China Civil Aviation Industry, Technology, Infrastructure: News & Discussions

[onebyone]

China's New Jet Will Seek Share of World's Largest Aircraft Market

• Comac said to prepare for maiden flight of C919 before end-May
• China’s single-aisle market to account for 75% of demand

China is set to become the world’s largest market for aircraft and the nation’s first domestically developed large jet will aim to grab a share of that business.

The country will need 6,810 aircraft valued at more than $1 trillion in the two decades through 2035, Boeing Co. predicted in September. That would make China the biggest single-country market for planes, and the third-largest as a region, behind Europe and North America.

State-backed Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China Ltd. is poised to conduct the first flight of the locally built C919 before the end of May, according to two people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because the information isn’t public. The test flight is delayed by more than a year.

The nation will surpass the U.S. as the world’s largest air-travel market even sooner, around 2024, according to the International Air Transport Association. The number of people flying to, from and within China will jump to 1.3 billion by 2035, compared with 1.1 billion for the U.S., IATA said.

Of China’s total plane demand in the 20-year period, 75 percent will be single-aisle -- a category dominated by Boeing’s 737 and Airbus SE’s A320 family that the C919 will be looking to break.

China Eastern Airlines Corp. will be the first carrier to take delivery of the C919. Comac received 570 orders as of November for the plane, which will need to be certified by U.S. and European authorities before it can fly there.

— With assistance by Dong Lyu

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...w-jet-amid-forecast-for-1-trillion-new-planes

 

[JSCh]

AC311A Helicopter Gets CAAC Type Certificate
By Lena Ge, China Aviation Daily | Aug. 16, 2016

File photo of AC311A/Xinhua​

AC311A, a light civilian helicopter jointly developed by AVIC Helicopter Co. (Avicopter) and Changhe Aircraft Industry Group, was officially certificated on Tuesday, August 16, marking a crucial step forward for the jet's entry into the market.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) issued a type certificate to Avicopter during a ceremony held in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, allowing commercial operation of AC311A helicopter.

Developed on the basis of AC311 helicopter, AC311A, nicknamed "Air Wizard", is a 2-tonne single engine light utility helicopter, seating 6 persons.

The AC311A helicopter improved its maximum takeoff weight to 2,250kg, as well as high-altitude performance and over-all properties. It is designed for business flying, transportation, aerial photography, firefighting, agriculture, forestry spraying, emergency rescue, police and law enforcement, especially at high altitudes.

At present, Avicopter has developed a series of AC civil helicopters in a relatively complete pedigree, including the one-tonne AC310 helicopter, the two-tonne AC311 helicopter, the four-tonne AC312 helicopter, the 7-tonne AC352 helicopter and 13-tonne AC313 helicopter.

China's homegrown helicopter completes test flight over Qinghai plateau
By Sun Wenyu (People's Daily Online) 17:07, April 25, 2017

China's domestically made helicopter AC311A completed a test flight in the mountainous Delingha, Qinghai province on April 24. The aircraft withstood conditions of high altitude, low-oxygen air and harsh weather.

"The helicopter's entrance to central and western China, especially the Qinghai plateau, aimed to provide an opportunity for people there to have close contact with the high-performance aircraft," said Xu Wei, vice president of AVIC Changhe Aircraft Industry (Group) Co., Ltd. The choice to complete a test flight on the plateau was also intended to showcase the helicopter's ability to cope with special climate and geographical conditions, Xu added.

The test flight lasted about two hours, and the helicopter climbed nearly 1,800 meters from an altitude of 2,900 meters. With a highest operating altitude of 4,700 meters, the plane successfully took off from and landed on the 4,100-meter-high Laha Lake tourist area.

The test flight was carried out to further expand the company's market share of police and civil helicopters in central and western China.

