COMAC’s 1st overseas unit aims to build up ties
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E-mail Xinhua, November 25, 2013
The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China has opened its first wholly-owned overseas subsidiary in Newport Beach, South California in the United States.
The COMAC America Corporation aims to further the company's ties with local civil aviation authorities, aerospace companies and academic institutions, mainly in areas such as airworthiness certification, civil aircraft development and educational training, said Jin Zhuanglong, chairman of COMAC.
"The Chinese civil aviation market is the No. 1 booming market... The fast-growing Chinese civil aviation industry is now becoming an indispensable force to world aerospace industry," Jin said, adding that China is embracing an era of mass aviation with its remarkable air transport growth.
Jin noted COMAC has actively collaborated with various enterprises and organizations from different countries and regions.
"Up to now, we've formed strategic partnerships with 16 renowned international aerospace enterprises as suppliers to our C919 aircraft, including GE (General Electric Co), UTC (United Techonology Corporation) and Honeywell," he said.
"Various universities in the US have provided training programs to COMAC, and we have collaborated with Boeing on energy saving programs," Jin added.
COMAC now has two major products: the C919, China's first homegrown large passenger aircraft, and the new regional jet ARJ21.
"By now, the accumulative orders of C919 have reached 400. The program has entered the detailed design phase of engineering development stage. The aircraft is planned for its first flight in 2015," Jin said.
The first four ARJ21 planes "have all entered the test flight phase and airworthiness certification process," said Jin, adding that their first delivery is planned in 2014.
The ARJ21, short for Advanced Regional Jet for the 21st Century, is a 78-90 seat specially designed Chinese jet to satisfy the regional aviation market.
The Chinese Consul-General in Los Angeles, Liu Jian, also attended the ceremony and jointly unveiled the new company with Jin.
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