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

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Construction Memorabilia of Daxing Int'l Airport
New China TV
Published on Jun 30, 2019

From a sheep farm to the world's largest integrated transportation hub, this is how Beijing Daxing International Airport is constructed:

 

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Recently, for MA700 aircraft development, batch 10001 static test aircraft front and mid-fuselage rolled off the line.

29 June front fuselage rolled off the line, and would proceed to joining of the nose and the front fuselage next.

 

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China develops new aluminum alloy capable of reducing 15% of C919’s weight
Source:Global Times Published: 2019/7/8 14:44:00

A Chinese company has developed a world-leading aluminium alloy technology that is expected to help China's homegrown C919 passenger jets reduce 15 percent of their weight in the future.

The technology, a nano-ceramic aluminium alloy, was developed by Shanghai-based JuneYao Group. The new material is able to increase the strength of traditional aluminum alloys by 30 percent and it may take one or two decades for foreign competitors to catch up with such technology, the company's president Wang Junhao said at a conference on Sunday.

"Why reduce airplane weight? Based on the oil price in 2015, losing one kilogram of a jet's weight equates to saving 12,000 yuan in fuel consumption," Wang said.

Wu Guanghui, the chief designer of the C919, said in an earlier interview that the team was testing the new material's performance in panels and forge pieces. If the material passes the test, it will be used in a large scale to replace import materials.

The new material has been widely used in space satellites, space stations such as Tiangong-1 and Tiangong-2, as well as in airplane applications, according to media reports.

JuneYao Group began cooperation with Shanghai Jiaotong University in 2015 to develop a new materials business. In September 2017, the company set up a research institute, claiming intellectual property rights on ceramic aluminium new materials.

 

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China masters fatigue-resistant tech for chopper
By Liu Xuanzun Source:Global Times Published: 2019/7/16 18:08:14

A Z-10 attack helicopter attached to an army aviation brigade under the PLA 80th Group Army hovers at low altitude for last-minute checks during the flight training on November 21, 2017. Photo: eng.chinamil.com.cn

China recently mastered a new fatigue-resistant technology for helicopter rotors, which could greatly expand the helicopters' capability and service time, a development which military experts said on Tuesday could be of strategic value to China's domestic helicopter industry as the technology could be used on China's future heavy-lift transport helicopters and attack helicopters.

During the development of an unidentified helicopter, engineers at Changhe Aircraft Industry (Group) Corporation Ltd under the state-owned Aviation Industry of China (AVIC) found that the newly designed rotor using a titanium alloy failed to pass fatigue tests, China Aviation News, a newspaper affiliated with AVIC, reported on Tuesday.

The company, cooperating with scientific research teams at Xi'an-based Northwestern Polytechnical University and the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Aviation Materials, then developed a new technique that helps reduce wear and tear on components, doubling their service time, the report said.

The anti-fatigue feature is important because rotor fatigue is not always noticeable, causing unforeseen dangers, the report said.

Wei Dongxu, a Beijing-based military analyst, told the Global Times that a fatigue-resistant rotor could also allow a helicopter to work under higher stress, including maintaining high speeds for extended periods or lifting heavier cargo for longer distances.

A titanium alloy is a strong metal and, together with the new technique, could make helicopters more reliable in difficult environmental conditions, including at sea and in the desert, analysts said.

The breakthrough took three years of research and is of important strategic value to China's domestic helicopter industry, the China Aviation News report said, noting that China had grappled with the key issues to independently make fatigue-resistant rotor wing components.

The new rotor could be used on China's future heavy-lift transport helicopters and attack helicopters, which need to perform extreme maneuvers in combat, Wei said.

AVIC has developed military helicopters, including the Z-8 transport helicopter and Z-10 attack helicopter, and is currently developing a 40-ton class heavy helicopter with Russia, according to media reports.

The heavy helicopter, dubbed Advanced Heavy Lift, would have a weight-lift capability of 15 tons, a range of 630 kilometers and a top speed of 300 kilometers an hour, RT reported.

 

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29 June front fuselage rolled off the line, and would proceed to joining of the nose and the front fuselage next.

From AVIC's weibo, progress of MA700 batch 10001 static test aircraft development.

