China Civil Aviation, AVIC (MA600) & COMAC (ARJ21/C919/C929)

[JSCh]

https://twitter.com/x/status/928345099947278336

 

[samsara]

BREAKING: COMAC C919 schedules to depart Shanghai Pudong/PVG on Nov 10th 10am local time (Nov 9th, 9PM EST). The aircraft will be relocated to Yanliang Airport in Xi'An for future testing. Estimated flight time is about 2.5 hrs. Trackable on @flightradar24

https://twitter.com/x/status/928539691967700993

 

[JSCh]

China's jet in long-distance test
Yang Jian
00:11 UTC+8, 2017-11-10

Xinhua​

China’s domestically produced passenger jet, the C919, is seen on the tarmac in Shanghai yesterday.

China’s domestically produced passenger jet, the C919, will make its first long-distance flight today, leaving Shanghai for northwest China’s Shaanxi Province to undergo further tests.

It will take off from Pudong International Airport and fly to the Yanliang Testing Base in Xi’an.

Cai Jun, who captained the aircraft’s maiden flight, said it will fly at a height of 7,800 meters and complete the 1,400-kilometer journey in around three hours.

Shanghai-based Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC) has said it will produce six test aircraft, with the second expected to make its maiden flight before the end of the year.

The first C919 completed its maiden flight in May and has now made a total of five test flights. It will remain at the Yanliang base to undergo more tests to acquire airworthiness certificates.

“We have prepared a detailed work plan to ensure the safety of the flight from Shanghai to Yanliang,” Cai said.

Global access for the C919 will be boosted by a Sino-US aircraft certification agreement signed last month, COMAC said yesterday.

The agreement between the Civil Aviation Administration of China and the US Federal Aviation Administration will widen mutual recognition of each country’s aviation products.

“It is an essential step for the C919 to enter the international market,” Wu Yue, C919 project general manager, told China Central Television. “The certification environment for the C919 will surely get better, because FAA certification has been recognized by many nations.”

Under the agreement, the FAA will certify the importation of the aircraft or plane parts from China, apart from some technical evaluations, on the basis of CAAC certification documents.

The European Aviation Safety Agency has also said it is in the process of certifying the C919.

Airworthiness certifications from FAA and EASA have long been the market threshold for the global civil aviation industry.

The C919, which has 168 seats and a range of about 5,000km, will compete with the updated Airbus A320 and new-generation Boeing 737.

https://twitter.com/x/status/928695407001059328

 

[samsara]

China's domestic large aircraft C919 for the first time flew to a "faraway distance"!
China's domestically made large passenger jet C919 flew from Shanghai Pudong/PVG to Yanliang Airport in Xi'An, Shaanxi Province, on November 10th, went to the China's Flight Test Center for further comprehensive test mission there. This is the very first time the C919 has landed outside Shanghai. (Xinhua 2017.11.10)

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[JSCh]

Welcome to Yanliang.

 

[yusheng]

中国飞行试验研究院
Chinese Flight Test Establishment

 

[samsara]

...
China-made jetliner performs well in high-plateau test flight
Xinhua | Updated: 2017-10-19 14:59

XINING - China's homegrown regional jetliner, the ARJ21-700, has successfully completed its trial flight on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, demonstrating its ability to fly safely at high elevations.

The regional jetliner travelled along several air routes in Qinghai province over the course of five days last week, according to Qinghai Airport Co Ltd.

The test included an engine-start ground test at the high altitude airport, flight performance verification testing and take-off and landing tests.

"The successful trial flight shows that the ARJ21-700 is able to fly along air routes in the region at around 3,000 meters above sea level," said Wu Zhaowei from the test verification division of the ARJ21 program department of the Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC).

ARJ21-700, produced by COMAC, is a jet with 78 to 90 seats and a flight range of 2,225 to 3,700 km. It mainly serves China's central and western cities.

The number of passenger planes that can be used in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is limited due to thin air and complicated terrain and climate.

"If the ARJ21-700 enters the market, rural residents there will be able to travel more quickly at a cheaper price," said Meng Jun, a staff member with the Qinghai Airport Co.

In July this year, COMAC obtained a production license from the General Administration of Civil Aviation, which means it can mass produce the ARJ21-700.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2017-10/19/content_33449941.htm


Note: the seemingly similar story earlier in March had the flight test done at the lower altitude:
"... The aircraft completed the test near Xining Airport, which is 2,184 meters above sea level..."

China's ARJ21 passes flight test over Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (2017-03-06)
http://en.people.cn/n3/2017/0306/c90000-9186382.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is the specific design requirement for ARJ21 requested by the domestic customers in China. The drawback is the aircraft needs more powerful engine resulting in lower fuel efficiency. And some sceptical commentators on Chinese aviation technology mistaken this capability as the poor engineering because it cannot compete in term of fuel efficiency as good as the Western or Japanese-made aircraft.
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NO WONDER the airlines in China necessitate this regional jetliner, ARJ21, to possess the ability to fly safely at high elevations... I am just aware that 8 out of 10 highest altitude airports in the world are located in China.

