Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC, 中國商用飛機公司) plans to build an assembly line for its homegrown C919 jetliners in Shanghai, the latest step in the country’s ambitions to become a leader in world aviation.
The company announced the showcase project following a signing ceremony on Wednesday with officials of Shanghai’s Pudong District, where the plant will be set up.
China is counting on the C919, a narrow-body, single-aisle aircraft that is the nation’s newest and biggest homegrown commercial jetliner, to compete against Western rivals in the high-stakes international aviation market.
Construction of the factory is to begin soon, with capacity to reach 20 C919s and 50 ARJ 21-series regional jets by 2016, the company said in a statement.
Shanghai-based COMAC was set up last year to develop and build passenger aircraft. The company also has research and development facilities in Pudong.
The C919 is due to make its maiden flight by 2014 and to begin deliveries to customers by 2016.
Earlier this week, General Electric’s aviation unit teamed up with Aviation Industry Corp of China, COMAC’s state-run parent company, to develop and market electronic systems for commercial aircraft customers, including the C919 narrow-body aircraft.
GE is also supplying engines for the 70 to 110-seat ARJ-21 passenger jet, designed for the local market.
China’s huge aviation market has continued to grow quickly, despite the world economic slump. Air passenger traffic rose nearly 20 percent in the first 10 months of the year from the year before to 191.9 million, China’s Civil Aviation Administration said.
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