The 90-seat Xiangfeng, or “Flying Phoenix,” can fly distances up to 2,300 miles at a maximum altitude of 39,000 feet.

The ARJ-21, or “Advanced Regional Jet for the 21st Century,” is the first mid-size passenger jet that China has fully developed independently. It is the world’s first aircraft designed for China’s natural environment, capable of landing and taking off in difficult weather in western China.

With less fuel consumption and longer flight distances, the ARJ-21 should reduce airfares by 8 to 10 percent; the mainland’s airlines currently use imported aircraft with 140 seats on short and medium routes. Originally, the designers had planned to make the test flight by March. But suppliers’ delays in meeting safety requirements disrupted the plan.

The showcase project aims to make the Shanghai-based Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (CACC) a competitor to international manufacturers such as America’s Boeing, Europe’s Airbus, Canada’s Bombardier and Brazil’s Embraer SA.

Each ARJ jet costs US$27-29 million and first deliveries are expected to take place within 18 months.

Airlines have already ordered a total of 206 ARJ jets, including 25 orders from a major industry player the GE Capital.

China itself will need about 900 midsize regional jets over the next two decades, as economic growth drives an expansion of air travel and airlines look for planes best tailored to feeder routes.

Some observers have expressed skepticism about the commercial prospects of a large jet designed and manufactured entirely in China, given the country’s limited experience in big aircraft. But everything has a beginning.

General Electric and Parker Hannifin supply parts for the ARJ-21. In return, Chinese manufacturers supply components to Airbus and Boeing, for the double-decker A380 jumbo jet and the 787 Dreamliner. This is not the first attempt by China to build a commercial passenger jet — others include separate deals with McDonnell Douglas and Airbus — but all have failed.

China’s long-term goal is to make large passenger jets with more than 150 seats, or freighters capable of handling more than 100 tons of cargo, to give it a presence in the global commercial jet market.

Meanwhile, the world should not be surprised if China builds an aircraft carrier soon. Beijing would use such a vessel only for “offshore defense,” a senior official of China’s Ministry of National Defence has told London’s Financial Times.

The comments from Major General Qian Lihua, director of the ministry’s Foreign Affairs Office, come amid heated speculation within China and abroad that “the increasingly potent naval arm of the People’s Liberation Army has decided to develop and deploy its first aircraft carrier.” Traditionally, a carrier would accompany and protect a battle group of smaller ships.

1|2|Next Page>>

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Enter your comments - 1000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos Respond to this email