COMAC C919

Gloire_bb

Captain
Registered Member
Relax people, Airbus and Boeing are not going to cut off supply of airplanes and parts to China unless they want to go into bankruptcy. What they want is dominance and money. They may want to block COMAC's progress but they won't want to destroy Chinese airlines market. Chinese airlines market is far far too large and important.

These companies have strong influences in their governments, they won't want their golden goose to be slaughtered.
No one will ask OEM's opinions at that point(plus they're probably going to be somewhat compensated by mil orders).
Russian airlines bans (and many other sanctions) were quite clearly emotional, not calculated actions.
Never underestimate how govs can go over economic rationales for the sake of the perceived "greater good".
 

tphuang

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
VIP Professional
Registered Member
Again, I must stress. C919 as it currently stands is not commercially attractive to airlines. We should look at it as a necessity for Chinese aerospace industry to learn how to complete development and certification of modern airliner. We need to look at it as A300 or A310 for Airbus. Remember, Airbus did not hit it big until A320, which propelled them to a duopoly with Boeing.

Thankfully, China does have a very large domestic market that will purchase C919 in large numbers and help COMAC continue to improve C919. C919 project had only completed 34 out of 276 required CAAC tests by the end of last year. It will take some time for this aircraft to complete certification.

C929 won't be a hit either.

I posted here what COMAC should eventually look to produce.
 

pmc

Major
Registered Member
The Il-96 and Tu-214 are reliable. Just obsolete. One is basically an A340 and the other a 757. You could reduce the fuel consumption issue with a re-engine to a PD-14M engine. Which still does not exist. But you would still have the issue with outdated avionics. Some claim that avionics issue has been solved but I am less sure about it. The A340 and 757 are borderline usable in the current market. And are basically being phased out. Most companies already retired their A340s. You could argue that if Russian oil & oil products exports decrease and they won't have other replacement aircraft then the extra fuel consumption does not matter in their case. But in China's case, since they are not a major oil producer, the economics will be different. China needs efficient aircraft. And I think China is still like a decade until being able to built its own domestic civilian transport 100% in China in this segment. Russia is probably like two years away from mass production of the domestic MC-21.
I dont think Boeing 757 is as advance in aerodynamics, materials and FBW controls as Tu-214. some versions of Tu-214 are certified for 14 hours in air. speed data is also taken from sensors located on the aircraft engines. if remember correctly.
it was the lack of 2 seat cockpit that doomed it. Russians simply could not make 2 seat cockpit that can match ergonomics, reliability and automation with safety standards. it seem simple but its not in practice.
I think COMAC built a business jet out of ARJ21 boosting 50% range increase. now think how challenging is range increase of over 100% from same airframe and still usable.
 

latenlazy

Brigadier
Again, I must stress. C919 as it currently stands is not commercially attractive to airlines. We should look at it as a necessity for Chinese aerospace industry to learn how to complete development and certification of modern airliner. We need to look at it as A300 or A310 for Airbus. Remember, Airbus did not hit it big until A320, which propelled them to a duopoly with Boeing.

Thankfully, China does have a very large domestic market that will purchase C919 in large numbers and help COMAC continue to improve C919. C919 project had only completed 34 out of 276 required CAAC tests by the end of last year. It will take some time for this aircraft to complete certification.

C929 won't be a hit either.

I posted here what COMAC should eventually look to produce.
Keep in mind that just because only 34 out of 276 tests are completed that doesn’t mean the last 242 aren’t already in various states of progress.
 

tphuang

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
VIP Professional
Registered Member
Keep in mind that just because only 34 out of 276 tests are completed that doesn’t mean the last 242 aren’t already in various states of progress.
No doubt about that. I'm hopefully they will be able to finish testing sooner, but with COVID and other factors, I have my doubts.
 

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King
After the Max all aviation safety regulation agencies have taken a much more in-depth approach and qualifications are more stringent. It will take time.
 

weig2000

Captain
After the Max all aviation safety regulation agencies have taken a much more in-depth approach and qualifications are more stringent. It will take time.

C919 is currently trying to get certified by CAAC. FAA certification is not needed for the Chinese market. The first customers of C919 are China Eastern and its subsidiary OTT Airlines. Any roadblock from the US so far is likely more supply chain related.
 

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King
Doesn’t matter I wasn’t speaking specifically of the FAA. I was speaking in general. Besides C919 is the new Chinese flagship CAAC shouldn’t want to be seen playing favorites.
 
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