Assembly of C919 gets under way

Assembly work began in Shanghai yesterday on the nation's first C919 single-aisle airliner.

Technicians at Commercial Aircraft Corp of China's assembly base in Zhuqiao riveted together sections of the fuselage of the first domestically developed narrow body passenger aircraft.

The plane is expected to make its maiden flight at the end of next year.

The various parts of the aircraft, including the nose, front and middle fuselage, wings and tail sections were designed by the corporation and manufactured in Chengdu, Shenyang and Harbin.

The pieces were transported by road and air for assembly in Shanghai.

Other sections will be supplied by local company Baosteel, and foreign firms like General Electric and Honeywell, and French engine maker CFM.

By 2020, the assembly line in Zhuqiao is expected to have the capacity to build 150 C919 narrow body aircraft and 50 ARJ21 regional jets every year.

The development of the C919 is seen as China's attempt to enter the global aircraft market, which is dominated by Boeing and Airbus.

To date, its manufacturer has secured 400 orders from 16 customers, mostly from China, but also including United States-based GE Capital Aviation Services and Irish budget carrier Ryanair.