Chinese Jetliner Maker To Build Shanghai Plant

SHANGHAI (AP) -- Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China plans to build an assembly line for its homegrown C919 jetliners in Shanghai, the latest step in the country's ambitions to become a leader in world aviation.

The company announced the showcase project following a signing ceremony Wednesday with officials of Shanghai's Pudong district, where the plant will be located.

China is counting on the narrow-body, single-aisle C919, China's newest and biggest homegrown commercial jetliner, to compete against Western rivals in the high-stakes international aviation market.

Construction of the factory is to begin soon, with capacity to reach 20 C919s and 50 ARJ 21-series regional jets by 2016, the company, which is also known as COMAC, said in a statement.

Shanghai-based COMAC was set up in 2008 to develop and build passenger aircraft. The company also has research and development facilities in Pudong.

The C919 is due to make its maiden flight by 2014 and to begin deliveries to customers by 2016.

Earlier this week, General Electric's aviation unit teamed up with Aviation Industry Corp. of China, COMAC's state-run parent company, to develop and market electronic systems for commercial aircraft customers, including the C919 narrow-body aircraft.

GE is also supplying engines for the 70 to 110-seat ARJ-21 passenger jet, designed for the local market.

China's huge aviation market has continued to grow quickly, despite the world economic slump. Air passenger traffic rose nearly 20 percent in the first 10 months of the year from the year before, to 191.9 million, according to the country's Civil Aviation Administration.

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Now it's Airplanes 11/19/2009 11:28:00 AM The Chinese are now going to be a worldwide force in aircraft manufacturing, just as the unions are forcing Boeing to relocate to South Carolina to compete. Hopefully boeing will survive and thrive in a right to work state, if not, the U.S. will loose its commercial aircraft manufacturing base. The unions are destroying American manufacturing with their greed.
I'd Never Fly on One 11/19/2009 11:36:00 AM Given their history of shoddy manufacturing and questionable quality control, I wouldn't ride on one of their aircraft.
Never Fly on One? 11/19/2009 12:26:00 PM You might not have a choice. If you have to travel and can't afford a car or gasoline and the only plane available was made in China, you will fly on Chinese wings. If things stay the same, the Chinese are taking over the manufacturing of everything.
shoddy work!?? 11/19/2009 1:09:00 PM In the 60's everyone joked about the lack of quality from Japan, in just over 20 years or so they came to represent quality! Underestimating Chinese manufacturing will only play right into their hands. We need to take the threat seriously. One day they will move on Free China and then it will be put up or shut up for America! What do you think our present administration would do?
Unions 11/19/2009 1:41:00 PM I am so sick of all of you people blaming everything that has gone bad on unions and Obama. Not all of the companies that are offshoring are unionized. Most of them are moving for pure greed and to fatten the size of the CEO’s salary and bonuses. There is always a way to get around the unions if they want. It is called union busting and has worked very well when needed. Let the union walk out on strike, replace them with non-union workers. I am a union worker and none of the things that you people write about have ever happened in any of the union shops I have worked at. The unions get what the company wants to put on the table. The companies that I have worked for did not put anything out there that they could not afford. A select few, like the UAW have given unions a bad name and reputation but by and large the ones I personally have dealt with for the 35 years were out to work with the company to grow and help the employees to grow along with the company.
Chinese jet liner 11/19/2009 2:38:00 PM It is obvious now that it would have been better if we did not export democracy and kapitalism to China. They would stay closed comunist country and global economy (just another name for greedy corporations and CEO) would never happen. I am wondering how unions are working in Europe and are not blamed for everything and not working in the USA. Remember these unionized guys produce Merceds and BMW, an american dream. How come? This country is on the way to become third world country unles someone stop amrican jobs to be export to China and elsvere. But who will stop it: Government is the only way but some people do not want large government. Global economy as is working now is disaster for USA. Simply, export jobs from USA to China and India, produce stuff over there import to USA and sell it to unemployed people here, will not work. Someone need wake up call ASAP.
all the GOOD stuff are made in USA 11/19/2009 4:47:00 PM Keep these stats handy next time you hear someone argues that "nothing's is made here anymore..." GO USA ! * World's leading manufacturer - produced $1.6 trillion in 2007 * Nearly double what was produced a decade ago, or 100% growth in just 10 years in manufacturing * For every $1 of value produced in China's factories, America generated $2.50 in 2007 High-end stuff * More than half of the $175 billion in health care technology products purchased worldwide each year * World's largest producer of chemicals, selling 11 percent of the global total * Sold more than $200 billion worth of aircraft, missiles, and space-related equipment (2007) * Nearly half of the exports were capital goods: aircraft, computers, electric power machinery, office machines, telecommunications equipment, and the like

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