China's Aviation Industry 中国航空工业│飞机制造业

[kix111]

FLY LIKE A G6!

[7freedom7]

ARJ21-700 AC104 flew to Urumqi for natural icing flight test

ARJ21-700 AC104 successfully flew to Urumqi Diwopu International Airport on March 3rd, 2012. Then, the aircraft conduct a familiarity flight test plus ground-air joint test, and two dry air anti-ice compliance flight tests on March 6th and 7th, 2012,. The test results were satisfying, and all the systems of the aircraft operated normally with stable performance. According to the plan, ARJ21-700 AC104 would carry out in Urumqi natural icing flight test, performance stability flight test.

[7freedom7]

China’s home-grown flight inspection system put into use

China’s independently-developed flight inspection equipment was recently delivered to General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC), which made China the sixth country that capable of independently developing the equipment.

The flight inspection equipment was jointly developed by Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics as well as Flight Inspection Center of CAAC.

The flight inspection system is the core equipment for the implementation of the flight inspection mission and it is also one of the premises for airport operations and route openness. The equipment can ensure the safety of communications, navigation, surveillance and other facilities to meet operating requirements of the flight.

[7freedom7]

ARJ21 Moves Closer to Certification

2012-04-09 Source: AINonline



China’s Civil Aviation Authority issued the Comac ARJ21-700 type inspection authorization in late February, allowing it to begin the final process of flight-test certification, according to the state-run China Daily. Hoping to gain type approval by year-end, Comac has seen the 85-seat ARJ21 suffer through four years worth of delays thanks to a series of unspecified design changes and flight-test “discoveries.” Four flight-test airplanes participate in the program.

[7freedom7]

XAC: MA60 Enters Russian Market

2012-04-09 Source: Wcarn

Modern Ark (MA) 60, made by China's Xi'an Aircraft Industry (Group) Company Limited, has entered the Russian aviation market, marking an important step in going global.

The first MA60 flying to Russia landed in Yakutsk, known as the coldest city, where it went through the challenge of 56 degrees below zero. Various systems maintained good performance in such a low temperature. During the four days in Yakutsk, Russian flight crew and ground handling members did close inspection and expressed great satisfaction with quality and performance of MA60.

They believed that MA60 can completely ensure safe operation in the high latitude and low temperature weather condition in Russia. This laid a solid foundation for MA60 to enter the Russian Market.

There have been 67 MA60s delivered worldwide, with users throughout Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America markets.

[7freedom7]

Rockwell Collins establishing joint venture with AVIC LETRI in China

2012-04-05 Source: Cannews

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (April 2, 2012) – Rockwell Collins and China Leihua Electronic Technology Research Institute (LETRI), a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), are establishing AVIC Leihua Rockwell Collins Avionics Company. This joint venture will focus on bringing the latest surveillance products to the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd. (COMAC) C919 aircraft.

A ceremonial signing took place last week in Beijing to celebrate the agreement.

“While this is our first joint venture with AVIC, it demonstrates a deepening and broadening of our trusted and collaborative relationship, which spans nearly three decades,” said Kent Statler, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Commercial Systems for Rockwell Collins. “The signing ceremony signifies an important next step in fully establishing this entity.”

Once the agreement conditions have been satisfied and approval by the Peoples Republic of China examination and approval authorities is obtained, AVIC Leihua Rockwell Collins Avionics Company will develop, manufacture and deliver integrated surveillance system products for the C919 program in China. By introducing Rockwell Collins' advanced avionics technology and international avionics technical services into China, the joint venture will boost the development and prosperity of the country’s commercial aviation sector.

“In support of AVIC’s overall strategy, AVIC Avionics Systems has made rapid progress in developing its commercial avionics business and increasing its role in the global commercial aviation industrial chain,” said Lu Guangshan, chairman and president of AVIC Avionics Systems Company. “AVIC Leihua Rockwell Collins Avionics Company is one four joint ventures in place for the C919. We’re confident that these partnerships can integrate the strengths of both sides to contribute to the program’s success.”

“This represents a significant milestone for our involvement with the C919 program, and is indicative of our continuing commitment to help grow the Chinese aviation industry,” said TC Chan, vice president and managing director, Asia Pacific for Rockwell Collins.

