Aircraft

Feasibility study under way and loans agreed to develop 105-seat version of regional jet, says ACAC president

China's AVIC I Commercial Aircraft (ACAC) expects to launch the programme for the ARJ21-900, the stretched version of the ARJ21-700 regional jet, next year.

ACAC president Zheng Qiang says he expects approval for the ARJ21-900 "early next year" and to "initiate the development of the stretched version next year".

He says a feasibility study is under way and "the national development bank" of China has agreed to provide some loans to develop the ARJ21-900.

The ARJ21-900 is a 105-seat stretched version of the 90-seat ARJ21-700 now in development. ACAC will start assembling the first ARJ21-700 in March and have it completed a year from now.

AIR SHOW CHINA
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Shanghai-based ACAC has already received small subassemblies for the -700 from Xian Aircraft (XAC), says Zheng, adding that the nose section, from Chengdu Aircraft, is due be delivered in December and Shenyang Aircraft will start delivering vertical stabilisers in January.

XAC will begin deliveries of mid-fuselages and wings in March, adds Zheng. Work on the first wing-box starts this week and, in terms of manufacturing technologies, XAC has perfected the technique of "shot-peening", says Zheng.

The wing will be the last major section to be delivered to the final assembly plant in Shanghai and Zheng expects final assembly to start in March and the first ARJ21 airframe - for static testing - to be completed by October. ACAC plans to have another aircraft ready in time for first flight in March 2008 and hopes to have the ARJ21 certificated in the third quarter of 2009, enabling deliveries to begin at the end of 2009.

At Airshow China, Shanghai Electric Leasing (SE Leasing), a subsidiary of listed firm Shanghai Electric Group, signed a memorandum of understanding for 30 ARJ21s. The ARJ21 programme also has firm orders from Shandong Airlines (10 aircraft), Shenzhen Financial Leasing (20) and Shanghai Airlines (five).