ARJ21 manufacturing base enters construction phase

Construction of the ARJ21 plane manufacturing base began in Dachang in the Baoshan District of Shanghai, on the morning of September 13. When this first phase is completed, thirty ARJ21 planes can be produced each year. When the entire base is completed, it hopes to increase that number to 50. The construction of the base was undertaken by China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC I) to accelerate the development of its civilian aircraft.

ARJ21 is a short to medium range regional turbofan aircraft co-developed by 8 Chinese aviation groups and 19 foreign suppliers. Forty-one ARJ21 planes will be manufactured according to contract specifications. The first plane will be finished by the end of July, 2007, and the test flight will be in March, 2008. If the aircraft meets Chinese standards it will be delivered to customers in September of 2009.

By People's Daily Online