Jumbo jet project at next step
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China's homemade jumbo jet project will enter the engineering research and development phase next year as the producer has chosen major suppliers.
Meanwhile, the country's first domestically built regional jet, the ARJ21, will be handed over to its first client, Chengdu Airlines, next year, Commercial Aircraft Corp of China, or COMAC, announced yesterday.
COMAC has selected 13 foreign companies, including Honeywell and Eaton Corp, to supply equipment for the 150-seat C919 jumbo jet.
Among them, CFM International will supply LEAP-X1C engines that use 16 percent less fuel and produce 16 percent less carbon dioxide emissions. The engine will be equipped on the jumbo jet on its maiden flight in 2014, but domestic engine maker AVIC Commercial Aircraft Engine will produce engines for the C919 in 2016.
Nine Chinese companies have signed a memorandum of understanding with COMAC to design and manufacture airframes, with more than 30 domestic companies passing initial censorship to become material suppliers. More than 50 domestic companies have been selected as potential standard parts suppliers.
COMAC will decide the overall schemes for technical, manufacturing and customer service by the end of this year.
China is set to invest 200 billion yuan (US$29.51 billion) to develop the C919 to reduce reliance on aircraft built overseas by Boeing and Airbus. All facets of the process - from design to production - will be done in China.
The C919 is due to make its maiden flight in 2014 with the first delivery set for 2016.
COMAC is scheduled to deliver its first ARJ21 jets next year. The plane maker has received 240 orders for the jet thus far.
Four ARJ21 jets have been put into trial operation and flown more than 600 hours. The company now is in the process of gaining an airworthiness certificate.
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