 

[TaiShang]

May set for Chinese airliner's maiden flight
China Plus, April 27, 2017

The C919, the first large passenger aircraft designed and built by China, is seen during a high-speed taxiing test in Shanghai, east China, April 23, 2017. The C919 passed a fourth high-speed taxiing test in Shanghai on Sunday.[Photo: Xinhua]


China's first domestically-produced large passenger aircraft, the C919, is ready to take its maiden flight in early May, the Shanghai Airport Authority announced on Wednesday.

Airport authorities in Shanghai also announced through Weibo that the C919 has already completed a series of high-speed taxiing tests, the last step before its maiden flight.

The C919, with over 150 seats and a flight range of 4,075 kilometers, is designed to compete with the updated Airbus A-320 and Boeing's new-generation 737, which currently dominate the market.

 

[JSCh]

World’s largest amphibious aircraft runs taxi test
Zhang Xu China Plus Published: 2017-04-29 19:22:02

China's large domestically produced amphibious aircraft, the AG600, takes its first taxiing test in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong province, on Saturday, April 29, 2017. [Photo: China Plus/Li Jin]

The world's largest amphibious aircraft, the China-made AG600, has taken a vital step towards its maiden flight by successfully conducting its first taxiing test on Saturday in Zhuhai of south China's Guangdong province, according to its developer Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AIC).

China's large domestically produced amphibious aircraft, the AG600, takes its first taxiing test in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong province, on Saturday, April 29, 2017. [Photo: China Plus/Li Jin]

It's reported that the AG600 is set for its maiden flights over land in May and on water in the second half of 2017.

The AG600, with a maximum range of 4,500 km, has a takeoff weight of 53.5 tonnes. It can collect 12 tonnes of water in 20 seconds and could be used to fight forest fires and for marine rescue missions.

Test pilots pose with the amphibious aircraft AG600 in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong province, on Saturday, April 29, 2017. [Photo: China Plus/Li Jin]

 

[cirr]

C919 maiden flight set for 05.05.2017:

 

[Dungeness]

This news deserves its own thread！




BUSINESS NEWS | Wed May 3, 2017 | 12:20am EDT

China's COMAC says maiden flight of C919 jet scheduled for May 5

The first C919 passenger jet made by the Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (Comac) is pulled out during a news conference at the company's factory in Shanghai, November 2, 2015. REUTERS/Stringer


The Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC) said on Wednesday the maiden flight for the C919, China's first domestically-produced large passenger plane, is scheduled for May 5.

The maiden flight will take place in the Shanghai Pudong International Airport, subject to weather conditions, COMAC said. State media agency Xinhua earlier on Wednesday reported the maiden flight's date.

Reuters, quoting sources, had reported last month that China planned to stage the maiden C919 flight on or around May 5.



(Reporting by Beijing Monitoring Desk; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-aviation-comac-flight-idUSKBN17Z07D?il=0

 

[war&peace]

Let's hope it goes well. It will be a small step in breaking the monopoly of the giants and a great step for Chinese domestic aviation industry.

 

[TaiShang]

C919 takes to the skies
China Daily, May 3, 2017

China's first domestically produced passenger plane completes a high-speed taxi test for the first time in Shanghai, April 16, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

The much-anticipated C919, a single-aisle homegrown passenger jet, will take to the skies for a debut flight on May 5, 2017. The first-time occasion will occur at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport, according to the Shanghai-based manufacturer of the C919, Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC).

The C919 is a commercial aircraft, built for medium-haul flights, with up to 174 seats and a twin engine. The aircraft will be expected to compete with the updated Airbus A320neo and the new-generation B737 MAX.

Lin Zhijie, an aviation industry analyst and columnist at Carnoc.com, one of China's largest civil aviation web portals, estimated the C919 aircraft would be put into operation between 2020 and 2022.

So far, 23 clients of COMAC have placed 570 orders for the C919, including domestic airlines such as Air China, China Southern and China Eastern, and Hainan Airlines and Sichuan Airlines.

