Tue, Mar 13, 2007
Plans To Develop Homegrown Plane By 2020
Boeing and Airbus may be about to get some competition at the
big end of the market. The Guardian Unlimited reports China's
state-run media has announced a government plan to develop its own
large airliners by 2020.
With an exploding domestic economy, China is spending billions
on imported airliners. The announcement by the Xinhua news agency
of an accelerated home-grown large-airliner program cited the
national prestige associated with the venture. A similar agenda is
driving China's manned space program.
China has grown dramatically in recent years as a supplier of
aircraft parts for foreign companies. Embraer now has a factory
there, and Airbus plans to build A320's there.
Recent sales surges by Boeing and Airbus have a lot to do with
the staggering need for more planes for Chinese airlines.
Recognizing the growth of China's aviation market, the FAA recently
opened an office in Shanghai.
Next year, test flights will begin for the ARJ21 (shown above),
a small jet built by the same Chinese consortium planning to
develop the new, larger jet. Foreign suppliers have provided
support for the ARJ21, and there are already 70 orders from Chinese
airlines.
That provides a needed foundation for growth into the market for
larger planes, said Liu Daxiang, deputy head of science and
technology development at China Aviation Industry Corporation I,
the consortium tasked with building the ARJ21.
"We are now fairly well conditioned for making large aircraft,"
said Liu Daxiang, deputy head of science and technology development
at the aircraft manufacturers' consortium China Aviation Industry
Corporation I, which will build the plane.
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