flight control, hydraulic and other test systems and airborne systems integration and test GPS test. The project team has been planned before the first flight test of more than 200, more than 1,800 subjects, including systems integration laboratory tests has more than 140, nearly 80 test machine. It needs to be done before the first flight system to debug, test equipment and test equipment installation work, which are ordered to carry out.

Lu Zheng said, C919 is the first time trial strictly follow international standards developed large civil aircraft in the design, testing, system integration and other aspects of development and challenges, the need to carry out a full range of technical problems. First flight is an important technology nodes, but must meet the trial requirements. Therefore, China Commercial Aircraft Co., Ltd. in line with the principle of safety first, down to earth at the completion of each test under the premise, and strive to achieve first flight around the end of 2016. The specific time according to need follow-up tests and progress of the project may be. To re-emphasize that, C919 tests the overall progress of the development work it is smooth.

ohmrlobalobayeh · Sep 21, 2016

Three_Kingdoms said:
人民网：国产C919大型客机各项试验稳步推进年底或首飞
2016年09月07日 16:25 来源：人民网-军事频道

　　

　　中国商用飞机有限责任公司市场营销部副部长陆峥回答记者提问（来源：中国网）
Deputy Minister of Marketing China Commercial Aircraft Co., Ltd. Lu Zheng answered a reporter's question (Source: China Network)

　　7日上午，第十一届中国国际航空航天博览会（简称“中国航展”）新闻发布会在北京举行。中国商用飞机有限责任公司市场营销部副部长陆峥表示，C919大型客机各项试验稳步推进，力争在2016年底前后实现首飞。

　　谈到C919大型客机的首飞问题，陆峥表示，C919大型客机于2015年10月2日下线，目前各项试验正在全力稳步推进，前期静力试验已经开始。后续还将开展航电、飞控、液压等各系统试验以及机载系统集成试验和全球定位试验等。项目团队共规划了首飞前的试验200多项、1800多个科目，其中实验室系统集成试验有140多项，机上试验近80项。飞机首飞前需要完成系统调试、试飞试验设备和仪器安装等工作，这些工作都在有序的开展。

　　陆峥说，C919是我国首次严格遵循国际试航标准研制的大型民用飞机，在设计、试验、系统研发和集成等方面都存在挑战，需要开展全方位的技术攻关。首飞是重要的技术节点，但必须符合试航要求。所以，中国商用飞机有限责任公司本着安全第一的原则，在脚踏实地完成各项试验的前提下，力争2016年底前后实现首飞。具体时间还需依据后续的试验和工程进度而定。再要强调的是，C919各项研制试验工作进展总体是顺利的。

google translation:

People's Daily: China-made large passenger aircraft C919 the end of the year or the first flight test steadily
September 7th, 2016

7 morning, the Eleventh China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition (referred to as "China Air Show") press conference held in Beijing. Deputy Minister of Marketing China Commercial Aircraft Co., Ltd. Lu Zheng expressed, C919 large passenger aircraft of the test steadily, and strive to achieve first flight around the end of 2016.

Turning first flight problem C919 large passenger aircraft, Lu Zheng expressed, C919 large aircraft on October 2, 2015 off the assembly line, the test is currently in full swing steadily, preliminary static test has begun. Follow-up will also carry out the avionics, flight control, hydraulic and other test systems and airborne systems integration and test GPS test. The project team has been planned before the first flight test of more than 200, more than 1,800 subjects, including systems integration laboratory tests has more than 140, nearly 80 test machine. It needs to be done before the first flight system to debug, test equipment and test equipment installation work, which are ordered to carry out.

Lu Zheng said, C919 is the first time trial strictly follow international standards developed large civil aircraft in the design, testing, system integration and other aspects of development and challenges, the need to carry out a full range of technical problems. First flight is an important technology nodes, but must meet the trial requirements. Therefore, China Commercial Aircraft Co., Ltd. in line with the principle of safety first, down to earth at the completion of each test under the premise, and strive to achieve first flight around the end of 2016. The specific time according to need follow-up tests and progress of the project may be. To re-emphasize that, C919 tests the overall progress of the development work it is smooth.

the day will come when it's time to push out foreign commercial planes too(in addition to smartphones, which is already happening- and many other stuff)

TaiShang said:
China to be world's 1st trillion-dollar plane market: Boeing
Xinhua, September 14, 2016

China will become the world's first aviation market to exceed US$1 trillion in value in 20 years, U.S. airplane giant Boeing forecast Tuesday.