-----------------------------------------

The top 10 highest altitude airports in the world
By Akanksha Gupta

China has breathtakingly high airports, hosting eight of the 10 highest altitude airports in the world, including the world's highest Daocheng Yading Airport 4,411m above sea level. Airport-technology.com lists the world's 10 highest altitude airports by altitude.

#1 Daocheng Yading Airport, China
Daocheng Yading Airport, which opened in September 2013, is the highest-altitude airport in the world. It is located at an elevation of 4,411m. The airport serves Doacheng County in the Garzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province.

The airport comprises of a single runway which is 4,200m long and 45m wide, and a 5,000m² terminal building. The airport is powered by six patented Resibloc dry-type transformers rated at 4,688kW, supplied by ABB.

The airport was constructed with an investment of CNY1.58bn ($255m). The travel time from Daocheng to Chengdu, which formerly required a two-day bus trip, has been reduced to just one hour with the opening of the airport. The airport is expected to serve 280,000 passengers a year and flight services to Guangzhou, Shanghai and Xi’an are expected to start in 2014.

#2 Qamdo Bamda Airport, China
Qamdo Bamda Airport, also known as Changdu Bangda Airport, is the world’s second highest-altitude commercial airport. It is located at an elevation of 4,334m, serving the town of Qamdo (Changdu) in Tibet, China.

The airport features the world’s longest paved runway, measuring 5,500m long, and a terminal building. An expansion project is currently underway, which upon completion in 2015, will enable the airport to handle 180,000 passengers a year.

The expansion project is worth RMB 270m (approximately $45m) and is being funded by the NDRC and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The project will involve conversion of the existing terminal into a warehouse, construction of a new terminal covering 4,000m², a new apron and repairs to the runway and apron surface.

#3 Kangding Airport, China
Kangding Airport is located in the Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, approximately 38km from Kangding, the capital of Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in western Sichuan Province, China. At 4,280m elevation above sea level, it is the world’s third highest-altitude commercial airport.

The airport’s 4,000m long runway caters to medium sized passenger / cargo aircraft, such as the Airbus A319-100 and Boeing 737-700. The terminal at the airport serves about 330,000 passengers and 1,980t of cargo per year.

The airport cuts down the journey time to Chengdu City by 35 minutes. It was constructed with an investment of one billion Yuan ($120m). Zhongnan Airports Construction Corporation was the main contractor. Commercial operations were started in October 2008.

#4 Ngari Gunsa Airport, China
Ngari Gunsa Airport, also known as Ali Airport, is the fourth highest-altitude airport in the world. The dual-purpose military and civil airport serves the city of Shiquanhe in Ngari Prefecture, south-west of China’s Tibet Autonomous Region near the Indian border. The airport is situated at an elevation of 4,274m.

The airport is expected to handle 120,000 passengers on a daily basis by 2020. It has a runway measuring 4,500m long.

Construction works on the airport commenced in May 2007 and commissioning took place in July 2010. The first commercial flight to the airport was that of an A319 jetliner operated by Air China. The total investment made on the airport’s development was CNY1.65bn ($241.22m).

#5 El Alto International Airport, Bolivia
El Alto International Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional El Alto in Spanish; formerly John F. Kennedy Airport), is the fifth highest-altitude airport in the world. It is located in the city of El Alto, approximately 14km south-west of La Paz City. It is situated at an elevation of 4,061.5m.

The existing airport was inaugurated in 1965. It underwent expansions in the 1970s and in 2006. Abertis Airports is the operator of the airport

The airport has two runways measuring 4,000m (paved) and 2,050m (unpaved), and one terminal. Passenger facilities at the terminal include a bank, bars, restaurant and duty-free shops.

#6 Yushu Batang Airport, China
Yushu Batang Airport, situated at an elevation of 3,890m, is the sixth highest-altitude airport in the world. The airport is located 18km south of Gyegu (Jyekundo) town and serves Yushu City in Qinghai Province.

Construction of the airport started in 2007 and services were launched in May 2009. It has cut the travel time between Jiegu town of Yushu and Qinghai’s capital of Xining to just 70 minutes, which otherwise takes 15 hours.

The airport served 7,484 passengers during the first year of its operation. Its terminal is expected to handle 80,000 passengers per annum starting from 2015. The 3,800m long runway at the airport is big enough to accommodate A319 aircraft.

#7 Inca Manco Cápac International Airport, Peru
Inca Manco Cápac International Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional Inca Manco Cápac in Spanish) is located in the Puno Region, Province of San Román Juliaca, about five kilometers from the city of Juliaca. It is located at an elevation of 3,826m, standing as the seventh highest altitude airport in the world.

The airport was opened in 1959 and is currently operated by Corporación Peruana de Aeropuertos y Aviación Comercial (CORPAC). It has a 4,200m long paved runway and a passenger terminal covering a floor area of 1,865m².

The airport features 90 tolled vehicle parking spaces. The control tower is 25m high comprising of seven floors. The airport does not offer international flight connectivity at present.