 

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中国商飞 今天 10:58 来自 微博 weibo.com
【C919 103架机顺利转场阎良】7月26日上午6:32，C919飞机103架机从上海浦东机场起飞，于9:11降落西安阎良机场，开展新阶段试验试飞任务。

C919飞机103架机于2018年12月28日在上海浦东机场成功首飞。在完成一系列繁重的测试、改装任务之后，103架机转场阎良，后续将开展颤振、空速校准、载荷、操稳和性能等科目的试飞。今天的执飞机组试飞员：邹礼学、张健伟、蔡俊，试飞工程师：黄震宇、李畅。

目前，中国商飞公司已投入3架C919飞机，先后在上海浦东、西安阎良、山东东营、江西南昌等地开展试验试飞。

COMAC
Today 10:58

[C919 103 machine smoothly transferred to Yanliang]
At 6:32 am on July 26, the C919 aircraft took off from Shanghai Pudong Airport and landed at Xi'an Yanliang Airport at 9:11 to carry out a new phase test flight mission.

The C919 aircraft 103 aircraft successfully made its first flight at Shanghai Pudong Airport on December 28, 2018. After completing a series of heavy testing and modification tasks, 103 aircraft will be transferred to Yanliang, and subsequent flight tests such as flutter, airspeed calibration, load, operation and performance will be carried out. Today's aircraft test pilots: Zou Lixue, Zhang Jianwei, Cai Jun, flight test engineers: Huang Zhenyu, Li Chang.

At present, COMAC has produced three C919 aircraft, and has conducted pilot test flights in Shanghai Pudong, Xi'an Yanliang, Shandong Dongying, and Jiangxi Nanchang.

 

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Second operator of ARJ21 to start operation in July
Yang Jian 22:05 UTC+8, 2019-06-05

The first and second ARJ21s of the Genghis Khan Airlines which will start commercial operation early next month

China-developed regional jet, the ARJ21, will begin commercial operation with its second operator, Genghis Khan Airlines, early next month.

The newly established carrier, which is based in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, started flight tests with its first ARJ21 on Tuesday night between Hohhot Baita International Airport and Ulanhot.

The Inner Mongolian carrier, approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of China in March 2018, plans to operate with a wholly domestically developed fleet.

It took delivery of its first ARJ21 in Shanghai in February and received the second jet on Tuesday.

The airline plans to purchase a total of 25 ARJ21s within five years and will begin receiving the C919, China's first home-developed narrow-body jet, after that.

The carrier is expected to not only improve transportation in Inner Mongolia but also help explore the marketing and industrial development of the domestically developed jet.

The ARJ21 regional jet, with eight premier and 70 economy-class seats, is suitable for the high terrain of Inner Mongolia. A seven-hour highway drive within the region, for instance, can be shortened to roughly an hour by air.

Currently, the jet’s sole operator, Chengdu Airlines, operates 11 ARJ21s to 20 Chinese cities. The ARJ21 fleet has transported some 270,000 passengers since it started commercial operation in June 2016.

The first and second ARJ21s of Genghis Khan Airlines at the Hohhot Baita International Airport

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A flight attendant welcomes passengers.

Urumqi Air will become the third operator of the ARJ21.

The carrier, which is based in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, said the aircraft is suitable for the low temperatures and elevated terrain of northwest China.

The multiple operators will help to further improve the design of the jet, according to the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, developer of the ARJ21 and C919.

Before the ARJ21 test flight, Genghis Khan Airlines also carried out two simulated emergency evacuations: one that a lithium battery was on fire, which occurred on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner; second, an engine failure during takeoff.

More than 100 ARJ21s will be delivered in the next five years to challenge the domination of the Bombardier and Embraer in regional services, COMAC said.

The ARJ21-700 has a flight range of up to 3,700 kilometers. It acquired its aircraft type certificate in December 2014 and completed its maiden flight in June 2016. Mass production started in September 2017.

China has in recent years stepped up efforts to build up its commercial aircraft industry.

Besides the ARJ21-700, COMAC has unveiled the larger C919, a narrow-body jet designed to rival the Airbus A320 and the Boeing 737 series. A prototype CR929, the first long-haul jet jointly developed by China and Russia, has been unveiled.

A simulated emergency evacuation.

