After numerous failed attempts at involvement in small airliner programmes, China's aviation industry is renewing efforts to launch an indigenous, 50-70-seat regional jet.
China Aviation Industry I (AVICI) says it has now decided, with Government support, to "launch a new, internationally competitive, turbofan-powered regional aircraft for the market place in China and the rest of the world". AVIC I says it will form a programme management company from all of the business units participating in the programme: Xian Aircraft (XAC), the Xian Aircraft Research Institute, Shanghai Aircraft Industrial (SAIC) and the Shanghai Aircraft Research Institute.
The new entity will be responsible for the airframe configuration, defining and subcontracting work packages, allocating budgets, schedule management, quality control, final assembly, marketing and customer support. The airworthiness certificate will also be held by the programme management company, says AVIC I.
"For the time being, immediate efforts are being put on feasibility evaluation," says AVICI. A team led by XAC president Gao Dacheng and Shanghai Aircraft Research Institute chief designer Wu Xingshi will establish the management company.
Industry observers see the project as questionable, given the glut of available and upcoming jet programmes in the same size class, and as the Chinese aircraft is to enter the market in six years' time. Fairchild Dornier, which forecasts a market for about 350 aircraft between 50- and 110-seats up to 2020, says it believes the global regional jet market will not sustain more than three manufacturers.
Bombardier, Embraer and Fairchild Dornier have all won regional jet orders from Chinese carriers in the last 18 months.
The Chinese Government has traditionally supported indigenous manufacture, buying locally-produced aircraft for its state-run airlines. But foreign industry officials point out that this support could diminish following China's accession to the World Trade Organisation.
Interest in programme participation has been expressed by Rolls-Royce, which says it is ready to offer the BR710 engine or a derivative. Honeywell says it is talking to AVIC I on avionics and mechanical systems, and Korea Aerospace Industry (KAI) says it is hoping to revive its co-operation with China in this field.
The programme was first presented in public at the 1998 Zhuhai show, when it was referred to as the New Regional Jet (NRJ); 58- and 76-seat configuration concepts were displayed.
Source: Flight International
