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

[TaiShang]

C919 passenger jet ready to lift Chinese aviation industry
By Zhu Wenqian in Zhuhai (China Daily) 08:22, November 02, 2016

The C919 passenger jet was unveiled as it was rolled out from the final assembly line in Shanghai on Nov 2, 2015. Yin Liqin / For China Daily

With China's J-20 stealth fighter making its public debut on Tuesday at Air Show China, the country is about to take another big step with the first test flight of the C919 later this year or in early 2017, said officials.

The much-anticipated C919, a large, homegrown passenger jet, is expected to provide a major impetus to domestic airplane manufacturing as it clinches new orders before its first test flight.

The latest news on the single-aisle, 168-passenger, twin-engine jet has been a highlight of this week's China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai.

"After the C919 aircraft enters the market, it is expected to drive the growth of related manufacturing industries, including airplane materials manufacturing, electronic engineering, automation and mechanical manufacturing," said Li Xiaojin, a professor at the Civil Aviation University of China in Tianjin.

"Besides, a cohort of Chinese talent will be fostered in those high-tech sectors. As a concept product with critical symbolic significance, C919 is set to stimulate Chinese aviation industrial growth."

Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines Corp, one of the three major State-owned Chinese airlines, will become the first to take delivery of the C919, officials with plane's manufacturer, Commercial Aircraft Corp of China Ltd, said on Tuesday at the Zhuhai air show.

"Our staff is working on the project nearly 24 hours a day, and we would like to speed up the pace to conduct the first test flight," said Yang Yang, director of the marketing research center at COMAC Shanghai Aircraft Design and Research Institute.

Within one year of the test flight, China Eastern will start discussions to purchase five C919 aircraft, according to a COMAC statement.

China Eastern said it would fully showcase the safety and other advanced designs of the jet, and contribute to large-scale applications and future development of the homemade passenger jet.

Meanwhile, COMAC also signed an agreement with Shanghai-based aircraft leasing company SPDB Financial Leasing on Tuesday, and it received five confirmed orders and 15 intentional orders from the company, COMAC said.

China is gearing up to become a global aviation power by building its own aircraft with homemade engines. So far, COMAC has received 570 orders for the C919 from 23 customers, including Air China and China Southern.

Li said China's aviation authorities take the safety of the aircraft seriously. If C919 can pass the navigability test, there shouldn't be any worries regarding safety. In terms of economical efficiency and comfort, there maybe some distance yet between C919 and foreign-made aircraft, he said.

"In the short term, the C919 won't have much of an impact on major European and US aircraft manufacturers, since it will take a very small market share, and it currently mainly serves as a supplemental product," he said.

"In the long term, the jet has the potential to be exported to other countries."

 

[haidian]

 

[haidian]

China: China's largest ever unmanned combat drone unveiled

 

[TaiShang]

Wide-body jet to be built by China, Russia in Shanghai
By ZHU WENQIAN in Zhuhai (China Daily) November 03, 2016

The model of a wide-body commercial jet to be built by China and Russia was unveiled at the Zhuhai air show on Wednesday. It will compete with Boeing and Airbus. Yin Liqin / For China Daily

A wide-body commercial jet being developed by China and Russia is expected to be delivered in 10 years, as early as three years after its first test flight, according to a timetable announced by domestic plane manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corp of China.

COMAC, which based its prediction on past research and manufacturing experience, issued a statement on Wednesday saying that the company and Russia's United Aircraft Corp have set up a Shanghai-based joint venture to develop the jumbo jet. The company is expected to start operating by year's end.

The project signals the two countries' ambitions to compete in the wide-body market, dominated by United States aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co and Europe's Airbus Group. Research and development for the new jet will be conducted in Moscow, with assembly in Shanghai.

"It is hoped the development of wide-body aircraft will drive the growth of many related aircraft manufacturing sectors like building engines. China will be able to learn and apply the experiences of Russia, enhancing the manufacturing level of the nation's aviation industry," said Li Xiaojin, a professor at the Civil Aviation University of China in Tianjin.

"China is about to start manufacturing wide-body aircraft, which have high standards in terms of aircraft engine technologies and aircraft materials," he said. "China and Russia still face some difficulties in making competitive wide-body jets given their current manufacturing levels."