“LETRI and Rockwell Collins have a long-term partnership. This is a win-win agreement for both parties as each brings proven experience and technology to jointly develop integrated surveillance products and provide services for the C919,” said Zhou Han, the Secretary of Party Committee of LETRI.

In addition to providing the integrated surveillance system for the C919, Rockwell Collins is also providing communication, navigation, cabin management and inflight entertainment systems for the family of single-aisle aircraft. Additionally, Rockwell Collins and Xian Aviation Science and Technology Company (XASC), an AVIC subsidiary, recently delivered the C919 Engineering Simulator.

Rockwell Collins has been working with the Chinese aviation industry and its suppliers for more than a quarter of a century. The company’s equipment is installed in many airplanes manufactured in China including the ARJ21, MA60/600, Y8, Y12, K8, and H425, and is on nearly every western airliner operated by China’s airlines.

COMAC Selects Cytec for C919

2012-04-09 Source: BUSINESS WIRE

Cytec Industries Inc. (NYSE:CYT) announced today that its Engineered Materials business has been awarded a long-term agreement to supply certain high-performance, structural composite and adhesive materials for the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) C919 commercial aircraft. The contract with Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (SAMC), a subsidiary of COMAC, is for a ten year term and majority of their composite material requirements.

“We are honored to be selected to support COMAC and are pleased our product solutions bring value to the C919 program”

“We are excited to be a key supplier to COMAC's C919 program,” said Shane Fleming, President and CEO of Cytec Industries Inc. “This agreement is further evidence of Cytec's growing position as a supplier of structural composites and adhesives to the global commercial aerospace market.”

COMAC is developing the single aisle C919 commercial airliner to meet growing air transportation demand in the region and intends to certify the aircraft to western standards for export sales. To date, COMAC has 235 orders for the C919. The aircraft is currently in design validation.

Cytec's materials will be used by Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Company to build both primary and secondary composite structures for the C919. “We are honored to be selected to support COMAC and are pleased our product solutions bring value to the C919 program,” said Bill Wood, President of Cytec's Engineered Materials. Cytec's complimentary structural adhesives, primers and surfacing films will also be used. As part of the agreement, Cytec's authorized distributor in China, Argosy International Inc., will provide sales and logistics support for material procurement.

[7freedom7]

AC311 completed CAAC test flight successfully

2012-04-12 Source:CANNEWS

Light utility helicopter AC311 completed CAAC test flight successfully in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, which marked a further concrete step towards obtaining the airworthiness certificate.

According to relevant provisions of CCAR-27, accreditation people of CAAC took air speed calibrating, compliance verification of flight performance and characteristics, as well as airworthiness compliance checking on relative power plant, onboard equipment, and every helicopter systems, totaling 14 planes, 13 hours. Helicopter AC311’s next plan will be functional and reliability test flight, aiming to obtain type certificate before the end of April.

[7freedom7]

AERO 2012: Cirrus vision for SF50 to become reality 'in 2015'

2012-04-20 Source:ATWonline

Cirrus Aircraft has been given the go-ahead by its new owner to accelerate development of the Vision SF50 personal jet. China Aviation Industry General Aircraft (CAIGA), which acquired the Duluth, Minnesota-based general aviation manufacturer last year, has pledged $100 million to bring the seven-seat, single-engined aircraft to market.

"This should be within three years," says Ian Bentley, Cirrus vice-president and managing director of international sales.

"We have been committed to this programme since its launch over six years ago. When the economic downturn struck we were forced to slow development considerably, but even throughout this turbulent period we have been working at a low level to iron out any potential technical problems that we might encounter during the SF50 certification process."

Cirrus has already invested more than $45 million in the SF50, which made its first flight in July 2008. The non-conforming prototype has completed more than 600 flying hours to date, and Cirrus has carried out "detail design, systems verification and full flight envelope testing since then", adds Bentley.

Cirrus is now building the tooling for the first of three production-conforming aircraft, which should take to the skies for the first time in 15 months.

"A handful of minor modifications will be incorporated in the production aircraft. For example, the cabin will be sightly wider and the sweep on the tail will be slightly reduced, says Bentley.

Cirrus has clocked up 500 orders for the Vision. "In 2008 we had around 400 orders. When the programme was slowed we lost around 100 of these but have since added another 200, of which around 60% are from US-based customers," says Bentley.

