China has ambitions to compete against Airbus and Boeing in the commercial jet market but, in terms of exports, China has been making better progress with its turboprops.
Xian Aircraft, manufacturer of the 60-seat MA60 and MA600 turboprop, has quietly been accumulating a back-log of orders from airlines in the developing world. Air Congo ordered an additional MA60 in August, says Xu Bo, deputy managing director of Avic International, the international sales and marketing arm of Avic, Xian Aircraft’s parent. Also Peruvian start-up CDS Regional Express signed an order in May for four MA60s, two for passenger services and two for freighters, says Avic.
Other countries that have been in discussions for the purchase of MA60s include: Sri Lanka, the possible purchase of two for its second national carrier Mihin Lanka and four for the air force; Tajikistan, two for national carrier Tajik Air; Ecuador, two for the air force; and Zimbabwe, two more for national carrier Air Zimbabwe. Many of these countries currently use ex-Soviet equipment such as Antonov An-24/26s, but even Russian and Ukrainian aircraft-makers may face competition in their home markets. Avic says in a statement it has been speaking to the Russian civil aviation regulator about applying for Russian certification for the MA60. Another market in Chinese sights is the Middle East. Avic plans to have a MA600 on display at the Dubai Airshow on Nov. 13-17, says an Avic official, adding that this will be the first time the MA600 has been present at an overseas airshow. The MA600 is the same as the MA60, except it is a newer model. It has a newer version of Rockwell Collins’ avionics system and its main passenger door is nearer to the front, whereas the MA60 passenger door is further aft.
While there are many deals in the works for the MA60, Xian Aircraft already has MA60 commercial operators, such as: Air Congo (Republic of the Congo), Air Zimbabwe, Joy Air (China), Lao Airlines (Laos), Merpati Nusantara (Indonesia), Myanma Airways (Myanmar), Okay Airways (China), TAM (Bolivia), Yingan Airlines (China) and Zest Air (Philippines).
The Congo deal includes in-country customer support and a stockpile of spare parts. Avic in the past was criticized for failing to provide adequate support to its international customers, but in recent years it has expanded its customer support network. It has, for example, established customer support centers in Egypt, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Xian Aircraft is also developing the MA700. Even though the name sounds similar to the MA600, Xian Aircraft promises this will be a completely new type and in no way will resemble the MA600. AviationWeek reported in April that the MA700, which is due for entry into service in 2015, will be a 70 and 90-seater. Presently there are no 90-seat turboprops in the world, but it is a market segment ATR and Bombardier says is viable.
While Chinese turboprop aircraft are becoming more prevalent in the developing world, there are no Chinese commercial jet aircraft that have been exported. China’s efforts in this segment are still fairly new. The only aircraft that it has to market are the Comac ARJ21 and C919. The ARJ21 has yet to receive Chinese certification – despite the fact that it had its first test flight on Nov. 28, 2008 – while the C919 is still in the early stages of development and is only due to have its first test flight in 2014.
However, China has been marketing the ARJ21 overseas for several years now, with little success. Its only ARJ21 export customers are Laos’ national carrier Lao Airlines, with an order for two; and Myanmar’s national domestic carrier Myanma Airways with an order for two. Lao’s order is now shaky because the airline last month ordered two Airbus A320s for delivery in October and November of this year. “Comac hasn’t yet received Chinese type certification from the CAAC for the ARJ21. We can’t wait,” Lao head of planning, Noudeng Chanthaphasouk, told AviationWeek in August.
It is understood that Lao Airlines and Myanma Airways both ordered their ARJ21s at the behest of their governments, which are strong political allies of China and rely on China’s largess.