Overseas orders also account for about 10 percent of the total, including airlines from Germany and Thailand, and others from the Asia Pacific region and Africa.

@cirr , @ahojunk , @GS Zhou , @AndrewJin , @terranMarine

 

[cirr]

Planning for engineering development of C929 has already started.

 

[Dungeness]

C919 Passenger Cabin:

C919 Cockpit：

 

[TaiShang]

China's homemade C919 secures 570 orders, says report
2017-05-04

Two technicians inspect an engine on the C919, China's first domestically produced single-aisle passenger jet, after a taxiing test on Wednesday.(Photo by Yin Liqin/China Daily)

China's first domestically produced single-aisle passenger jet, the C919, which is expected to make its maiden flight on Friday, has secured 570 orders from 23 clients, China Securities Network reported on Wednesday.

Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the Shanghai-based manufacturer of C919, said the aircraft has not only attracted domestic airlines such as Air China, China Southern, China Eastern, Hainan Airlines and Sichuan Airlines, but also foreign carriers, such as German startup PuRen Airlines and City Airways of Thailand.

Financial leasing companies, such as Ping An Leasing and CCB Financial Leasing, have become the biggest clients, with each of them ordering 50 units, while ICBC Leasing Co Ltd and ABC Financial Leasing have ordered 45 units each. COMAC has also received 20 orders from SPDB Financial Leasing and 36 from CITIC Financial Leasing, among others, according to the report.

Overseas orders account for about 10 percent of the total, including airlines from Germany and Thailand and others from Asia Pacific and Africa. GE Capital Aviation Services, the largest commercial airline leasing company worldwide, has ordered 20 C919s.

The orders show the increasing demand and confidence in the aircraft made in China, Tian Min, chief accountant of the COMAC, told media.


http://www.ecns.cn/2017/05-04/256085.shtml

 

[TaiShang]

Is this an end to the era of Airbus 320 neo and Boeing 737 max?

China’s first domestically designed commercial aircraft C919 has made its debut, while both Airbus and Boeing have recently announced job cuts to control costs. The two companies are seen as the main competitors of China's C919. So is this the end of an era of domination for Airbus 320 neo and Boeing 737 max?

Watch here:

http://watchthis.chinadaily.com.cn/video/content/home/WS590b2974a3104b55d65107d0

Staff workers check a C919, China's first domestically-built large passenger jet, at a hangar of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) in Shanghai, east China, May 4, 2017. The maiden flight of the C919 is scheduled for May 5. The flight will depart from Shanghai Pudong International Airport. "If weather conditions are not suitable, the maiden flight will be rescheduled," COMAC said. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)

http://www.china.org.cn/photos/2017-05/05/content_40751307_4.htm

 

[Dungeness]

Is this an end to the era of Airbus 320 neo and Boeing 737 max?

China’s first domestically designed commercial aircraft C919 has made its debut, while both Airbus and Boeing have recently announced job cuts to control costs. The two companies are seen as the main competitors of China's C919. So is this the end of an era of domination for Airbus 320 neo and Boeing 737 max?

Watch here:

http://watchthis.chinadaily.com.cn/video/content/home/WS590b2974a3104b55d65107d0

Staff workers check a C919, China's first domestically-built large passenger jet, at a hangar of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) in Shanghai, east China, May 4, 2017. The maiden flight of the C919 is scheduled for May 5. The flight will depart from Shanghai Pudong International Airport. "If weather conditions are not suitable, the maiden flight will be rescheduled," COMAC said. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)

http://www.china.org.cn/photos/2017-05/05/content_40751307_4.htm

No, but this is the end to our heart bleeding since Y-10.

 

[Dungeness]

Live:

http://live.sina.com.cn/zt/l/v/mil/c919sf/

Now it is on CCTV 13!

It is a big day for Chinese civil aviation! We have been waiting for this day for tooooooo loooooong! Take off, China!!!

 

[JSCh]

https://twitter.com/x/status/860377016452825090