Witnessed by President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart, COMAC and UAC signed a pact in June to co-develop a wide-body jet.

The 280-seat wide-body jet would have a range of 12,000 kilometers. It would be an economical and efficient jet incorporating heavy use of composite materials, according to COMAC and UAC. They also plan to develop longer and shorter series of wide-body jets to complement the basic version.

"The direct costs of our wide-body jet will be 10 percent lower than those of peer aircraft. That's among our research and development goals," said Guo Bozhi, director of wide-body project at COMAC.

The company targets the global market and will boost competitiveness in a fragmented market, Guo added.

 

[CountStrike]

Airshow China: Rolls-Royce wins $700M order from China Southern
Published on: November, 3, 2016
Source and image:
Rolls-Royce


Rolls-Royce announced that it has won a $700m order from China Southern for Trent 700 engines to power ten Airbus A330 aircraft. The order includes TotalCare long-term engine service support.

The order was signed at Zhuhai Airshow, on the 2nd of November 2016, by Li Ming, Vice President of Maintenance and Engineering Department, China Southern, and Paul Hallam, Rolls-Royce, Vice President, Greater China – Civil Aerospace.

The airline currently operates 14 A330s that are powered by the Trent 700, five A380s powered by the Trent 900 and nine Boeing 757s powered by the RB211.

READ MORE:

Rolls-Royce runs world’s most powerful aerospace gearbox
Rolls-Royce announced that it has run the world’s most powerful aerospace gearbox for the first time, marking a significant step in the development of its new UltraFan engine design.

The engine has won more than 70% of new orders globally over the last four years and accounts for a similar percentage on future A330 deliveries. More than 1,600 Trent 700s are now in service or on firm order.
http://www.aerotime.aero/en/civil/1...lls-royce-wins-700m-order-from-china-southern

Airshow China: P&W Shanghai delivers its 600th overhauled engine
Published on: November, 3, 2016
Source and image:
Shanghai Engine Center


During Airshow China, 2nd of November 2016, Shanghai Pratt & Whitney (P&W) Aircraft Engine Maintenance Company (P&W Shanghai Engine Center) recently delivered its 600th overhauled CFM56 engine to China Eastern Airlines, marking a significant milestone for the engine center.

The facility combines P&W’s more than 90 years of experience producing dependable engines with China Eastern Airlines’ operational perspective.

Operating out of a 23,000-square-meter building with an 80,000-pound thrust test cell and in-house part repair capability, the Shanghai Engine Center was built for efficiency and designed with well-organized flow lines using P&W’s innovative ACE lean operating system.

READ MORE:

Farnborough 2016: Pratt & Whitney signs deal for up to 64 engines
Pratt & Whitney signed a deal for PW1100G-JM and V2500 engines to power up to 32 A320 family aircraft with an undisclosed leasing company.

Airworthiness approvals have been granted by the Federal Aviation Administration, European Aviation Safety Administration, Civil Aviation Authority of China and others.

Shanghai Engine Center is a joint venture between P&W and China Eastern Airlines. P&W’s is a division of United Technologies Corp.
http://www.aerotime.aero/en/civil/1...shanghai-delivers-its-600th-overhauled-engine

 

[CountStrike]

LEAD STORY: COMAC RECEIVES ADDITIONAL ORDERS OF GE'S CF34-POWERED ARJ21 AIRCRAFT

COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd.) held a signing ceremony on November 1 at the Zhuhai Air Show with China Aerospace Leasing Co., Ltd. (CASLC) for 20 firm and 20 options of ARJ21-700 aircraft powered by GE's CF34-10A engines.

7th Nov 2016



COMAC Receives Additional Orders of GE's CF34-powered ARJ21 Aircraft


COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd.) held a signing ceremony on November 1 at the Zhuhai Air Show with China Aerospace Leasing Co., Ltd. (CASLC) for 20 firm and 20 options of ARJ21-700 aircraft powered by GE's CF34-10A engines. The engine order for the 20 firm aircraft is valued at $155 million USD at list price.

"GE's CF34-10A engines that power the ARJ21 have been operating very well since entry into commercial service in June 2016. The ARJ21 has been demonstrating very good economics and providing great comfort to passengers," said Weiming Xiang, president of GE Aviation Greater China Region. "We will provide our full support to the operator Chengdu Airlines as well as COMAC and look forward to seeing more aircraft enter into service."

