Page 31 - AAA NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2018 Online Magazine

progress. “French companies really want be announced at a later date, according to China-Russia
to participate. Among them are Zodiac Commercial Aircraft International Co Ltd, the aircraft’s man-
Aerospace, Thales, Safran. They have already ufacturer.
sent their proposals,” Khakimov said.
Paradigm Shift
Engine of Change Russia and China intend to complete the creation of the CR-929
eanwhile, aero-engine manufac- by 2025-2027. The countries expect that the aircraft, that will
turer CFM International, which accommodate 250-300 passengers, will compete with other
supplies the domestically manu- major aircraft producers such as Airbus or Boeing. The project
Mfactured C919 aircraft, also said
it is bullish on the Chinese market’s growth
potential, and hopes to have more coopera-
tion with Chinese suppliers. Currently, more
than 20 per cent of aircraft powered by CFM
engines are in China, the company’s sec-
ond-largest market after the United States.
The company’s engines currently in service
and new engine orders in China total a com-
bined 8,500, CFM was quoted by China Daily.
“China is a strategic market for CFM. We
have a big team in Shanghai and we work
closely with COMAC (the C919 manufac-
turer) every day. We find problems and solve
them together, and the cooperation goes
smoothly,” said Gael Meheust, president and
CEO of CFM International, in Beijing. “Our
relationship with the Chinese aviation indus-
try goes back more than 30 years, since we
entered the China market in 1985,” he said.
CFM is a joint venture under the GE Aviation
of the United States and France’s Safran
Aircraft Engines. Its parents each hold a 50
percent stake in the venture. They both invest
US$500 million in China annually by procur-
ing CFM parts.
Safran operates multiple factories in China,
including plants in Suzhou of Jiangsu prov-
ince, Xi’an of Shaanxi province, and Guiyang
of Guizhou province, and they produce some
key engine components, such as low pres- is expected to not only get a substantial market share in Russia
sure turbines. The French company plans to and China, but also in other countries. The estimated cost of
continue raising the capacity of its factory in the project is US$13 billion-US$20 billion.
Suzhou to meet the growing demand from The full-scale mock-up, which was on display, included the
the market. In 2009, the Commercial Aircraft cockpit and three classes of passenger compartment layout.
Corp of China chose LEAP engines to power The length of the layout was 22 meters (72 feet), and was 6.5
the domestically developed single-aisle pas- meters high and 5.9 meters wide. The salon was equipped with
senger jet C919. two rows of first-class seats, three rows of Business Class seats
So far, the aircraft has completed multi- and four rows of Economy Class seats, including an entertain-
ple test flights, and it is expected to enter ment system and interior design in Chinese and Russian styles.
commercial use in 2021. The manufactur- The CR929 program is currently at the stage of preliminary
ers of the CR929 have issued a request for design and selection of suppliers of basic systems and equip-
proposals for the aircraft’s engines. Engine ment, which will be completed before 2020, the chief designer
makers Rolls-Royce and GE Aviation, among of CR929 programme from the Russian side Maxim Litvinov said.
others, have joined the bid. The result will
The maiden flight of the aircraft is expected in 2025.

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