Comac C919

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Comac C919
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Comac C919
Role Narrow-body twin-engine jet airliner
National origin People's Republic of China
Manufacturer Comac
Designer Comac
First flight 2016 (Projected)[1]
Introduction 2019 [2]
Status Ground Testing
Number built 1[3]

The Comac C919[4] is a planned family of 158–174 seat narrow-body twin-engine jet airliners to be built by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac).[5][6][7] It will be the largest commercial airliner designed and built in China since the defunct Shanghai Y-10. Its first flight is expected to take place in 2016, with first deliveries scheduled for late 2018.[8] Roll-out ceremony was held in Shanghai on November 2, 2015.[9]

The C919 forms part of China's long-term goal to break Airbus and Boeing's duopoly, and is intended to compete against Airbus A320 NEO, Boeing 737 Max, and other next-generation single-aisle airliners.

Development

Comac applied for a type certificate for the aircraft from the Civil Aviation Authority of China on 28 October 2010.[10] The company plans to conduct the first flight of the C919 in 2016, with deliveries beginning in 2018,[8] whereas Marwan Lahoud, Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer of Airbus Group,[11] assumes a competition outside China around 2020.[12]

In June 2011 COMAC and Irish low-cost airline Ryanair signed an agreement to co-operate on the development of the C919[13] On 24 November 2011, Comac announced the completion of the joint definition phase, marking the end of the preliminary design phase for the C919.[14] The company said it planned to cut the first metal for the aircraft in December 2011, with estimated completion of the detailed design phase in 2012.[14]

With an estimated development cost of $8.3 billion, Comac planned to produce 5–10 planes per year in 2016 and 2017, subsequently ramping up to 150 C919s.[15] The company intends to manufacture up to 2,300 aircraft of that type.[16]

In 2014 delivery was yet again delayed by technology and supplier problems, this time to 2018.[17] Comac rolled out its first C919 aircraft off the assembly line in September 2015 with no engines installed.

On November 2, 2015, Comac rolled out its first C919 aircraft.[1][18]

Design

A model of C919 in flight

Design and assembly of the aircraft is done in Shanghai, using foreign-made jet engines and avionics.[19] 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.[20] The airframe will be made largely of aluminium alloy, while the center wing box also makes use of carbon fiber composites.[16]

CFM International will supply a version of the LEAP engine, the LEAP-1C, to power the aircraft.[21] 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.[22] Michelin will supply Air X radial tyres.[23]

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.[24]

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).[24]

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).[24]

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".[7]

Target

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 Max unit at cost of US$ 78.3-108.3 million,[25] means that target price for this airplane should be lower. The Airbus A320 NEO has a wider price range, from US$71.9 million to US$120.5 million.[26] 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.[27] This with 2012 orders for 380 examples,[28] lead to projected average price of about $68 million.

Some experts believe the C919 will not be competitive either technologically or commercially when it enters service given the planes' strong dependence on foreign suppliers. In particular, the engines will likely be sourced from CFM International Inc. (LEAP-1C engine), the same company that sells the CFM International CFM56 used by direct competitors.[29] In 2013, state-owned newspaper Global Times complained that an Aviation Week editorial about the bleak prospects for the aircraft "maliciously disparaged the future outlook for the C919."[30]

Orders and deliveries

At the 2010 Zhuhai Airshow, Comac announced orders for 55 C919 aircraft from six airlines, with an additional 45 options. The purchasing airlines or lessors included China Eastern Airlines, Air China, Hainan Airlines, China Southern Airlines, CDB Leasing Company, and GE Capital Aviation Services.[31]

On 20 October 2011, Chinese leasing company ICBC Leasing announced an order for 45 C919s, as well as an agreement to be the launch customer for the aircraft.[32] On November 11, 2014, Comac announced at the 2014 Zhuhai Airshow that China Merchants Bank's aircraft leasing division made a firm commitment for 30 C919s, and that total orders were now up to 450 aircraft.[33]

Production of the first C919 testing prototype began on December 9, 2011.[34] The flight testbed was expected to enter final assembly in 2014, and perform its first flight sometime in 2015.[35] However, as of the 2014 Zhuhai Airshow, the first flight has been delayed to 2015, with the first delivery delayed to 2018.[36]

At the 2015 Paris Air Show, Ping An Leasing signed a letter of intent for 50 C919s.[37] 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.[38] Also during that time Nepal Airlines and Air India was interested in acquiring 2–3 to replace older aircraft.

Orders

Customer Order Options Notes
China ABC Financial Leasing[39] 45 0 Leasing company owned by Agricultural Bank of China
China Air China 20 0 Beijing based airline
China BOC Aviation[40] 20 0 Wholly owned by Bank of China, former leasing company of Singapore
China BOCOMM Leasing[41] 30 0 Leasing company and unit of Shanghai based Bank of Communications
China CCB Financial Leasing[42] 50 0 Leasing company owned by China Construction Bank and Bank of America
China CDB Leasing Company 10 0 Leasing company and unit of Beijing based China Development Bank
China China Aircraft Leasing Company (CALC) 20 0 Leasing company based in Hong Kong
China China Eastern Airlines 20 0 Shanghai based airline
China China Merchants Bank 30 0 Chinese bank's aircraft leasing division
China China Southern Airlines 20 0 Guangzhou based airline
United States GECAS (General Electric Capital Aviation Services) 20 0 Leasing company based in Stamford, CT and Shannon, Ireland; unit of General Electric
China Hainan Airlines 20 0 Haikou based airline under Grand China Air
China Hebei Airlines 20 0 Shijiazhuang based airline
China Huaxia Financial Leasing[33] 20 0 Leasing unit of Huaxia Bank
China ICBC Leasing 45 0 Leasing company of Beijing, China-based Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
China Industrial Bank Financial Leasing Co Ltd[43] 20 0 Leasing company of Fuzhou, China-based Industrial Bank Co.
China Joy Air[44] 20 0 Xi'an based airline
China Ping An Leasing[37] 50 0 Shanghai-based leasing company
China Puren Group[38] 7 0
China Sichuan Airlines 20 0 Chengdu based airline
Thailand City Airways 10 0
Total 517 0

Specifications

C919-Mixed C919-All ECO C919-High Density
Flight crew 2
Seating capacity 156 (2-class) 168 (1-class) 174 (1-class)
Seat pitch base line 12 passengers (97 cm (38 in)) + 144 passengers (81 cm (32 in)) 168 passengers (81 cm (32 in)) 174 passengers (76 cm (30 in))
Length 38.9 metres (127 ft 7 in)
Wingspan 35.8 metres (117 ft 5 in)
Wing area 129.15 square metres (1,390 square feet)
Wing Sweepback
Height 11.95 metres (39 ft 2 in)
Cabin width 3.9 metres (12 ft 10 in)
Cabin height 2.25 metres (7 ft 5 in)
Aisle width
Seat width
Typical empty weight
Maximum take-off weight 77,300 kilograms (170,400 lb) extended range
Range fully loaded 4,075 km (2,200 nmi) 5,555 km (2,999 nmi)
Max. operating speed Mach 0.785 900 kilometres (560 mi) (extended range)
Normal cruise speed 834 kilometres per hour (518 mph)
Take off run at MTOW
Service Ceiling 12,100 metres (39,700 ft)
Powerplants (2x) CFM International Leap 1C Single Western powerplant
Engine thrust 110,000–130,000 N (25,000–30,000 lbf)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

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External links

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