The SF50 has a cruise speed of 300kt (555km/h) and a range of 1,000nm (1,850km). The aircraft is priced at $1.72 million until 30 June, when it will rise to $1.96 million. Cirrus plans to manufacture 75 Visions in the first year of production, "rising to a steady production rate of 125 aircraft a year", says Bentley.

[7freedom7]

Crew inexperience led to Merpati MA60 crash: NTSC

The fatal crash of a Xian MA60 aircraft operated by Indonesian carrier Merpati Nusantara in 2011 has been attributed to the crew"s failure to adhere to standard operating procedures and their loss of situational awareness.

The aircraft, registration PK-MZK, was operating on the Sorong-Kaimana route on 7 May 2011. As it was preparing to land, the weather at Kaimana was overcast with showers, says a final report from Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC).

The poor weather had reduced visibility around the airport to just 2km. Although the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Merpati require a visibility of 5km for a visual approach, the crew ignored this requirement. Kaimana is also not equipped for instrument approaches.

During the flight, the co-pilot was acting as pilot-in-command. When the aircraft was on final approach, however, the pilot took command of the aircraft. The reasons for this are unclear, but the NTSC says the change may have "[increased] crew workload at a critical phase of flight."

As the aircraft approached the airport, the pilot asked the co-pilot three times whether he could see the runway. The co-pilot replied that he could not.

At 376ft (114m) pressure altitude, the crew decided to let the aircraft climb and perform a go-around. As the aircraft passed 537ft pressure altitude, the torque of its left and right engines were increased to 70% and 82% respectively.

Upon reaching 550ft pressure altitude, the landing gear was retracted and its bank angle increased to 33 degrees to the left. This grew to 38 degrees, after which the aircraft rapidly descended into the sea, killing all 19 passengers and six crewmembers.

The NTSC attributed the rapid descent to a high bank angle, the retraction of flaps to zero, engine torque, low airspeed and the aircraft's nose-down pitch. The crew also lost situational awareness as they peered out the window attempting to locate the runway.

The NTSC report cited the pilots' inexperience with the MA60. The pilot had just 199 hours on the type and the co-pilot, 234. Merpati's safety division requires a pilot to have 250 hours on a type to be considered an "experienced pilot".

The NTSC said the pilots failed to conduct an approach briefing and landing checklist. It also found that communication between the two was limited.

One possible issue the NTSC pointed to was the use of non-standard English aviation language in both the flight crew operations and aircraft maintenance manuals.

NTSC recommends that Merpati Nusantara review its training procedures, as well as improve aircraft documentation and manuals.

Generally, it recommends that the DGCA review the adequacy of airline training, crew pairing policies and safety management systems.

[everywhere]

Originally Posted by 7freedom7

Crew inexperience led to Merpati MA60 crash: NTSC

BTW, have you read/watched/browsed the recent crash of a Sukhoi Super Jet 100 in Indonesia few days ago? I think NTSC is also doing such investigations as well

[7freedom7]

Originally Posted by everywhere

BTW, have you read/watched/browsed the recent crash of a Sukhoi Super Jet 100 in Indonesia few days ago? I think NTSC is also doing such investigations as well

Yes, I have. They'll take at least a year to figure it out according to the news report. Seems like the time is too long, and the export to Indonesia will perhaps fall flat on the Russian face.

[everywhere]

Originally Posted by 7freedom7

Yes, I have. They'll take at least a year to figure it out according to the news report. Seems like the time is too long, and the export to Indonesia will perhaps fall flat on the Russian face.

The Sukhoi crash now questions the credibility and reliability of Russian-made planes for the meantime.

[big-dog]

again, article from Economist

Aviation in China

Soaring ambition

Big plans to dominate the skies of the 21st century

May 12th 2012 | from the print edition

OVER the next few years, China plans to spend a quarter of a trillion dollars building the aerospace industries of the future. The country hosts more than two-thirds of the airports now under construction around the world. It will be the biggest growth market for Boeing and Airbus, though China is investing heavily in developing home-grown rivals in the hope of dominating the aviation markets of the 21st century.

The sheer scale and audacity of China’s ambitions and investments in this field are eye-opening. James Fallows, a senior correspondent at the Atlantic (and a critic of this paper), is well suited to chronicle this effort, which has parallels with America’s expansion westward during its age of Manifest Destiny. Not only does the book benefit from his keen observations as a journalist in China, but also it is enriched by his technical knowledge as a passionate aviator. The result is informative and lively, with hardly a trace of needless jargon.

