Pudong aviation industry expected to receive major boost

The Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC) is expected to give a major boost to the aviation industry in Shanghai by cooperating with the local government on a number of aviation projects.

Shanghai will accelerate the development of the aviation industry by focusing on design, R&D, assembly, production and operation, and strive to achieve a total industrial output value of 300 billion yuan (&43.19 billion) by 2035.

Two major projects – Zhuqiao Aviation Industrial Park and COMAC Innovation Valley – were established in Pudong New Area during a launch ceremony on Dec 27 at the assembly manufacturing center of COMAC in Zhuqiao town, Pudong New Area.

A number of enterprises and industrial incubation projects were introduced to the park and the valley at the launch ceremony.

Zhuqiao Aviation Industrial Park is expected to develop into a large aircraft industry cluster which will reduce production costs and form a convenient supply chain.

COMAC Innovation Valley aims to turn itself into a hub for air science, research and intellectual property in the aviation field.

On the same day, the COMAC's sixth and last C919 test aircraft, China's first domestically-built passenger jet, successfully returned to Shanghai Pudong International Airport after completing test missions.

So far, all of the C919's static tests have been completed, and manufacturing has begun on the first batch of aircraft set to be delivered to customers, according to COMAC.

In addition, on Dec 28, COMAC delivered its 22nd ARJ21 aircraft. To date, the ARJ21 fleet has accumulated more than 23,000 hours of flight time and safely carried more than 660,000 passengers.