China's first self-designed feeder passenger jet, the "Advanced
Regional Jet for the 21st Century" (ARJ21), is expected to make its
maiden flight in 2008. This was revealed at the Eighth
Asian-Pacific Civil Aviation Bilateral Partner Dialogue Meeting
held in Shanghai on Wednesday.
The structural drawing of the turbo-fan jet has passed the
appraisal process, and component parts of the jet are expected to
go into production soon, according to an official with the East
China Management Bureau of the General Civil Aviation Association
of China.
The aircraft, fitted with between 70 and 90 seats, will be
powered by a GE CF34-10A engine. Other component parts of the jet
will be manufactured by domestic enterprises.
The jet is designed to withstand the high altitudes and high
temperatures of China's western airports, providing a more
comfortable environment for passengers, according to the
official.
Measuring more than 31m in length, and eight meters in height,
the jet can fly at altitudes of 11,887.2m (39,000 feet) and reach
speeds of up to 450 nautical miles per hour.
The ARJ21 program was formally approved in 2002. Batch
production is expected to begin in 2009.
Insiders said that China needs about 700 feeder passenger
aircraft with 70-90 seats over the next 20 years, and ARJ21 could
help meet that demand.
ARJ21 is the first regional jet that China has fully developed
on its own, in accordance with the standards set by the General
Administration of Civil Aviation of China, Federal Aviation
Administration and Joint Aviation Authorities.
To date, 41 orders for the jet have been received from aviation
companies including Shandong Airlines, Xiamen Airlines, and
Shanghai Airlines Co. Ltd.
?(Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2006)