The only drawback to this slender volume is that its own ambition overreaches. Mr Fallows is not satisfied with describing China’s breathtaking plans to conquer global aviation markets. Instead, he insists on viewing the country’s entire future through aviator’s goggles. “China’s aerospace future is a test case for its economic and technological development as a whole,” he claims.

The obstacles facing the country’s aviation industry do indeed cut to the heart of China’s economic challenges today. Thanks to global integration and rising wages, the country’s days as a shameless copycat and sweatshop to the world are numbered; its leaders know it must become more innovative if it is to flourish. Doing so will require, as the author wisely observes, big changes in its stifling approach to education, unreliable legal system and repressive political regime, as well as adjustments to various social norms.

But does aviation really serve as a litmus test for such a transformation? To be sure, success in this industry of industries requires enormous sophistication, co-ordination, openness and innovation. Still, it may not be the best way to judge “whether the Chinese system is ready to grow up”. After all, Switzerland and Costa Rica became robust democracies with flourishing economies without developing jet engines. And the Soviet Union managed a world-class space programme, yet was an economic and political basket case.

On the crucial question of whether China will come to dominate this industry, the author is cautious. He lays out both sides of the argument, but steps back from offering a definitive judgment. In less capable hands, this might have been unsatisfying, but Mr Fallows deftly makes the case for keeping an open mind. Confident predictions of any sort are unwise in a land as full of contradictions as China.

[everywhere]

Just try to avoid the mistakes Russia, US and EU committed with regards to civilian aerospace programs (C919s to 939s, ARJ21s, MA60s, MA600-700s)

I think so far, COMAC and AVIC are doing a good job.

[7freedom7]

AVIC Completing a Static Strength Airworthiness Verification Test on HO300

2012-05-15

Recently, AVIC Aerospace Life-support Industries, LTD. has successfully completed a static strength airworthiness verification test on HO300 amphibious planes, the most important of its kind for main general aircraft units.

Struggling for three full days, Aerospace Life-support Industries,LTD. has finished the tests of 8 conditions and more than 300 test channels.

[Gaeus]

Originally Posted by everywhere

Just try to avoid the mistakes Russia, US and EU committed with regards to civilian aerospace programs (C919s to 939s, ARJ21s, MA60s, MA600-700s)

I think so far, COMAC and AVIC are doing a good job.

Unlike Russia, US and EU, China mostly has domestic costumers to fill the role. The country can't depend on foreign airlines to do that. China's aviation / airline market is still growing fast and because of that, the country will do well and have a high percentage chance of making it. The only problem is it needed those companies such as Rolls Royce, GE, etc. to help them.

[everywhere]

Originally Posted by Gaeus

Unlike Russia, US and EU, China mostly has domestic costumers to fill the role. The country can't depend on foreign airlines to do that. China's aviation / airline market is still growing fast and because of that, the country will do well and have a high percentage chance of making it. The only problem is it needed those companies such as Rolls Royce, GE, etc. to help them.

I'm talking about China's dream of breaking the duopoly of Airbus and Boeing for commercial aircrafts.

[Gaeus]

Originally Posted by everywhere

I'm talking about China's dream of breaking the duopoly of Airbus and Boeing for commercial aircrafts.

Oh, Ok. That will be something. It may take a decade or two before China can break that duopoly. Plus, Russia may get into that role before China. Russia already proves that by building the biggest plane in the world. For China to be competitive, it needs every advanced innovative ideas. They may have to start with carbon body parts, hybrid jet engines, long travel capability and of course, faster flight. This innovations will take awhile. Geez, it may take even a decade to make those parts.

[everywhere]

Boeing, Airbus seeks Chinese buyers for new plane models
(China Daily USA Edition, May 17)

The two main international makers of aircraft, France-based Airbus SAS and US-based Boeing Co, plan to bring improved versions of their single-aisle aircraft to the Chinese market.

The two manufacturers are working to find their first Chinese buyers of the planes, Boeing's 737 MAX and Airbus' A320neo.


According to a Boeing market analysis, China will need 3,550 single-aisle aircraft by 2030, of which only 20 percent will be used as replacements.
Airbus also forecast in February that the Asia-Pacific region will need 5,720 single-aisle aircraft in the next 20 years and that China will be one of the main markets for those products.


