Many Chinese have long dreamed of the day when they could travel around by a jet airliner made in China. On December 21, the age-old dream came true: the first complete feeder jet airliner rolled off production lines. The ARJ21-700, China's first domestic jet airliner with wholly-owned independent IPR (intellectual property rights) acts as a landmark in China's aviation industry.
The government realized that the aviation industry would be far from complete if it left the field of civil aircraft undeveloped. For quite some time, foreign aircraft have nearly monopolized China's vast civilian aircraft market. How could a nation without its own aviation forces develop to be a strong power?
Moreover, China's economic growth and growing scientific and technological strength also call for a breakthrough and immediate expansion in the aviation industry.
In 2002, the State Council authorized the plan to establish a new fanjet feeder aircraft. Research and development fell upon the shoulders of the staff in China Aviation, 1st Group (zhongguo yihang).
At first, they experienced far more difficulties in the independent research and development than expected: the aviation industry is a sensitive key industry abroad and one in which absolute secrecy is essential to secure a monopoly of related technologies and the global market.
Faced with a complex project, a severe shortage in aviation technology and professionals, and specific demands from potential clients in the aircraft technology economy index, the research staff had to overcome seemingly insurmountable difficulties.
The new feeder jet airliner assumes various missions, and is a kind of novelty not only in model; but also in concept and method.
"The civil aircraft industry is a strategic industry, and at the core of the industry is ownership of independent IPR," said Yang Yuzhong, acting Deputy GM of China Aviation, 1st Group. To complete the project, they consulted with some foreign firms, and selected suppliers from all around the world. The design and technology, however, were under the control of the Chinese staff to ensure that China played a predominant role in the project, added Yang.
During the project's initial stages, China Aviation, 1st Group developed its customer-oriented concept, and established a complete system of civil aircraft industry, accumulating market development, product research and client support.
Good results came almost immediately: the Group signed 171 orders even before the jet airliner's test flight, pioneering the sales of experimental civil aircraft to customers according to the market culture in China.
According to Lin Zuoming, GM of China Aviation, 1st Group, the new ARJ21 feeder airliner has been the toughest project facing the Group so far, coming with the highest risk and greatest pressure. He also said that the ARJ21 will have to compete with high-level competitors in the world Olympic finals of civil aircraft.
He added that by then, the debut of the ARJ21 jet airliner will impress the audience with its cozy passenger cabin, capacious seating and spacious baggage cabin.
By People's Daily Online
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article