Jumbo aircraft firm to be set up in Shanghai

[photopress:air_jumbo.jpg,full,alignright]The China Aviation Industry Corporation I (Avic I) and the China Aviation Industry Corporation II (Avic II), the two largest aircraft producers in the country, are discussing co-operation plans for a jumbo plane project near Shanghai.

Jin Xingming, a deputy to the National People’s Congress said the Shanghai government, aviation companies and some other state-owned enterprises will jointly invest in and establish the jumbo plane company under the guidance of the central government.

Feng Peide, a member of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top political advisory body, said it would be a great challenge for the company to build jumbo planes in a relatively short time. ‘The goal could only be achieved with iron will.’

Chinese airlines will need another 1,800 jumbo passenger planes in the next decade which means it has a market ready and waiting.

By definition a jumbo passenger plane is one with a take-off weight of more than 100 tonnes, or with more than 150 seats.

Currently, only the United States, Russia, France, Germany, Britain and Spain have the capability to build jumbo aircraft. Most of the business is run by Boeing and Airbus.

The production of jumbo aircraft is strategically significant for the country although it already builds many major parts of jumbo aircraft completely creating its own version is a much further step.
Source: CargoNews Asia