Move May Boost US Aviation Sales

The Federal Aviation Administration opened an office in Shanghai on Friday, a move that is expected to assist Chinese manufacturers' efforts to earn US certification for their aircraft and boost US aviation industry sales to China's fast-growing market.

Initially, the new office will primarily support efforts by China's General Administration of Civil Aviation to meet US safety standards and gain approval for its planned ARJ-21 passenger jet, said John Hickey, director of the FAA's Aircraft Certification Service.

Civil aviation authorities worldwide usually follow the FAA's lead on safety issues, as certification is a crucial step for any airliner, according to the Associated Press. Working so closely with China will undoubtedly assist many of the US companies working with China on the ARJ-21, Hickey said.

The ARJ-21 is described as a mid-sized jet capable of carrying 70 to 100 passengers and is being developed by the AVIC I Commercial Aircraft Company. This group of six companies and aerospace research institutes are carrying out the development and manufacture of the aircraft. The aircraft performance dimensions meet the demanding conditions in China, including the hot and high altitude conditions in Western China. 

"This is certainly facilitating the exchange of aeronautical products between the United States and China," Hickey said.

"Closer cooperation always helps," said Daniel Torres, Asian-Pacific flight operations manager for FedEx Corp., which is building a regional hub in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou.

Foreign manufacturers will supply at least 40 percent of the ARJ-21's components. A compelling amount of that business has gone to American companies.

General Electric Co. plans to supply the engines; Rockwell Collins Inc. is expected to supply the cockpit, Parker Hannifin Corp. the fuel system and Honeywell International Inc. the avionics. Production is scheduled to begin later this year with test flights beginning in March 2008.

Zheng Qiang, a vice president of China Aviation Industry Corp. said "We definitely will be able to test the jet next year. I am confident."

With 71 orders from domestic carriers such as Shanghai Airlines, Shandong Airlines and Xiamen Airlines, AVIC I is also eyeing export markets in Asia, Africa and South America.

"We have a cost advantage and a price advantage," Chen said. "With the safety certification I think we will have good prospects overseas."

FAA certification will also help other aircraft makers expand beyond China, said Chen Wenhao, general manager of Jiangxi Hongdu Aviation Industry Co. His small aircraft, used for crop dusting and forestry service, received the FAA's approval Friday.

Zheng said AVIC I expects to gain Chinese certification within the next two years and begin commercial production.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.geae.com/index.html