A C919 plane, numbered B-001J, repainted with CEA's livery at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, east China, November 20, 2022. /Weibo Blogger Lao Wang
China's domestically developed C919 large jetliner received its production certificate on Tuesday, meaning the model can enter mass production.
Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the C919's developer, received the certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) East China Regional Administration.
A C919 plane, numbered B-001J, repainted with CEA's livery at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, east China, November 20, 2022. /Weibo Blogger Lao Wang
The plane conducted its successful maiden flight in 2017. It obtained the type certificate in late September, which indicates that the C919's design meets airworthiness standards and environmental requirements.
China Eastern Airlines (CEA) signed a contract to buy five C919 in March 2021 as the first commercial deal for the plane.
A C919 plane, numbered B-001J, repainted with CEA's livery at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, east China, November 20, 2022. /Weibo Blogger Lao Wang
The first C919 aircraft is expected to be delivered to China Eastern Airlines in December, and the remaining orders will be delivered in the next year or two based on the supplier's production and delivery plan, according to Wang Jian, board secretary of CEA.
CEA is expected to put the C919 into commercial operation in the first half of 2023.
A C919 plane, numbered B-001J, repainted with CEA's livery, completed its first test flight at Shanghai Pudong International Airport on November 22.
A C919 plane, numbered B-001J, repainted with CEA's livery at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, east China, November 20, 2022. /Weibo Blogger Lao Wang
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China's C919 expected to start commercial operation in first half of 2023
(With input from Xinhua)