It projected a demand for 6,810 new airplanes in the country over the next two decades, estimating the total value of the new aircraft at US$1.025 trillion.

"As China transitions to a more consumer-based economy, aviation will play a key role in its economic development," Randy Tinseth, vice president of marketing with Boeing Commercial Airplanes, was quoted as saying in a company statement.

With travel and transportation becoming key services, passenger traffic is expected to grow 6.4 percent annually in China over the coming 20 years, he said.

China will need 5,110 new single-aisle airplanes through 2035, accounting for 75 percent of the total new deliveries, according to the statement.

Driven by China's growing e-commerce business, air cargo is expected to become a key driver for the continuous growth of aviation in the country, with a need for 180 new freighters and 410 converted freighters in the future, said the statement.

Globally, Boeing predicted investment of US$5.9 trillion for 39,620 new commercial airplanes to be delivered during the next 20 years, with China accounting for 17 percent of the total in both value and number.

***

Local manufacturers need to race against time and seize a sizable portion from this booming industry before it matures.

Sorry Boeing(and Airbus). I'd say this US1.025 trillion dollars pie would be taken up by the Comac C919 commerical aircraft series by 2025. State protectionism would ensure that- just like what is happening now to Apple, Cisco and other foreign brands

ahojunk · Sep 22, 2016

As this is the first time, we would expect more tests to be carried out before test flight.

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C919 pushes on with static tests in prep for first flight

09 SEPTEMBER, 2016
BY: MAVIS TOH, FlightGlobal
SHANGHAI

Comac says static strength tests for its C919 programme are slightly behind schedule, but that the team is still on track to complete the required tests by the end of the year, which will give an indication of whether the first flight can go ahead.

Shanghai Aircraft Design and Research Institute C919 deputy designer Zhao Junfeng says his team is focused on completing load tests, in support of the programme’s planned first flight for the end of the year.

“I’ve split things into three stages, first is the tests we need to do before first flight, after that the limit loads, followed by exploratory experiments,” Zhao tells FlightGlobal at AVIC’s newly-built static strength test facility in Shanghai, just a stone’s throw from Comac’s final assembly centre in Pudong.

Asked if he is satisfied with the test outcome thus far, Zhao says the results “are acceptable”, and that he is focused on using these tests to verify the static strength of the aircraft structure and components.

“Once we are able to do that, we will report it to the headquarters and tell them that the aircraft is ready to fly.”

When FlightGlobal visited the test facility in the first week of September, the aircraft was undergoing tests related to its landing gear. The unpainted fuselage had wings and its vertical stabilizer attached.

Zhao says that to hasten progress, while the main airframe is undergoing tests in Shanghai, tests on movable aircraft parts are being done in Xian.

He explains that while the ground test aircraft was handed over to the facility in April, there were still “bits of unfinished work” that had to be completed. The team thus had to “tie up loose ends” in manufacturing, while conducting tests concurrently.

An example is how modifications needed to be made to the aircraft to enable the installations of loading devices.

This has since pushed static strength test progress back from the previously targeted October completion.

“Our latest plan is to finish the tests by the end of the year. We need to complete the tests a month before first flight, conclude our experiments and make a report to the chief designer,” says Zhao.

Asked what is the biggest challenge now for static strength test works, Zhao says: “The main issue is schedule and the need for time. Static strength tests take time and if a certain part is delivered to me late, I will require more time.”

Comac is officially working toward a year-end first flight for the C919, but FlightGlobal understands that this is likely to be pushed back to early 2017.

===========================

COMAC plans C919 inaugural flight by year-end, early 2017
Katie Cantle, Air Transport World
Sep 8, 2016

Roll-out of COMAC C919.

The Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC) plans to launch the C919 inaugural flight by the end of this year or early 2017. The specific timetable for the inaugural flight will depend on subsequent flight tests. However, a company insider told ATW it will be difficult for COMAC to fulfill this plan.