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Officials and crew of Genghis Khan Airlines take delivery of its second ARJ21 on Tuesday.

Source: SHINE Editor: Liu Qi

https://twitter.com/x/status/1154658192351092738

Global Times✔@globaltimesnews

Chinese startup Genghis Khan Airlines had its maiden flight from Hohhot to Ulanhot in North China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region with the home-made ARJ21 regional jet on Friday. The carrier is the first airline to fly with the ARJ21.

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3:42 PM - Jul 26, 2019

ARJ21 starts commercial operation with 2nd operator
Yang Jian 17:04 UTC+8, 2019-07-26

7 Photos | View Slide Show ›

China-developed regional jet, the ARJ21, began commercial operations with its second operator, Genghis Khan Airlines, on Friday.

The first ARJ21 with the new carrier based in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region took off from Hohhot Baita International Airport and landed at Ulanhot.

The carrier, approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of China in March 2018, plans to operate with a wholly domestically developed fleet. It took delivery of its first ARJ21 in Shanghai in February and received the second jet in June.

The airline plans to purchase a total of 25 ARJ21s within five years and will begin receiving the C919, China's first home-developed narrow-body jet, after that. It plans to operate 60 routes among 40 destinations mainly within Inner Mongolia.

The ARJ21 regional jet, with eight premier and 70 economy-class seats, is suitable for the high terrain of Inner Mongolia.

Currently, the jet’s sole operator, Chengdu Airlines, operates 11 ARJ21s to over 20 Chinese cities. The ARJ21 fleet has caarried some 400,000 passengers since it started commercial operation in June 2016.

Urumqi Air will become the third operator of the ARJ21. The carrier, which is based in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, said the aircraft is suitable for the low temperatures and elevated terrain of northwest China.

The multiple operators will help to further improve the design of the jet, according to the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, developer of the ARJ21 and C919.

More than 100 ARJ21s will be delivered in the next five years to challenge the domination of the Bombardier and Embraer in regional services, COMAC said.

The ARJ21-700 has a flight range of up to 3,700 kilometers. It acquired its aircraft type certificate in December 2014 and completed its maiden flight in June 2016. Mass production started in September 2017.

Source: SHINE Editor: Cai Wenjun

 

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Electric helicopter research underway
By Zhao Lei | China Daily | Updated: 2019-07-30 07:04

An AC311 helicopter will serve as a platform for research into electric helicopters. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese designers have begun preliminary research into developing an electric helicopter and are working toward building a prototype for demonstration purposes, according to a key figure in the program.

Deng Jinghui, chief designer at the China Helicopter Research and Development Institute in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, said researchers and engineers have carried out trial demonstrations of an electric tail rotor. They are making preparations for the device to be used on a 2-metric ton conventional helicopter during preliminary test flights, Deng said.

Engineers will remove the aircraft's original tail rotor and related transmission apparatus and then install an electric tail rotor that generates thrust independently rather than relying on traditional engines, he added.

"Replacing a conventional tail rotor with an electric version is our first step in exploring and verifying the technical feasibility of an all-electric helicopter," Deng explained.

He said engineers plan to spend about two years to test how the electric tail rotor will perform. If everything goes according to plan, they will replace the same helicopter's main engine and the conventional main rotor with an electric generator, an electric motor and an electrically propelled main rotor for further tests.

Within the coming decade, the Chinese aviation engineers will strive to build an all-electric helicopter. The keys to this goal are stronger motors and longer-lasting batteries, which will take the place of engines and electric generators.

The biggest advantage of an electric helicopter, Deng said, is that it will not need transmissions－not only one of the essential parts but also one of the most sophisticated components in conventional helicopters.

"The removal of transmissions and the use of electric motors will help to reduce a helicopter's weight, streamline its structure, make control easier and also improve reliability," he said.

The first manned flight of an electric aircraft took place in 1973 in Austria. However, all manned electric aircraft today are still limited to experimental demonstrations.

According to media reports, the first manned electric helicopter was the Solution F/Chretien Helicopter, developed and built by Pascal Chretien, a French-Australian helicopter pilot and engineer, for technology demonstration purposes. The aircraft made its maiden flight in August 2011 in France.

