COMAC C929 Widebody Airliner
- Thread starter Iron Man
- Start date
avionics and engines from usa or eu just like c919.
Initial engines certainly will be. Not sure about avionics. Probably will be a mixture. Russians are experienced with commercial airliners. Chinese commercial aviation industry was non-existent before ARJ and C919. Helps with securing orders too. No airliner will gamble with purchasing many units of unproven Chinese civil avionics and engines even if AVIC can offer them. Step by step process but breaking into the French/American duopoly in medium and eventually heavy weight civil aviation. Normally will take any industry decades to do so it'll take time but it's a start.
Extremely risky. A little bit of success and they will halt deliveries.
Doubtful. Contractual obligations exist and if an upset were to happen for example let's say an accusation that AVIC is using them for military planes, then AVIC will just replace with Chinese avionics and engines. All the while those suppliers are missing out on multiple millions in income. If played right, it could be the entry of Chinese avionics and engines.
If charged with reverse engineering. Well any expert can tell you there is a huge limit on how much info you can get from pulling apart an engine. Software and material manufacturing cannot be reverse engineered by having the end product. But then again truths don't matter so they can find a way to cut supply. If that happens, replace them with Chinese ones. Avionics and engine tech require time to prove function and reliability. Russians and Soviets used their airlines to carry ILs and TUs. If they had successful marketing and the Cold War trade blocks weren't in existence, I'm sure many airlines outside of the Soviet/Communist blocks would have purchased some if they were economically competitive while being as functional and safe. For China and Russia to break into the Airbus Boeing duopoly, it will not be easy. Give it a few decades and the technology will likely improve further but eventual self reliance and selling to developing nations will make a lot of money for involved organisations and take money out of Boeing and Airbus pockets.
There is risk, but not extreme. Yes, US administration may be eager to block LEAP engine delivery on the ground of 50% share of GE, but doing so runs the equal risk of China not certifying any new Boeing jet flying in and out and over Chinese airspace, Russia could do the same, that will not only cut off Boeing from one of the largest air traffic market, but also cut it off or forcing it to reroute from flying Australia, Japan, South Korea, South East Asia to Europe. It is a death match, I don't think anyone dare to start it FIRST.
I term China's stint with C919 and C929 as catch-up and learn phases.
The number of foreign equipment and subsystems used aboard these aircraft are massive. So much so that I'm inclined to believe that another unexplored side to this story exists - one of gauging the quality and standards required in the current Aviation market.
The real customers of Civilian Aircrafts are Airline Operators ( Etihad, Quantas,Luftanza etc). No one will choose a Chinese aircraft fitted with Chinese subsystems even if China could demonstrate better Economics. Because ultimately, there is a lack of trust/ brand awareness associated with Chinese systems. China needs to demonstrate the quality and reliability of its systems over a long period (spanning a decade or two). These aircraft are the stepping stones to that.
The various foreign subsystems are going to be gauged for their performances and attempts will be made to gradually develop competent local subsystems to replace them.
So... while Rockwell Collins may very well provide the Flight Management System for C919/C929...China will/ should make attempts to create a local answer to the RC solution.
The number of foreign equipment and subsystems used aboard these aircraft are massive. So much so that I'm inclined to believe that another unexplored side to this story exists - one of gauging the quality and standards required in the current Aviation market.
The real customers of Civilian Aircrafts are Airline Operators ( Etihad, Quantas,Luftanza etc). No one will choose a Chinese aircraft fitted with Chinese subsystems even if China could demonstrate better Economics. Because ultimately, there is a lack of trust/ brand awareness associated with Chinese systems. China needs to demonstrate the quality and reliability of its systems over a long period (spanning a decade or two). These aircraft are the stepping stones to that.
The various foreign subsystems are going to be gauged for their performances and attempts will be made to gradually develop competent local subsystems to replace them.
So... while Rockwell Collins may very well provide the Flight Management System for C919/C929...China will/ should make attempts to create a local answer to the RC solution.
It also makes the FAA and EASA are less willing to block the COMAC products when enter their market, despite they recognized Chinese airworthiness certificate this days
But most importantly, I thinks C919 and C929 are commercial product, COMAC simply choose the best and cheapest components for their products...
