Aerospace

First made-in-china large commercial aircraft , C919 rolled off production line.

The Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (Comac) said on Monday it had rolled out its C919 narrow body jet, which is meant to rival similar models from Airbus Group and Boeing Co.

State television also showed footage of the aircraft rolling off the assembly line in Comac’s Shanghai factory. In a statement, the company said it had already received 517 orders for the aircraft mainly from domestic firms.

About C919

“C919″is the short form of trunk liner code for “COMAC919”. COMAC is the acronym of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. The letter “C” is the first letter of both “COMAC” and “China”. It indicates that this trunk liner program is the will of China and her people. It is a short-medium range commercial trunk liner that can claim indigenous intellectual property. Its all-economy class layout entails 168 seats, and the hybrid class layout 156 seats. The basic version is designed to cover a range of 4,075 km, while the enhanced version can stretch to 5,555 km. Such designs may satisfy the operating demands for different routes. Its economic life is designed to be 90,000 flying hours/30 calendar years.

Features

Safety:

The design, development, and airworthiness examination of the airplane are completely based on international civil aviation rules and regulations and airworthiness standards.
Economics:

Fuel consumption and direct operating cost per seat per kilometer are lower than those of similar existing airplanes.
Comfort:

Broader cabins and wider seats plus advanced system technology to improve comfort.

Environmentally friendly:

New engine to meet noise and pollutant discharge requirements.

Product family:

Covering basic version, extended version, shortened version, cargo version, special version and corporate version.

The Comac C919 is a family of 158-174 seat narrow-body twin-engine jet airliners built by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac). It is the largest commercial airliner designed and built in China since the defunct Shanghai Y-10. Its first flight is expected to take place in end of 2015, with first deliveries scheduled for late 2018.

Dimensions

Dimensions of the C919 are very similar to the Airbus A320, possibly to allow for a common pallet to be used. Its fuselage will be 3.96 metres (13 feet) wide, and 4.166 metres (13 feet, 8 inches) high, producing a cross-section of 12.915 square metres (139 square feet). The wingspan will be 33.6 metres (110 feet, 3 inches), or 35.4 metres (116 feet, 3 inches) if winglets are included.

Payload

Payload will be 20.4 metric tonnes. Its cruise speed will be Mach 0.785 and it will have a maximum altitude of 12,100 metres (39,800 feet).

capacity

There will be two variants. The standard version will have a range of 4,075 km (2,200nm), with the extended-range version able to fly 5,555 km (3,000nm).

According to a film shown by Comac at the 2010 Zhuhai Airshow, the company plans to build six different models of the aircraft: a base passenger aircraft with 168 seats, as well as stretched and shrunk passenger versions, business jet and freighter models, and a type designated only as “special” .

Price tag

The Comac C919 is intended to be a new entrant in the commercial airliner market specifically targeted at low-cost airlines. Fuel price increases are especially damaging to the low-cost flying model, leading these airlines to renew their fleets frequently. This ensures optimal fuel performance and reliability across a single-type fleet. Direct competitor – Boeing 737 unit cost of US$ 78.3-108.3 million, means that target price for this airplane should be lower. The Airbus A320 has a wider price range, from US$71.9 million to US$120.5 million. The Comac developers have not announced a price tag for each plane, although based on industry speculation current orders for 2012 could be worth more than US$26 billion. This with 2012 orders for 380 examples, lead to projected average price of about $68 million.

Total no of orders 517 (as of 2015)

At the 2015 Paris Air Show, Ping An Leasing signed a letter of intent for 50 C919s.This deals makes the Shanghai-based Chinese lessor one of Comac’s largest customers. In addition to Ping An Leasing, Puren Group also signed a letters of intent for seven C919s and seven ARJ21s, intended for the start-up Puren Airlines.Also during that time Nepal Airlines and Air India was interested in acquiring 2-3 to replace older aircraft.

Design and assembly of the aircraft done in Shanghai, using foreign-made jet engines and avionics. However, China has expressed its desire to produce a domestically made engine for the C919. The center wing box, outer wing box, wing panels, flaps and ailerons are planned to be built in Xi’an, China. The center fuselage sections are planned to be built in Hongdu, China.The airframe will be made largely of aluminium alloy, while the center wing box also makes use of carbonfiber composites.

CFM International will supply a version of the LEAP engine, the LEAP-1C, to power the aircraft. The engine’s nacelle, thrust reverser and exhaust system will be provided by Nexcelle, with such features as an advanced inlet configuration, the extensive use of composites and acoustic treatment and an electrically operated thrust reverser. Michelin will supply Air X radial tyres.

Dimensions

Payload

Payload will be 20.4 metric tonnes. Its cruise speed will be Mach 0.785 and it will have a maximum altitude of 12,100 metres (39,800 feet).

capacity

There will be two variants. The standard version will have a range of 4,075 km (2,200nm), with the extended-range version able to fly 5,555 km (3,000nm).

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Aerospace

EASA Ends Suspension on PIA, Approves Flights to Europe

Pakistan's National Airline Set for Privatization as Elections Loom

The suspension of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) from operating in Europe is finally over, marking a significant turning point for Pakistan’s aviation sector.

After years of scrutiny and stringent safety assessments, the European Commission and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have officially lifted the ban on PIA. This decision also grants Airblue authorization to operate flights to Europe, further enhancing Pakistan’s connectivity with the region.

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PIA’s suspension, initially imposed in June 2020, was a direct consequence of concerns regarding the oversight capabilities of Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA). These concerns were triggered shortly after a tragic PIA plane crash that claimed 97 lives, prompting an investigation into the validity of pilot licenses issued in the country.

Now, after four years of continuous efforts and reforms by the PCAA, EASA has expressed renewed confidence in Pakistan’s aviation regulatory framework. In a statement, EASA highlighted that Pakistan has successfully addressed safety compliance issues, enabling PIA to resume its operations within the European Union.

A spokesperson for PIA expressed optimism, emphasizing the airline’s commitment to strictly adhere to EASA’s regulations and guidelines. “This milestone has been achieved after four years of relentless efforts by the PIA management,” the spokesperson said.

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The lifting of the ban is expected to have a profound impact on PIA’s future. The airline, which employs over 7,000 people, has faced criticism in the past for poor management, financial instability, and regulatory challenges.

However, the restoration of European operations is seen as a vital step toward regaining its competitive edge, improving its financial standing, and restoring its reputation on the global stage.

Pakistan’s government, which has been exploring options to privatize the debt-laden national carrier, is hopeful that this development will attract foreign investment and bolster the country’s aviation industry.

With a renewed focus on compliance and safety, PIA is now poised to rebuild its presence in Europe, offering Pakistani travelers and international passengers more connectivity and improved service.