I’m fascinated by developments in the global civil aviation industry, and wanted to share what I’m learning with you. Since I first wrote about China’s commercial aircraft aspirations 1 1/2 years ago, they have greatly accelerated their efforts.
China already has an Airbus A-320 assembly line in full operation at Tianjin. This past June that facility delivered its first completed airliner.
Last week, China’s commercial aviation industry picked up a good deal more steam with these announcements:
1. Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer’s announced that they will manufacture their E-190 120 seat jet in China under an agreement with China’s AVIC. As a result they will close down their own E-145 production line.
2. Next, and of greater interest, General Electric just signed on to supply the avionics (brains) for China’s new planes through a joint venture with AVIC. GE seems to take China’s entry into the prior Boeing Airbus airliner duopoly very seriously.
“This market is huge, and the Chinese aviation industry likely over the coming decades will be one of the biggest, if not the biggest, of the world.” This according to General Electric CEO Jeffrey Immelt.
Other commercial jets being produced in China include:
ARJ-21 regional jet. The 70-105 passenger plane just completed its first long-range test flight and is expected to be available for deliveries starting next year. That jet had original design elements from McDonell Douglas, and so resembles to a large degree the DC-9/B-717 family. Orders were primarily from Chinese carriers, although General Electric Commercial Aviation has a confirmed order for 5 planes and an option for 20 more.
C919 mid-size jet. This 168-190 seat narrow body jet, similar to the A-320, will be China’s largest airliner to date, and is expected to enter service within 5 years.
Chinese airplanes? Are we sure that’s a good idea?
I mean, think about China’s foray into making cars…Their SUV was deemed to be fatal in 40 mph collisions! Come on…40mph crashes fatal? And in side impact, it was even worse!
Take a look at this article:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/article567349.ece
Very scary when you read it…
Then go to this page:
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/non_aviation/read.main/943212/
What stands out here is the statement, “I guess safety is not a very high priority in China”
China has had a very spotted history with safety…Food (tainted milk) Toys (lead paint) And even the food during the Olympics was deemed so unsafe, that every country shipped in their own food for their athletes! Now they want people to fly in airplanes that they are building? I remember on one flight, the flight attendant was saying as we were leaving, that “next time you decide to hurtle through the air in a long aluminimum tube, at hundreds fo miles an hour, I hope you choose us”
It doesn’t make be feel too safe if that long, aluminum tube is made in China…
Ed