COMAC launched the ARJ21 program in 2002, and GE's CF34-10A engine was selected as the powerplant in the same year. The aircraft received Type Certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in late 2014.

The advanced technology of the CF34-10A engine, part of GE's CF34 family, is ideally suited to the design requirement of the ARJ21 aircraft and meets the demanding conditions of China's diverse environment, specifically the hot temperature and high altitude conditions experienced on many routes in Western China. The engine provides the thrust capability to meet aircraft performance requirements and offers customers low-cost operations with a highly reliable, easily maintainable propulsion system.

Based on the CF34-10E engine, the key CF34-10A design features include a wide-chord fan for higher thrust and high tolerance to foreign object damage; 3-D aerodynamic design airfoils in the high-pressure compressor for highly efficient, stall-free operation, as well as better fuel burn and higher exhaust gas temperature margins; a highly durable single annular, low-emissions combustor that meets or surpasses the most stringent emissions standards; and a single-stage high-pressure turbine for lower operating cost.

GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components, integrated digital, avionics, electrical power and mechanical systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings and is part of the world's Digital Industrial Company with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive.
http://www.asianaviation.com/articl...nal-Orders-of-GEs-CF34-powered-ARJ21-Aircraft

 

[ahojunk]

Captain rewarded $444,000 for avoiding plane crash
2016-11-03 16:23 | Ecns.cn | Editor: Mo Hong'e

(ECNS) -- China Eastern Airlines on Thursday rewarded the captain of its Airbus 320 three million yuan (about $443,852) for avoiding a tragedy at Hongqiao airport after he made an urgent but right decision on Oct. 11.

The Airbus 320 carrying 147 passengers to Tianjin was racing along the track for take-off around noon when an Airbus 330, also owned by China Eastern, began crossing the runway.

The captain of Airbus 320 made a decision to take off, flying over A330 and avoiding a deadly accident, according to an official within the control tower.

During the incident, the vertical minimum distance between the two airplanes was only 19 meters and 13 meters at the edges of wings.

A preliminary investigation showed that the tower controller was to blame for forgetting airplane dynamics, sending a wrong instruction to the Airbus 330 that resulting in an A level runway incursion.

He was also named as an outstanding member of the Communist Party of China, and the entire Airbus 320 crew was awarded 600, 000 yuan.

 

[TaiShang]

Chinese aviation industry takes off with homegrown technology
(Xinhua) 18:59, November 07, 2016

(File photo)

An international airshow that concluded Sunday has displayed China's new found prowess in aviation technology, with both state-owned and private firms contributing to progress.

The 11th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, which was held in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, featured a number of debuts for Chinese aviation technology, including the J-20 advanced stealth fighter.

"By focusing on innovation and technological breakthroughs, China has become one of the few countries to systematically develop advanced aeronautic weaponry across a wide spectrum," said Tan Ruisong, general manager of Aviation Industry Corporation of China, the conglomerate that manufactures the J-20.

The Y-20, a domestic-made transport aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of around 200 tonnes, also took to the skies at the show.

"We have learned one thing from years of experiences: only through independent research and development can we master the most advanced technology," said Tang Changhong, chief designer of Y-20.

State-owned aircraft maker Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China was among the biggest stars at the airshow. One leasing firm ordered 40 ARJ21-700 regional jets and two others ordered 56 C919 large passenger aircraft.

While passenger aircraft still depend on foreign-made engines, the state-owned Aero Engine Corporation of China announced plans at the airshow to deal with Honeywell on a number of initiatives concerning engines.

Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) also revealed plans to cooperate with Chinese firms in developing their own engines.

"One of our key areas of cooperation will be development of aircraft engines, including the PD-35 project," said UAC President Yury Slyusar told Xinhua.

While most "Made in China" aircraft on display were from state-owned companies, private firms also brought their latest creations to the show.

Drone-maker Starloop Aviation showed off their turbine-powered drones that can be used in emergency relief and environmental monitoring.

"The national strategy of integrating military and civilian sectors has opened up opportunities for private firms to invest in the aviation industry. Drones are one of the fields where private investment can actively engage," said Tian Song, chief executive of Starloop.

