The Chinese Government has pledged to provide 2 billion yuan ($242 million) to state manufacturing companies to develop a planned 70-seat regional jet aircraft.
State-run media report that the 70-seater, which has been under consideration for some time, is now a serious project. All major domestic manufacturing companies will take part.
Production is hoped to begin in 2004, the reports say, and the project will be headed by China Aviation Industry Corp I (AVIC I), which will invest 20 million yuan. Shanghai Aviation Industrial, Xian Aircraft Industrial and Chengdu Aircraft Industrial will each give 5 million yuan, while Shenyang Aircraft Industrial will provide 3 million yuan. Smaller companies will also make investments, and foreign participation will be sought.
Chengdu Aircraft chairman Yang Tingkuo says the central government is to provide 2 billion yuan, that market research is complete and that the designs will soon be made public.
Designs unveiled three years ago showed an aircraft with a four-abreast cabin layout and two western-made engines mounted at the rear.
China has long held aspirations to build its own regional jet, and in 1998 AVIC I subsidiaries unveiled plans for a 50-70-seater dubbed the New Regional Jet (NRJ). The government failed to back the programme, however, and it languished until last November, when AVIC I said Beijing finally agreed to support it.
The government has been aggressively promoting the use of regional jets for the past two years. This has led to sales for Bombardier, Embraer and Fairchild Dornier.
Source: Flight International