Since then, a handful of electric helicopter prototypes have conducted test flights but none of them have entered mass production.

Wang Ya'nan, editor-in-chief of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, explained that compared with a conventional helicopter, electric models feature multiple advantages such as simpler structures, better control, zero emissions and reduced operating costs.

He said the future of electric helicopters depends on whether engineers can develop and make high-performance power systems.

 

[JSCh]

中国商飞
35分钟前 来自 iPhone客户端
【迎着朝阳起飞！C919大型客机104架机完成首次试验飞行】2019年8月1日，C919大型客机104架机于5时32分从上海浦东国际机场第四跑道起飞，经过1小时25分钟的飞行，在完成了多个试验点、对飞机各系统进行了初始操纵检查后，于6时57分返航并平稳降落，顺利完成其首次试验飞行任务。执行此次首次试验飞行的机组成员为：试飞员：邹礼学、聂飞、吴鑫；试飞工程师：凌宁、王海刚。

104架机是C919大型客机第四架试飞飞机，主要承担航电系统、起飞着陆性能、自动飞行系统和自然结冰等相关科目的试飞任务。

截止目前，中国商飞公司共有4架飞机投入试飞工作，101-103架机已在西安阎良、山东东营、江西南昌等地开展试验试飞，静力试验和其他地面验证试验也在稳步推进。根据计划，105、106架机也将在今年下半年投入试飞，届时C919大型客机研制将进入密集试飞阶段。

COMAC
35 minutes ago from weibo

[Climbing against the sun! The C919 large passenger aircraft 104 aircraft completed the first test flight.]

On August 1, 2019, the C919 passenger aircraft 104 took off from the fourth runway of Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 5:32. After 1 hour and 25 minutes of flight, several initial checkpoints and inspections task of the aircraft systems was completed, the aircraft returned at 6:57 and landed smoothly, successfully completing its first test mission. The crew members who carried out the first test flight were: test pilots: Zou Lixue, Nie Fei, Wu Xin; flight test engineers: Ling Ning, Wang Haigang.

The 104 aircraft is the fourth flight test aircraft of the C919 large passenger aircraft. It mainly undertakes flight test tasks for avionics systems, take-off and landing performance, automatic flight systems and natural icing.

Up to now, a total of four aircrafts of Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China have been put into test flight. The 101-103 aircraft has been tested in Xi'an Yanliang, Shandong Dongying and Jiangxi Nanchang. The static test and other ground verification tests are also steadily advancing. According to the plan, 105 and 106 aircraft will also be put into test flight in the second half of this year. At that time, the development of the C919 large passenger aircraft will enter the intensive test flight phase.

 

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From AVIC's weibo, progress of MA700 batch 10001 static test aircraft development.

中国航空工业集团有限公司
8月1日 11:32 来自 专业版微博
【“新舟”700飞机前机身部段交付用户】7月30日清晨，航空工业陕飞参与研制的首架民用客机“新舟”700飞机001架机前机身部段正式启运交付用户。这也是“新舟”700飞机第一个实现总装大部件对接并顺利交付用户的部段，同时也标志着项目研制取得了阶段性胜利，向实现整机总装下线目标又迈出了坚实的一步。O网页链接

China Aviation Industry Corporation
August 1st 11:32 from the professional version of Weibo

[MA-700 aircraft front fuselage section delivery to user]

On the morning of July 30, the aviation industry subsidiary Shaanxi Aircraft Corp. participated in the development of the first MA-700 001 aircraft front fuselage section officially delivered to the user. This is also the first section of the MA-700 to realize the docking of large components and the smooth delivery to users. It also marks a milestone in the development of the project and a solid step towards achieving the goal of full assembly.
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C919 on track for commercial debut in 2021
By Zhu Wenqian | China Daily | Updated: 2019-08-02 09:20

The fourth test aircraft of the C919 takes a test flight on Thursday in Shanghai. [Photo by Yin Liqin/China News Service]

The fourth test aircraft of the C919, China's first home-built narrow-body passenger jet, took part in a test flight in Shanghai on Thursday, and another two new test jets, the 105 and 106, will complete their first test flights later this year, before entering the market in 2021.

The progress indicates that the C919 will speed up its work in getting airworthiness certification, an industry expert said.

