ARJ21 regional jet is China's first commercial airliner independently developed in accordance with international standards. China's civil aviation industry becomes the protagonist in international cooperation for the first time... Xinhua News Agency conducted an exclusive interview with Luo Ronghuai, deputy general manager of COMAC, about the ARJ21 regional jet, a record breaker in Chinese civil aviation industry.
Crucial Period for Airworthiness Certificate
Reporter: Please tell us about the new ARJ21 regional jet research & development progress.
Luo: The ARJ21 regional jet is about to receive its airworthiness certification from the CAAC (Civil Aviation Administration of China). Also, it has applied for FAA type certification and entered the final crucial stage.
The ARJ21 is a new short to medium-haul turbofan powered regional jet with independent intellectual property rights. The regional jet has a standard range of 2,225 km, and for the extended type, the range can be increased to 3,704 km. It is designed for the radiation route from the central city to the surrounding small or medium cities.
Reporter: What level is this aircraft compared to rival aircraft in the global?
Luo:The ARJ21 regional jet has a good adaptability, comfortability and economical efficiency. It shares similar performance and comfort with a 150-seat trunk aircraft. The cabin is configured with 5 seats per row, no less comfortable than any rival aircraft. Its comfort is also reflected in the cabin aesthetic design and flight mechanics features of the whole jet.
This aircraft has improved aerodynamic performance, and is better adapted to the characteristics of feeder routes than rival aircraft while maintaining good flight performance. As a turbofan regional jet with more than 70 seats, it has an economic character in a range greater than 500 nautical miles. Through the use of long lifespan structural design, both reliability and security are improved with a reduction in maintenance costs. Advanced turbofan engine with low fuel consumption makes the jet more economic friendly. Digital design and other means reduce the development and production costs, which is about 10% lower than comparable aircraft.
The Core Technology in Our Own Hands
Reporter: Can you introduce the intellectual property rights situation of the ARJ21?
Luo: The ARJ21 regional jet is a product of China's independent design, and independent research & development under a new mechanism and a new management model. It is the full application of digital design and manufacturing technology with independent intellectual property rights.
Civil aircraft is a strategic industry. The key strategy is the independent intellectual property rights. This aircraft project, despite seeking consultation from foreign companies and worldwide selection of suppliers, etc., is designed and manufactured by China. We have the core technology in our own hands and control the project initiative.
Reporter: What areas can reflect the independent intellectual property rights?
Luo: Independent intellectual property rights are reflected in the overall design and system integration. For example, aircraft fuselage and wings are made in Xi'an; the nose compartment is made in Chengdu; the system equipments are imported from the U.S. or Europe and the final installation and assemblage are done in Shanghai. Integration is determined by the design idea. Every single line and dot on the aircraft design blueprint embodies the wisdom of our designers. The brands and intellectual property rights belong to us.
The ARJ21 aircraft design standards are completely established to adapt to the nation's natural environment. Compared with other competing aircraft, it has a relatively strong adaptability to the airport conditions, harsh climate and environment requirements in the routes and airports in western China.
From "Supporting Role" to "Leading Role"
Reporter: How to deal with the relationship between independent research & development and international cooperation?
Luo: Independent intellectual property rights don't mean building all parts and equipments on their own behind closed doors. Globalization has presented the civil aircraft industry a whole new pattern with manufacturer as the core through mutual cooperation, professional development, and global integration.
We have selected a number of powerful suppliers worldwide, formed a globalized cooperative system, and created a Chinese civil aircraft management model. For the first time, we act as a prime contractor who selects suppliers through the market mechanism. We also adopted the internationally-accepted "strategic alliance" model, and cooperated with 19 international companies including GE as our supply chain. Unlike in the past, the roles have reversed. We become the main manufacturer, and promote from the supporting role to leading role, which is a milestone event.
Pathfinder for Chinese-Made Large Passenger Aircraft
Reporter: What is the significance of the ARJ21 regional jet manufacturing on the homemade large aircraft C919?
Luo: The ARJ21, the new regional jet with completely independent intellectual property rights, has made important progress in project development, international purchasing, customer service, and so forth. It has filled a blank in the history of China's civil aviation industry, and laid the foundation for the further development of large aircraft.
This is the largest, the most stressful and difficult project in China's aviation manufacturing history. A series of major breakthroughs have been made and are worth as reference by future large aircraft development project. The formation of a project company with assets as the link and market for the traction is of pioneering significance. It is the emphasis on innovation and own intellectual property rights that provide a strong guarantee for the future aircraft development in China.
China's civil aircraft industry is most lacking the ability of commercial operation. The new regional aircraft is a pathfinder for civil aircraft commercial operation mode. The goal of introducing internationally-accepted commercial models is to achieve success in business, other than just succeeding in manufacture. There have been 206 orders even before the test flight of the ARJ21, a pioneer in sales of in-research civil aircraft in China.
This is the first aircraft designed in full accordance with the CAAC and the U.S. FAA airworthiness regulations. COMAC has a good cooperation with the authority airworthiness department of CAAC and the FAA agencies in China, which is very beneficial for the sales of the aircraft in the global market.
The talent shortage is the biggest obstacle of China's civil aviation industry. The ARJ21 project has trained a large number of talents and exercised a research and development team, which has far-reaching significance to the civil aviation industrial development. This project has not only increased the confidence of building Chinese-made jet, but also enhanced the civil aircraft development level and conquered a series of technical difficulties for aircraft research and development. All these have accumulated great experiences in large aircraft design and manufacture.
