Comac C919

Comac C919
N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	C919
Manufacturer	Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China
First flight	2017-05-05
Introduced	2022 (estimated)
Status	In production

Comac C919 The C919 is a narrow-body, twin-engined airliner developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) to compete with the Airbus A320neo family, Boeing 737 MAX and regional types such as the Sukhoi Superjet 100 and Irkut MC-21. It was conceived as a symbol of China's industrial ambitions during administrations led by Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping and has been part of national programs alongside projects like the Shenzhou program and BeiDou Navigation Satellite System. The program has involved major aerospace companies and institutions including Aviation Industry Corporation of China, GE Aviation, Safran, Honeywell International Inc. and research centers in Shanghai and Xi'an.

Development

Development of the program began in the 2000s within a strategic framework that included the National People's Congress planning and input from the State Council of the People's Republic of China. COMAC signed cooperative agreements with Airbus, Boeing, Rolls-Royce Holdings, General Electric, Safran Group and numerous suppliers during the 2000s and 2010s. The program reached milestones such as preliminary design reviews overseen by engineers from the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics and certification coordination with the Civil Aviation Administration of China and dialogues with agencies like the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the US Federal Aviation Administration. Political and trade contexts involving United States–China relations, World Trade Organization disputes and export controls influenced sourcing decisions and partner selection.

Design

The airframe uses composite materials and aluminium alloys sourced from Chinese and international suppliers and features a two-class seating arrangement similar to the Airbus A320 family and the Boeing 737 Classic. Aerodynamic features include winglets influenced by research at the National University of Singapore and computational fluid dynamics inputs from institutions like Tsinghua University and Beihang University. Avionics suites were provided by international integrators with parts from Honeywell, Rockwell Collins and Thales Group and systems architecture influenced by standards used on aircraft such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350. Powerplant choices included variants of CFM International engines and options assessed against competitors including Pratt & Whitney PW1000G family and GE Aviation CFM LEAP engines. Interior design took cues from interiors by Pininfarina, Zodiac Aerospace and cabin ergonomics research from Sichuan University.

Variants and Specifications

Planned and proposed variants mirror common families like the Airbus A320neo family and Boeing 737 MAX with range and seating alternatives. Key specifications publicly discussed include typical two-class seating for about 158–174 passengers and single-class capacities approaching 200, maximum takeoff weight comparisons with the Embraer E195-E2 and Bombardier CSeries (now Airbus A220). Performance claims were benchmarked against aircraft such as the Boeing 737-800 and Airbus A321 in range and fuel burn metrics, with variant designations corresponding to different range and engine configurations. Structural testing used facilities similar to those at the Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and manufacturing techniques comparable to those used for the Comac ARJ21 regional jet.

Testing and Certification

Flight testing commenced with maiden flight activities monitored by engineers and observers from Beijing Capital International Airport and test centers such as the Xi'an Flight Test Center. The flight test campaign included long-duration envelope expansion sorties and systems validation comparable to campaigns run for the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350. Certification processes have involved the Civil Aviation Administration of China and interactions with international authorities like the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration, with attention from aerospace media outlets including FlightGlobal and Aviation Week & Space Technology. Geopolitical issues such as export control decisions by the United States Department of Commerce affected access to some components during certification.

Operational History

Entry-into-service for initial operators began after type approval and involved airlines including China Eastern Airlines, Air China, China Southern Airlines and leasing partners such as ICBC Financial Leasing and Bocomm Leasing. Routes operated include domestic trunk services connecting hubs like Beijing Capital International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. The type has been positioned to replace older fleets like the Boeing 737 Next Generation series and Airbus A320ceo fleets within Chinese carriers' networks and has been part of fleet modernization strategies discussed at events such as the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition.

Orders and Operators

Launch orders and memoranda of understanding were signed by state-owned carriers, leasing companies and private operators, including major deals with China Eastern Airlines, Air China and China Southern Airlines, as well as leasing agreements with firms like CITIC Capital and Hainan Airlines Group. International interest and letters of intent were reported from carriers and lessors in regions served by manufacturers such as Ilyushin Finance Co. and discussions appeared at airshows including the Dubai Airshow and Paris Air Show. Deliveries have been tracked by aviation analytics firms like CAPA - Centre for Aviation and Cirium.

Incidents and Safety

Operational incidents involving the program have drawn scrutiny from regulators and media outlets such as Reuters, BBC News and The New York Times, prompting safety reviews by the Civil Aviation Administration of China and internal audits at COMAC. Investigations and service bulletins followed industry practice used by manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus after events affecting in-service types. Airworthiness directives and maintenance instructions referenced standards set by organizations such as the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Air Transport Association.

Category:Comac aircraft