Four C919 jets - the 101, 102, 103 and 104 - have completed testing, and now they are undergoing more intense test flights, static tests, and other ground tests at several testing bases, including Yanliang district in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, Dongying in Shandong province and Nanchang in Jiangxi province, said Commercial Aircraft Corp of China, its manufacturer.

The C919's latest test flight comes at a time when its competitor Boeing's B737 Max jets remain grounded worldwide following two fatal crashes - one on Oct 29 last year in Indonesia and the other on March 10 in Ethiopia - that killed a total of 346 people.

In March, China was the first country to ground the aircraft from commercial flights. The Civil Aviation Administration of China has also suspended the airworthiness certificate application of the model for Chinese airlines.

Last week, Boeing Co reported a nearly $3 billion loss for the second quarter, its worst loss ever for the US aircraft manufacturer. It delivered 104 fewer airplanes to customers compared to the same quarter last year.

Meanwhile, Boeing's archrival Airbus SE on Wednesday posted stronger-than-expected second-quarter earnings. Its net profit reached $2.2 billion, its earnings report said.

"As there is no timetable for the B737 Max to resume flying, passengers have shown a falling confidence in the model, and the global market would more welcome its competitors. The Max issue also reminds China that it is quite important to do one's own work well and develop a safe aircraft," said Lin Zhijie, an aviation industry analyst.

"Now there are still some gaps between the C919 and mainstream single-aisle aircraft of Boeing and Airbus in economic efficiency and other aspects. After the C919 enters commercial use, it will continue to upgrade and improve, and in the long term, it is likely to challenge major Western manufacturers," he said.

The C919 104 prototype test aircraft took off at 5:32 am on Thursday morning from Shanghai Pudong International Airport, and flew for one hour and 25 minutes, before successfully returning to the airport. The aircraft completed several tests and initial control checks on aircraft systems, said COMAC.

The 104 prototype test aircraft mainly undertakes tasks such as the tests of its avionics system, the performance of takeoff and landing, the automatic flight system, and natural icing, its manufacturer said.

 

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China's First Private General-Purpose Plane Completes Technical Flight
DOU SHICONG
DATE : MAR 12 2019/SOURCE : YICAI

China's First Private General-Purpose Plane Completes Technical Flight​

(Yicai Global) March 12 -- The GA20, China's first general-purpose aircraft independently researched and developed by a private company, has completed its safety flight testing.

The airplane is expected to obtain certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China and start commercialization in 2020, realizing mass production by 2021 after the successful in-air safety checks at Hengdian Airport in China's southeastern Zhejiang province.

The GA20 was developed and produced by Shanghai-based Guanyi General Aviation, which concluded stall, stability and maneuverability tests in yesterday's technical flight, Chinese state media The Paper reported.

The purpose of such tests is to gain data to verify an airplane's safety, stability and manipulability. It is thus an indispensable phase in aircraft development.

The project to develop the plane started in 2015. A single-engine four-seat fixed-wing craft, the GA20 is China's first airplane produced by a private enterprise that meets international general aviation standards. Guanyi will produce five GA20s for flight testing before obtaining certification for the model, to complete 200 to 300 more safety checks.

The plane will mainly find use in flight training, private flights and travel, Guanyi's Chairman Zhu Songhua said, adding the company will produce 20 GA20s for commercial use after obtaining certification next year, per Guanyi's plan, with 60 to made in 2021 and over 100 in 2022.

The company is also developing three other aircraft models, Zhu said. It will be able to debut a new one every two to three years to meet market demand after the GA20 secures certification.

China's first privately developed aircraft signs 100 intent orders
chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2019-08-08 11:09

The Guanyi GA20 makes the 50th test flight at the Hengdian General Airport in Zhejiang province, Aug 7, 2019. [Photo/VCG]

China's first aircraft independently developed by a private company, the Guanyi GA20, flew at a height of 3,000 meters for the first time during its 50th test flight on Wednesday, and secured intent orders for 100 aircraft.

The GA20 is a four-seater, general purpose, single propeller-driven aircraft developed by Guanyi General Aviation, a private company in Shanghai. It is produced at an industrial base in the Nanchang High-tech Zone, Jiangxi province.