"Both military and civilian sectors have made big progress," said Fu Qianshao, an aviation expert. "In the future, the biggest challenge as well as opportunity lies in innovation. Chinese aviation needs innovation to 'take off'."

 

[CountStrike]

Boeing celebrates strategic partnership with China

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Boeing is 100 years old this year and for the past 45 years Boeing and China have established partnership based on mutual benefit, said John Bruns, president Boeing China, during an air show in South China.

"Boeing has made the major decision to extend its 737 production system overseas at the right time, bringing its innovative and strategic partnership with China to the next level," Bruns said in an interview with Xinhua at the 11th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition.

"The secret to vitality lies in innovating and believing in dreams, as well as in partnering with the right partner at the right time for joint development," Bruns said, adding Boeing has enjoyed a partnership with China, and China is crucial to Boeing's success in the next century.

On Oct 28, just a few days before the opening of the air show in Zhuhai, Boeing signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement on a Boeing 737 completion and delivery center with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd (COMAC) and Zhejiang province.

The center in Zhoushan in East China will be the first part of its 737 production system outside the United States.

"Boeing has followed its own logic and roadmap for its development in China, giving due and full consideration at each step of the way to maximizing the benefits of both sides," Bruns said.

From delivering aircraft to Chinese customers to partnering with China in production of parts and components; from market integration to joint innovation: "We've arrived where we are today so that we can take a new step," said Bruns.

"All types of Boeing aircraft with parts and components manufactured in China meet our requirements, and we're pleased to work with China's aviation enterprises to steadily enhance aviation manufacturing as well as innovation capabilities," said Bruns.

Boeing's deliveries to China each year account for one quarter of the world total, and one third of all 737 aircraft deliveries are bound for China.

In addition, parts and components made by Chinese manufacturers serve the global aerospace industry. AVIC Chengfei Commercial Aircraft Co delivered the first batch of rudders for Boeing 737MAX and the new widebody 787-10 on Sept 9, the delivery of a critical component.

"We regard China as a very important strategic partner, not only because of the civil aviation market and potential, but also because we are willing to provide support to our Chinese partners.

"Making each other successful is more in line with our long-term interest and steady cooperation between the two sides," said Bruns.

Seats for passenger aircraft produced by Ali-Jiatai have been listed as an option in the 737 equipment catalog. "This brings more options for our customers domestically and around the world," Bruns added.

On Nov 1, COMAC and Boeing signed an agreement to expand research collaboration and explore new technology for sustainable aviation biofuel through the Boeing-COMAC sustainable aviation technology center.

"The global aviation market is a huge pie that is getting bigger and bigger. There are always new entrants joining in as many countries want aircraft manufacturing capability.

"Boeing welcomes competition that is conducive to the sound development of the industry and we are confident of keeping our advantages through innovation," he said.

He explained that when COMAC was established Boeing began collaboration in biofuel, safety and other fields. The latest research center is a testament to that cooperation.

To Bruns, China is not just a remarkable market, it will become a strong competitor in global commercial aviation, reforming the current structure of market.

"Boeing has established an innovative and strategic partnership with China's aviation industry, striving for collaboration while maintaining competition," said Bruns.

To maintain cooperation while competing with each other creates a subtle and challenging situation which requires confidence and strength. Bruns believes Boeing and China will both benefit and grow stronger through collaboration.

"The future will be more challenging for Boeing and we choose to face it boldly," Bruns said.

http://china.org.cn/business/2016-11/08/content_39658052.htm

 

[JSCh]

Tuesday, November 8, 2016, 10:36
AVIC to put domestic cargo jet in the skies
By Zhao Lei

A model of the Y-20F-100 is displayed at the 11th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, earlier this month. (Provided To China Daily)

China's leading aircraft maker is developing a large cargo jet based on the Y-20 military transport plane in an attempt to put an end to foreign dominance in the field.

Designers at the Aviation Industry Corp of China are doing preliminary research on the Y-20F-100, a civilian variant of the Y-20 heavy-lift transport jet developed for the People's Liberation Army, and they will redesign the airframe and cargo loading system, the State-owned defense technology giant said in a statement.

"This project represents our commitment to transferring military technologies to boost civilian sectors and will fill the absence of a domestically developed large cargo plane," the statement said.

By the end of last year, there were 122 freight planes in use by cargo airlines on the Chinese mainland and most of their large freight jets were made by Boeing and Airbus, according to AVIC statistics.

