Comac has yet to firm a date for the delivery of its first ARJ21-700 to launch customer Chengdu Airlines.
A spokesman tells Flightglobal the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) is conducting an airworthiness inspection on the regional jet. It is also reviewing Comac’s operational support system and will have to grant it a production licence.
Only after these validations, can the first ARJ21 be delivered sometime in 2015, says the spokesman.
He adds that aircraft 105 to 109 are scheduled for Chengdu Airlines. Aircraft 105 and 106 have taken their first flights, while aircraft 107 is undergoing final assembly. Parts assembly is meanwhile ongoing for aircraft 108 and 109.
CAAC issued type certification for the indigenous regional jet on 30 December 2014, marking a major milestone for China in its foray into the commercial aircraft manufacturing sector. The certification came more than 12 years after the programme was launched.
Chengdu Airlines has 30 ARJ21s on order.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
