According to CCTV News, pilots for China’s domestically made C919 plane are undergoing accelerated training, and production is expected to reach 50 units this year.
COMAC, China’s state-owned aircraft manufacturer, is stepping into a new phase of accelerated mass production acceleration and large-scale, serialized development of the C919, according to the report.
The industrial chain linked to the C919 is also evolving.
According to Tianyancha App, Shanghai Aircraft Flight Testing Engineering Co., Ltd., fully owned by COMAC, was established on December 31, 2024.
The company’s scope of business includes engineering and technology research, meteorological information services, general aviation services, data processing services, software sales, leasing services, and more.
This marks a step towards industrializing flight testing and airworthiness certification.
The C909, as China’s first aircraft fully aligned with FAR-25 (Federal Aviation Regulations for the U.S.) and CCAR-25 (China’s airworthiness standards for transport aircraft), fills a gap in the country’s airworthiness certification process. Its impact extends beyond just the technical aspects and establishes a comprehensive system covering regulations, talent, processes, and ecosystems, paving a feasible path for China's domestic aircraft to reach global markets.
From COMAC's plans, the C-series aircraft family will be increasingly complete in the future:
The C909 pioneered R&D for regional aircraft airworthiness certification; the C919 completed self-development of the first jet-powered medium-range mainline passenger aircraft; and the C929 will be China’s first self-developed jet-powered long-range wide-body aircraft.
In September 2024, COMAC announced at the Harbin International Aviation Hub Construction Conference that the C939 intercontinental passenger aircraft officially entered the preliminary research phase.