Meanwhile, heavy-duty cargo jets used by the People's Liberation Army were mainly imported from Russia, industry observers said, adding that only a handful of aviation firms in the world are able to design and produce large cargo jets.

The Y-20F-100 will be longer than the Y-20 and can carry 28 airfreight containers, or 65 metric tons of cargo, as well as supersized engineering equipment. It has a maximum range of 8,000 km, AVIC said.

A small-scale model of the Y-20F-100 was displayed at the 11th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, which ran from Tuesday to Sunday in Zhuhai, Guangdong province.

The biennial event, commonly known as the Zhuhai Air Show, is believed to be the largest arms exhibition in Asia.

Development of the Y-20 started in 2007. It took its maiden flight in January 2013, and performed flight shows at the 10th Zhuhai Air Show in November 2014 and again last week.

The first batch of Y-20s was delivered to the PLA Air Force in July.

Zhu Qian, head of AVIC's large aircraft development office, previously told China Daily that more than 1,000 Y-20s and its civilian variants will be needed, explaining that this figure was calculated based on the experience of the United States and Russia, as they have used heavy-lift transport aircraft for many years.

Fu Qianshao, an aircraft expert with the PLA Air Force, said the Y-20 will be developed into a large family that will consist of early-warning planes, aerial refueling tankers and several civilian models.

In addition, China will develop transport jets that are even larger than the Y-20, like the US' Lockheed C-5 Galaxy and former Soviet Union's Antonov An-225 Mriya, according to Zhu.

 

[JSCh]

China's first home-made big passenger plane C919 closer to debut
(CRI) Updated: 2016-11-13 08:33

China's first domestically produced large passenger aircraft, C919, has successfully completed key tests on its engines, marking the final stage of its testing phase. Production for use of the C919, the Commercial Aircraft Cooperation of China (COMAC), is secheduled for sometime of next year. 21 foreign and domestic customers have already placed over 500 orders for the jet. COMAC estimates the potential market of C919 is worth more than 650 billion yuan (100 billion US dollars).[Photo from Sina Weibo]

China's first domestically produced large passenger aircraft, C919, has successfully completed key tests on its engines, marking the final stage of its testing phase.[Photo from Sina Weibo]

China's first domestically produced large passenger aircraft, C919, has successfully completed key tests on its engines, marking the final stage of its testing phase.[Photo from Sina Weibo]

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China's first domestically produced large passenger aircraft, C919, has successfully completed key tests on its engines, marking the final stage of its testing phase.[Photo from Sina Weibo]

 

[Beast]

China's first home-made big passenger plane C919 closer to debut
(CRI) Updated: 2016-11-13 08:33

China's first domestically produced large passenger aircraft, C919, has successfully completed key tests on its engines, marking the final stage of its testing phase. Production for use of the C919, the Commercial Aircraft Cooperation of China (COMAC), is secheduled for sometime of next year. 21 foreign and domestic customers have already placed over 500 orders for the jet. COMAC estimates the potential market of C919 is worth more than 650 billion yuan (100 billion US dollars).[Photo from Sina Weibo]

China's first domestically produced large passenger aircraft, C919, has successfully completed key tests on its engines, marking the final stage of its testing phase.[Photo from Sina Weibo]

China's first domestically produced large passenger aircraft, C919, has successfully completed key tests on its engines, marking the final stage of its testing phase.[Photo from Sina Weibo]

​

China's first domestically produced large passenger aircraft, C919, has successfully completed key tests on its engines, marking the final stage of its testing phase.[Photo from Sina Weibo]

Very close to initial flight. Maybe few weeks later.

 

[CountStrike]

Chinese aircraft manufacturer launches internet-based, global 'Moore Cloud' platform
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COMAC America Corporation has launched the "Moore Cloud Civil Aviation Technology Solutions platform," an internet-based virtual R&D, technical consulting and technology transaction online platform.

"This is one of our explorative initiatives. The internet-based R&D platform will first aim to solve talent issues we are facing for researching and developing C919, and the future wide-body aircraft project," Jin Zhuanglong, chairman of the Board of Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), told Xinhua.

According to COMAC America Corporation, the new platform focuses on building an internet-based and global platform for civil aviation technology transaction, virtual R&D and technical consulting. The project aims to connect project resources and human resources in both China and the United States.