#8 Shigatse Peace Airport, China
Shigatse Peace Airport, also known as Shigatse Air Base, is a military and civil airport located in Hongdang County, Shigatse Prefecture, in the Tibet Autonomous Region. It is 43km away from Shigatse City, the second largest city in Tibet. It is the eighth highest-altitude airport in the world, situated at an elevation of 3,782m.

The airport was originally opened in 1973 for military use. Civil operations were started in October 2010, following a CNY532m ($88m) expansion project that was launched in April 2009.

The airport has a runway measuring 5,000m and a terminal covering an area of 4,500m². It is expected to handle 230,000 passengers and 1,150t of cargo per annum by 2020.

#9 Lhasa Gonggar Airport, China
Lhasa Gonggar Airport, which serves the city of Lhasa, the capital city of the Tibet Autonomous Region, is located about 62km south-west of Lhasa, at the southern bank of the Yarlung Zangbo River in Gonggar County, Shannan Prefecture. At 3,570m elevation, it is the ninth highest-altitude airport in the world.

The airport became operational in 1965. It serves as a major hub for Tibet Airlines and accommodates up to five A340 or seven Boeing 757 aircraft simultaneously. It features a two-storey passenger terminal, and two runways measuring 4,000m (Asphalt) and 3,600m (Concrete) in length. The second runway was constructed in 1994. The terminal facilities were upgraded in 2004.

The first highway in Tibet named Lhasa / Gonggar airport highway forming part of National Highway 318 and connecting the airport was commissioned in July 2011.

#10 Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport, China
Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport is located two kilometres from Chuanzhusi Town, in Songpan County of Aba Prefecture, Sichuan Province. It is the world’s tenth highest altitude airport, at an elevation of 3,448m. Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is located 240km from this airport.

The Jiuzhai Huanglong airport serves about 800,000 passengers a year and is operated by Sichuan Jiuzhaihuanglong Airport Company. Passenger services were started in September 2003.

The airport was expanded twice in 2006 and 2011. It currently features a single passenger terminal building covering an area of 17,000m², and a runway measuring 3,400m long.


5 NOVEMBER 2013
http://www.airport-technology.com/features/feature-the-top-10-highest-altitude-airports-in-the-world/
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[samsara]

First private jet version ARJ21-700, registered as 110 (B-001T), made its maiden flight on 23 November in Shanghai.

https://twitter.com/x/status/933919334375682048

 

[onebyone]

https://twitter.com/x/status/933973689820786689

 

[kristisipe]

C919 Completes First Test Flight after Intercity Journey to Yanliang

At 0:56 & 20:48 in the second video, it mentions the second C919 is preparing for its first test flight.

 

[Deino]

No. 02 is rolling

https://twitter.com/x/status/936828204202917888

 

[samsara]

The 2nd C919 #102 completed its 1st low speed taxiing on Thursday, 30 November at Pudong airport.
dafeng cao 9:23 PM - 1 Dec 2017

Exclusive video! C919 #102 aircraft completed the first taxiing test!
独家视频！C919飞机102架机完成首次滑行试验！
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/oANlUnf_V-x8sbkMR05E1Q

I was preparing the post then my attention was distracted by other things so it's delayed then I saw duplication upon posting
。。。

 

[samsara]

The second #C919 (B-001C) is scheduled to take its first flight on Friday, December 15th,
an exciting step in the C919 program! Let the countdown begin!

https://twitter.com/x/status/936664994216677376

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[cirr]

C919 gains another 55 orders, lifting total orders to 785

2017-12-06 08:51 chinadaily.com.cn Editor: Wang Zihao

China's homegrown large passenger plane C919 takes off from Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, East China, Nov 10, 2017. (Photo/Xinhua)

The C919, China's first home-developed large passenger plane, gained another 55 orders on Tuesday from ICBC Leasing Co Ltd, China's largest aircraft leasing company by assets, lifting its total orders to 785.

Commercial Aircraft Corp of China Ltd, the manufacturer of the C919, signed an agreement with ICBC Leasing in Beijing. So far, C919 has netted orders from 27 Chinese and overseas customers.

Back in 2011, ICBC Leasing, a subsidiary of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, ordered 45 C919 aircraft. The latest deal makes the leasing company the single largest C919 customer with an order of 100 planes.

As of October, ICBC Leasing managed total capital worth 300 billion yuan ($45 billion) and 555 aircraft, in addition to a large number of shipping assets and large-scale equipment.

In November, the C919 passenger jet completed its first long-haul flight from Shanghai to Xi'an, Shaanxi province, and it will now start a series of test flights at the testing base in Yanliang, Shaanxi province.

Last week, the second C919 test aircraft completed its first taxiing test at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, and it is expected to conduct its debut flight by the end of the year.

Lin Zhijie, an aviation industry analyst and columnist at Carnoc.com, one of China's largest civil aviation web portals, said the C919's entry to the market won't occur very soon. It is expected to go into operation between 2020 and 2022.

http://www.ecns.cn/business/2017/12-06/283351.shtml

 

[Deino]

https://twitter.com/x/status/939765912780947456