SHANGHAI: The first large made-in-China passenger plane successfully completed its maiden test flight on Friday, marking a key milestone on the country’s ambitious journey to compete with the world’s leading aircraft makers.
The narrow-body C919 jet — white with green and blue stripes — disappeared into the clouds after taking off from Pudong International Airport (PIA) in the commercial hub Shanghai as a crowd of thousands cheered, including top officials.
It successfully landed some 80 minutes later and the five-member crew was handed flowers, with captain Cai Jun describing the flight as “very satisfactory.”
Built by state-owned aerospace manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the plane represents nearly a decade of effort in a government-mandated drive to reduce dependence on European consortium Airbus and US aerospace giant Boeing.
“China’s big commercial jet project made a huge breakthrough. It is a major milestone in China’s aviation market,” China’s State Council said in a statement.
State media said the plane flew at an altitude of around 3,000 meters (9,800 feet), some 7,000 meters lower than a regular trip and at a speed of more than 300 kilometers (186 miles) per hour.
While delayed since last year, the flight is the latest sign of China’s growing ambition and technical skill, coming one week after the country launched its first domestically made aircraft carrier and docked a cargo spacecraft with an orbiting space lab.
China has dreamed of building its own civil aircraft since the 1970s when it began work on the narrow-body Y-10, which was eventually deemed unviable and never entered service.
President Xi Jinping himself has endorsed the new project. China is a massive battleground for Boeing and Airbus, with the country’s travel market expected to surpass the US by 2024, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Airbus and Boeing estimate that Chinese airlines will need between 6,000-6,800 aircraft at a total price of around $1 trillion.
Both companies congratulated COMAC on the flight.
The twin-engine C919, whose name sounds like the Chinese word for “everlasting,” can seat 168 passengers in an arrangement similar to other narrow-body jets: Three white-velvet upholstered seats line each side of its central aisle.
It has a range of 5,555km and has received 570 orders, almost all from domestic airlines.
COMAC made two planes for the test flight and it expects to produce four more by 2019, said Bao Pengli, deputy head of Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Co. (SAMC), COMAC’s production arm.
The Shanghai-based firm aims to become one of the world’s leading civil aircraft manufacturer in the next three years, seeking to have the C919 and its ARJ21, a smaller 90-seat regional jet, both certified to fly internationally.
But it will be some time before the C919 is ready to compete with the top-selling products of the world’s aviation giants, said Bao.
“The biggest challenge is that the whole manufacturing experience still needs improvement because this is the first time China is making a primary route plane,” Bao said.
The C919 will need to pass more tests to obtain Chinese airworthiness certification and COMAC hopes to get the green light from the US and European regulators.
The ARJ21 plane, which entered service in 2016, several years late, is currently restricted to flying domestic routes as it still lacks the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification.
Another challenge for the C919 is earning consumers’ trust, said Shukor Yusof, an analyst with Malaysia-based aviation consultancy Endau Analytics.
“It will take some time for customers around the world to be comfortable buying Chinese airplanes,” he said, adding: “It is not going to happen in the next 10 years.”
“It is going to be incredibly tough not because it is not a good product. But because you need to get comfort and credibility to the product among potential clients, potential customers.”
China’s homemade passenger jet aces first flight
China’s homemade passenger jet aces first flight
Industry minister inaugurates advanced factories in Sudair
SUDAIR: Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources and Chairman of the Board of the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones, known as MODON, Bandar Alkhorayef, on Feb. 16, inaugurated several advanced factories to produce food, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and construction materials in Sudair City for Industry and Businesses.
The move is part of the ministry’s efforts to localize high-value industries and enhance the Kingdom’s health and food security.
The minister inaugurated the Sierra Life factory, the first facility in the Middle East specializing in producing medical foods for metabolic disorders.
This strategic investment aims to localize advanced therapeutic food production and integrate the industrial and health sectors to meet medical needs previously heavily reliant on imports.
Alkhorayef reviewed precise production lines for patients with metabolic disorders such as phenylketonuria, or PKU, and urea cycle disorders, as well as gluten-free and low-protein products for celiac patients.
The facility employs advanced manufacturing technologies and global quality standards, establishing a unique medical-industrial hub serving specialized medical cases in the region.
The minister also inaugurated the Sudair Warehouses project, representing an important step in developing logistics and industrial infrastructure.
The project reflects the industrial sector’s commitment to supporting industrial investors, stimulating high-value investments, and enabling national supply chains, thereby contributing to the achievement of Saudi Vision 2030 objectives.
Among the facilities inaugurated was Qomel Pharmaceutical Industries, supporting the localization of biopharmaceutical production in Saudi Arabia.
During his tour, the minister also reviewed the fully integrated industrial environment for producing solid pharmaceutical forms, such as tablets and capsules, advanced manufacturing operations, robust quality systems, high-level regulatory compliance procedures, and modern technologies that enhance production efficiency according to international standards. These measures help ensure product quality, reliability, and safety.
Alkhorayef also inaugurated Al-Hatab Foods Factory, the largest chilled food facility in the Middle East and a pioneering national project supporting the growth of the Kingdom’s food industry.
The minister reviewed advanced manufacturing methods that reduce bacterial growth and prolong shelf life without preservatives or heat treatment, maintaining nutritional value and high quality.
Al-Hatab operates 15 production lines for a wide range of fresh foods, including juices, salads, and sandwiches, with a capacity exceeding 6 million units per week, meeting growing domestic demand and reflecting the evolution of the Saudi food industry.
Alkhorayef also inaugurated the Industrial Orthopedic Co., which focuses on localizing the production of orthopedic medical devices. He reviewed production processes and technologies for manufacturing rods and screws for limb and spinal fracture treatment, artificial joints, and patient-specific products using 3D printing.
The project is currently undergoing operational testing, qualification, and workforce training, while quality, documentation, and traceability systems are being finalized ahead of full-scale production and regional and global expansion.
Additionally, the minister inaugurated a factory specializing in construction panels and industrial building solutions, providing sustainable insulation products that support the Kingdom’s construction sector.
The facility represents an investment of SR100 million ($27 million), incorporates 80 percent industrial automation across its production lines and operations, and has an annual capacity of 200,000 linear meters of insulating panels.
During his visit to Sudair City for Industry and Businesses, the minister also inaugurated the ready-made factories project, developed by Pan Kingdom Co.
This initiative is a key step in developing logistical and industrial infrastructure, supporting industrial investors, promoting strategic investments, and enabling national supply chains, contributing to the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
The project provides advanced operational spaces, fosters the growth of the manufacturing sector and creates quality jobs, as well as enhances local content and strengthens industrial sector efficiency.
The minister’s visit underscores the ministry’s commitment to creating a competitive investment environment in the industrial sector, developing infrastructure in industrial cities, and expanding the localization of industries related to food and health security, further positioning the Kingdom as a leading industrial hub regionally and globally.