On Wednesday, pilot Christian Briand boarded the plane at 12:00 pm and flew it into the sky at 12:03 pm at the Hengdian General Airport in Zhejiang province. The 39-minute flight aimed to test flight envelope extension and load factor.

The Guanyi GA20 makes the 50th test flight at the Hengdian General Airport in Zhejiang province, Aug 7, 2019. [Photo/VCG]

The test showed that the GA20 has the shortest takeoff distance of 400 meters and landing distance of 350 meters, with a maximum mileage of 1,200 kilometers and a maximum speed of 265 kilometers per hour.

The GA20 can climb up 5 meters per second, and at the height of 2,600 meters, its fuel consumption is 32 liters per hour. Its general performance is better than all the global competitors.

Zhu Songhua, the chairman of Guanyi, said the plane reaching a height of 3,000 meters safely showed its excellent performance and it will open up a path for China's independently developed general aircraft to go global.

Wutong Aviation Sci-Tech Co, a leading private aircraft service company in China, signed the underwriting agreement with Guanyi on Wednesday order of intent for 100 planes.

The Guanyi GA20 makes the 50th test flight at the Hengdian General Airport in Zhejiang province, Aug 7, 2019. [Photo/VCG]

Zhao Haiyang, general manager of Wutong Aviation, said the GA20 has first-class performance, and advanced self-owned core technologies in the world, and thus the company is confident of its sales in the global market.

Guanyi began to develop the GA20 for multiple purposes such as aviation training, private aviation and tourism in 2014. The plane made its debut in Nanchang, capital of Jiangxi, on May 21, 2018.

With an overall length of 8.1 meters and a wingspan of 9.4 meters, the plane is powered by a Lycoming O-320 engine and equipped with a Garmin aviation system.

On Sept 19, the plane made a 26-minute maiden flight at an airport in Nanchang, and ascended to a height of about 300 meters, made a number of routine tests, before landing smoothly.

On March 11, GA20 completed its first public test flight at Hengdian General Airport in Zhejiang.

Guanyi will complete 200-300 test flights in accordance with Civil Aviation Administration of China requirements, and plans to start the plane's industrialization process, after obtaining certification, around 2020.

 

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"In the clouds" airport ready for operation in SW China
Source: Xinhua| 2019-08-08 10:07:44|Editor: huaxia

Aerial photo shows the Chongqing Wushan Airport on August 7, 2019 in southwest China. (Xinhua)

Nicknamed the "in the clouds" airport, the Chongqing Wushan Airport is located at an altitude of more than 1,770 meters above sea level.

CHONGQING, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- A civil airport in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality has met industry standards and is expected to begin operation in mid-August.

Nicknamed the "in the clouds" airport, the Chongqing Wushan Airport is located at an altitude of more than 1,770 meters above sea level, and sits about 15 km away from the center of Wushan County in Chongqing. It is the highest civil airport in Chongqing, and drew an investment of 1.64 billion yuan (232.8 million U.S. dollars).

The airport is equipped with a 3,500-sq-m terminal and a 2,600-meter runway. Construction began in 2015, and finished last month.

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Pakistan's Indus Air Orders China's First Privately Developed Plane Guanyi GA20
TANG SHIHUA
DATE : AUG 08 2019/SOURCE : YICAI

Pakistan's Indus Air Orders China's First Privately Developed Plane Guanyi GA20​

(Yicai Global) Aug. 8 -- The Guanyi GA20, China's first aircraft developed by a privately owned company, received its first order from Pakistan's Indus Air yesterday.

Guanyi General Aviation penned a sales agreement for 100 GA20s with Indus Air after finishing the plane's 50th test flight, the Shanghai Observer reported today.

Guanyi expects the GA20 to obtain the domestic airworthiness certificate next year, Chairman Zhu Songhua said, adding that Indus Air's order will be delivered within three or five years.

The Shanghai-based firm completed the maiden flight of the four-seater propeller-driven aircraft last September. The company expects to produce 200 such planes in 2022. It began developing the aircraft in 2014.

Indus Air inked the pre-sale order to secure fleet of its own and form a nationwide service network for its target customers who are high-net-worth individuals, said Zhao Haiyang, general manager of the Karachi-headquartered airline.