C919

C919
N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	C919
Role	Narrow-body jet airliner
Manufacturer	COMAC
First flight	2017-05-05
Status	In service

C919 The C919 is a Chinese narrow-body commercial airliner developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC). It aims to compete with the Airbus A320neo family, Boeing 737 MAX and other single-aisle types in domestic and international markets. The program has involved collaboration and supply relationships with firms such as GE Aviation, Safran, Honeywell, and Rockwell Collins (now part of Collins Aerospace), while also drawing attention from regulators including the Civil Aviation Administration of China and foreign authorities.

Development

Development of the program began in the 2000s under plans associated with Chinese industrial policies and initiatives like Made in China 2025 and national aerospace strategies. The project was overseen by state-owned entities including Aviation Industry Corporation of China and COMAC, with engineering inputs from institutes such as the Chinese Aeronautical Establishment and research universities like Beihang University and Tsinghua University. International partnerships featured firms such as GE Aviation, Safran, Honeywell, UTC Aerospace Systems (later part of Collins Aerospace), and Zodiac Aerospace (now part of Safran). Political and trade contexts involved actors such as the United States Department of Commerce, the European Union and export control discussions involving Wassenaar Arrangement members.

Design and Specifications

The aircraft is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet designed to seat approximately 158–174 passengers in typical two-class layouts, comparable to the Boeing 737-800 and Airbus A320ceo. Propulsion choices included the CFM International LEAP engine and competing options from GE Aviation paired with systems from Safran Landing Systems and avionics from Honeywell and Rockwell Collins. Structural materials and suppliers involved composite work by firms such as Spirit AeroSystems, metallic components from Aviation Industry Corporation of China subsidiaries, and systems integration influenced by design houses like Daher and Latecoère partners. Aerodynamic features drew comparisons with the Airbus A320neo family's sharklets and the Boeing 737 MAX's high-bypass turbofan installations. Cabin configurations referenced interior suppliers like Zodiac Aerospace and in-flight entertainment strategies comparable to offerings from Thales Group and Panasonic Avionics Corporation.

Production and Testing

Assembly activities have been concentrated at facilities in Shanghai under COMAC, with supply chains extending to companies such as Honeywell, Safran, GE Aviation, Spirit AeroSystems, and multiple Chinese aerospace suppliers including Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation. Static, fatigue and systems tests involved test centers and organizations like China Aviation Industry Corporation I and independent laboratories at universities including Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Flight testing used prototype airframes and was conducted under oversight from the Civil Aviation Administration of China; flight-test campaigns paralleled processes seen in programs like the Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737 Next Generation. International cooperation and export controls affected procurement of some components similar to issues encountered by entities such as Embraer and Bombardier Aerospace in their supply chains.

Certification and Entry into Service

Certification was pursued first through the Civil Aviation Administration of China, with additional efforts to obtain validation from authorities such as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, Federal Aviation Administration, and other national agencies to enable international operations. The entry-into-service process involved airline partners including China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and leasing companies comparable to GE Capital Aviation Services and Aviation Capital Group in negotiating deliveries and acceptance flights. Type certification activities were influenced by precedent cases such as the Airbus A320neo certification and the Boeing 737 MAX grounding remediation processes.

Operational History

Commercial operations began with Chinese carriers on domestic routes, integrating the aircraft into networks alongside types like the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX. Operators used the type on routes linking hubs such as Beijing Capital International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and secondary airports like Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport. Performance assessments and airline feedback have been compared with operational histories of the Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737 family regarding fuel burn, reliability, and dispatch rates. The aircraft also factored into discussions about fleet modernization for carriers such as Hainan Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, and governmental transport units including state-owned airlines.

Orders and Operators

COMAC announced orders and letters of intent from airlines, lessors, and government-related entities including China Eastern Airlines, Air China, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, and leasing firms comparable to AerCap and SMBC Aviation Capital. Some orders echoed earlier large commitments for domestic models made by groups such as AVIC subsidiaries and provincial carriers. International interest included memoranda of understanding with foreign carriers and leasing companies in regions including Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, reflecting market engagements similar to those of Embraer and Boeing for single-aisle markets.

Incidents and Safety Considerations

Safety oversight has been a subject of scrutiny amid global attention to new types following incidents involving other aircraft families such as the Boeing 737 MAX and certification reviews like those carried out by the Federal Aviation Administration and European Union Aviation Safety Agency. Reports concerning systems, software integration, and supply-chain provenance prompted internal audits akin to reviews by National Transportation Safety Board investigators in other contexts. Emergency procedures, pilot training programs, and maintenance standards have been emphasized by operators and regulators including the Civil Aviation Administration of China and training organizations such as CAE Inc. and FlightSafety International.

Category:Commercial aircraft