COMAC rolled out the narrowbody, 158-seat C919 prototype in October 2015. The company is undergoing various tests in preparation for an inaugural flight, which will be followed by certification and delivery to Chengdu Airlines by 2020. The original schedule called for the aircraft to conduct its first flight in 2014.

The Chinese manufacturer has won 517 orders for the C919 from 21 Chinese carriers and aviation companies.

According to Airbus, the global airline industry will need 26,730 narrowbody, single-aisle aircraft over the next 20 years.

JSCh · Sep 29, 2016

Another China-made passenger jet takes off from local center
By Yang Jian | September 29, 2016, Thursday

Another domestically-made regional passenger jets took off from its assembly center in Shanghai today after being delivered to the Chengdu Airlines. --Dong Jun

The latest of China's domestically-made regional passenger jets took off from its assembly center in Shanghai today after being delivered to the Chengdu Airlines.

The new twin-engine ARJ21-700 has 78 seats, including 8 first-class seats that have been set for the aircraft for the first time, its manufacturer, the Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC), said.

Passengers on board the second ARJ21 aircraft heading to southwestern city of Chengdu includes senior officials with COMAC and the airline.

“COMAC has begun applying for a Production Certificate to the Civil Aviation Administration of China for the mass productions on the aircraft,” said Yu Zemin, deputy general manager with the Shanghai Aircraft Design and Research Institute under COMAC where the aircraft is being assembled.

The institute will assemble another seven ARJ21s this year and will manage to manufacture 25 ARJ21s annually by 2020, Yu said.

The first ARJ21 with a 90-seat all economy configuration that was delivered to Chengdu Airlines on June 28 has been flying safely for over 200 hours on 70 flights mainly between Shanghai and Chengdu.

The aircraft has a load factor of over 90 percent as many passengers want to take the nation’s first homemade regional jet, according to the airline. It has trained eight pilots and 30 flight attendants for the ARJ21.

China began development of the ARJ21 in 2002. It has received over 400 orders around global clients. Airlines in Laos, Myanmar and the Republic of Congo have ordered the jets.

-----###-----

Photos: COMAC Delivers 2nd ARJ21-700 Regional Jet to Chengdu Airlines
China Aviation Daily | Sep. 29, 2016

The Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC) Thursday delivered the second ARJ21-700, the country's first indigenously designed regional jet, to launch customer Chengdu Airlines.

Different from the all-economy class on its first ARJ21 regional jet, Chengdu Airlines' 2nd ARJ21 (Registration B-3322) features a two-class configuration with 78 seats.

As of September 28, Chengdu Airlines' ARJ21 aircraft has operated 70 flights with an average passenger load factor of 90% since its inaugural revenue flight on June 28, 2016.

As the launch customer of the ARJ21, the Chengdu-based carrier received the first of 30 ARJ21-700 aircraft, Registration B-3321, on November 29, 2015. The regional carrier will take delivery of five ARJ21-700s by the end of this year, including two 90-seat aircraft and three 78-seat ones. All 30 ARJ21s for delivery will be completed within next five to six years.

The regional carrier is the sole airline operating the aircraft type, serving Chengdu-Shanghai Hongqiao route. The new regional jet will be initially deployed on the same route before serving new market, Chengdu Airlines said.

Chengdu Airlines plans to fly first five ARJ21s on seven domestic routes from Chengdu to Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xi'an, Nanjing and Guiyang, to ensure it can handle safe and reliable operations, as well as to build customer awareness of the indigenous aircraft.

Photos: COMAC Delivers 2nd ARJ21-700 Regional Jet to Chengdu Airlines

ahojunk · Sep 29, 2016

22nd World Routes kicks off in Chengdu
2016-09-27 14:54 | Ecns.cn | Editor:Yao Lan

The 22nd World Route Development Forum, also known as World Routes, opens in Chengdu City, the capital of Southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Sept. 26, 2016. Representatives from 240 airlines, 470 airports and 80 tourism service agencies are taking part in the forum, one of the biggest annual events for the civil aviation sector. Chengdu is the second city on the Chinese mainland to host the event, following Beijing in 2009. (Photo: China News Service/Liu Zhongjun)