"Moore Cloud" platform has three-stage missions. In the short-term, about one to three years, the new platform will support COMAC Series and provide quick and accurate technical consulting services. COMAC America Corporation plans to solve 5 percent of outsourced R&D demand in the first year.

Mid-term mission in about three to five years, the project aims to expand to civil aviation industry both home and abroad; And the long term mission in about five to 10 years, the project intends to extend to high-end complex system industry, and strive to build a COMAC civil aircraft "Virtual R&D Platform."

The day COMAC America Corporation launched Moore Cloud platform is on Singles' Day, China's annual online shopping extravaganza on Nov. 11.

Seen by many as China's version of Black Friday in the United States, Singles' Day has grown into a huge battle for market share among Chinese e-commerce companies. The most eye-catching event is Alibaba Group's Global Shopping Festival.

According to the company, sales on its platforms hit a record 120.748 billion Chinese yuan (17.8 billion U.S. dollars) in gross merchandise volume (GMV) during the 24-hour event on Friday.

"It is amazing how much Internet has changed our life," Ye Wei, executive director and president of the COMAC America Corporation told Xinhua.

 

[CountStrike]

GE and COMAC sign digital collaboration MOU
Published on: November, 16, 2016
Source and image:
GE Aviation


GE Aviation and COMAC announced that they signed an MOU on digital collaboration for using the data and analytics to bring greater operational efficiency to their operations.

Under the agreement, COMAC and GE plan to jointly explore and collaborate on digital solutions and applications on customer & product support monitoring & diagnostics, Intelligent Aircraft and Brilliant Manufacturing. The two companies will set up a joint team to launch pilot projects based on an earlier outcome based workshop and exchanges to verify the technical trends for further collaboration.

Jim Daily, Chief Digital Officer for GE Aviation, said: “This agreement with COMAC will enable our teams of software architects and aviation domain experts to jointly develop digital solutions at GE’s Shanghai digital collaboration center.”

Through the partnership, data scientists, software developers and architects from GE and COMAC plan to work together to refine some of the ten billion data points produced by the aviation sector annually into solutions that can achieve greater fleet intelligence and operational insights.

READ MORE:

GE Aviation, CFM secure $3B contract at Airshow China 2016
GE Aviation and CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines, announced more than $3 billion in orders and commitments at the Airshow China 2016 (1st – 6th of November 2016). The orders and commitments included more than 200 GE and CFM engines as well as agreements for TrueChoice suite of engine maintenance offerings.

In the past year, GE has opened collaboration centers in Shanghai, Dubai, Austin and Paris, connecting data, developers and Predix, the cloud-based operating system built exclusively for industry. Predix is powering innovative Industrial Internet apps that turn operational data into insight for better and faster decision making.

GE claimed that at present, nearly 100 airlines covering more than 10,000 aircraft are GE Aviation Digital Solutions’ customers for such services as flight and fuel analytics, navigation services, airline operations management and planning and recovery.

 

[CountStrike]

Chinese Plane Makers Should Meet Int'l Standards to Sell Aircraft to Iran: Minister
Tasnim Saturday 19th November, 2016

TEHRAN (Tasnim) - While China is trying to catch up with Western aircraft manufacturers for a share of Iran's market, an Iranian minister made it clear that Chinese planes must meet international standards and think of technical support before sales to Iran.

Iranian Minister of Road and Urban Development Abbas Akhoundi, who is in China with a business delegation, paid a visit to the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) in Shanghai.

COMAC is China's state-run aircraft manufacturer, established in 2008.

In comments during the visit, Akhoundi emphasized that Chinese planes will need to meet international safety standards before being used in Iran's fleet.

Chinese plane-makers ought to assure Iranian airlines and organizations of the safety, technical and quality standards, and should also guarantee the after-sales service, as well as technical and financial support, he added.

Iran signed deals with European and American plane manufacturers after coming into force of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a nuclear agreement between Tehran and the Group 51 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) reached in July 2015.

During a visit to Paris in January by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Tehran signed a major contract with Airbus worth about $27 billion to buy 118 aircraft.

Iran also sealed a deal in June worth around $25 billion with the US aerospace heavyweight, Boeing, for the purchase of 100 passenger planes.