"Narrow-body aircraft always do well on high-frequency short routes and there are many such routes in China," said Simon Booker, director of aviation department of the professional services firm KPMG Asia-Pacific.


The current single-aisle models produced by Boeing and Airbus were all introduced in the 1990s.


Rather than design completely new planes at a great cost, both manufacturers chose to improve the existing models, which already command a large market share.


On April 11, Boeing released its conceptual design for the 737 MAX, an improved model of the 737 Boeing's most popular line of aircraft. By January, Boeing had received 9,800 orders for 737s and had delivered more than 7,000 of them.


Compared with current 737s, the 737 MAX will contain a larger and more efficient engine built by CFM International, a joint venture formed between divisions of the US-based General Electric Co and France-based Safran Group.


With the new engine and other design changes, the 737 MAX's fuel costs will be about 11 percent lower than the current 737 NG aircraft's, said Randy Tinseth, vice-president of Boeing Commercial Airplanes' marketing department.


As the rising price of fuel and the demand for reducing emissions become more important to the aviation industry, manufacturers are working harder to make their aircraft more efficient.


"A320neo's fuel costs can be 15 percent lower than the current A320 aircraft's," said Luo Chong, director of Airbus China's airline marketing department.


A320neo - the "neo" stands for "new engine options" - will give customers a choice of two different engines. One will be the same as used in the 737 MAX and the other will be the PW1100G, which is made by the US-based Pratt & Whitney Group.


Airbus' decision to introduce the A320neo was made in 2010, almost a year earlier than Boeing released its plans to build the 737 MAX. The first A320neo will be delivered in 2015, two years before the first 737 MAX.


The schedule gives Airbus an advantage in the two companies' competition to win international orders. From the end of 2010 to the end of February, 24 airlines made 1,289 confirmed orders and 266 commitment orders for the A320neo.


Meanwhile, by the end of February, 1,000 confirmed and commitment orders had come in for the 737 MAX.


Media outlets have reported that Xiamen Airlines Co Ltd, which has a fleet composed completely of Boeing aircraft, may be the first Chinese customer to buy the 737 MAX and that the two companies discussed such a purchase when Che Shanglun, general manger of the airline, attended Boeing's annual meeting in February.


Meanwhile, Airbus introduced the A320neo to Sichuan Airlines Co Ltd, which has an all Airbus-aircraft fleet, in April.


"The A320neo is not an option that is out of the bounds of consideration for Sichuan Airlines since we are working on doubling the size of our fleet by 2015," said Zhong Bin, vice-general manager of Sichuan Airlines' technical department.


But the carrier has not ordered the plane yet and its purchasing plans for the next three years are already complete, he said.


Even so, airlines still have many outstanding orders for single-aisle aircraft and thus still have an opportunity to modify them in favor of the improved models.


Boeing is confident the 737 MAX will perform well in the market and Jim Albaugh, CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, forecast that Chinese airlines will order 200 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft this year.


Experts said manufacturers should pay more attention to Chinese airlines' special demands.


"Safety, price and after-sales services are all things Chinese airlines consider and both of the manufacturers can meet those needs of airlines," said Li Xiaojin, a professor at the Tianjin-based Civil Aviation University of China.


The list prices of the 737 MAX and A320neo are similar - about $95 million.

wangwen@chinadaily.com.cn

http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/busi...t_15316882.htm

[7freedom7]

COMAC establishes finance lease company for C919 sales

The Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC) has launched an aircraft finance lease company with Pudong Development Bank and Shanghai International Group.

The new JV has a registered capital of CNY2.7 billion ($426 million). Pudong Development Bank is the controlling stakeholder with a 66.67% stake, COMAC holds 22.22% stake and Shanghai International Group holds 11.11% ownership.

Industry analysts say the new venture is expected to pave the way for COMAC to sell its C919 as the Chinese manufacturer explores the fast-growing domestic aircraft leasing market.

The C919 has won some orders from domestic banks’ finance lease companies. Last year the Industrial & Commercial Bank of China (ICBC Leasing) placed a firm order for 45 C919s (ATW Daily News, Oct. 21, 2011) and the Bank of Communications Financial Leasing Co. ordered 30 C919s.