An assembly line is to be built for China’s aircraft in Pudong, Shanghai. Construction of the factory is to begin soon, with the capacity to reach 20 C919s and 50 ARJ 21-series regional jets by 2016.
Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC) is counting on the narrow-bodied, single-aisle C919 – China’s newest and biggest homegrown commercial jetliner – to compete against Western rivals in the high-stakes international aviation market.
Construction of the factory is to begin soon, with capacity to reach 20 C919s and 50 ARJ 21-series regional jets (our illustration shows one in, as it were, its natural habitat for it was designed for high altitude work) by 2016.
The C919 is due to make its maiden flight by 2014 and to begin deliveries to customers by 2016.
Earlier this week, General Electric teamed up with COMAC’s state-run parent company, to develop and market electronic systems for commercial aircraft customers, including the C919 narrow-body aircraft.
Forbes reports that GE is also supplying engines for the 70 to 110-seat ARJ-21 passenger jet, designed for the local market. Note that in China air passenger traffic rose nearly 20% in the first 10 months of the year from the year before, to 191.9 million.
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