'Chinese Airbus' C919 not expected to receive European certification before 2028
The hopes of COMAC, the Chinese state-owned commercial aircraft manufacturer, to obtain type certification for the C919 from EASA have been dashed by the statement from the agency’s chief executive, who predicted that it would take at least three years before that would happen.
In an interview with L’Usine Nouvelle on Monday, Florian Guillermet said the certification process would take another three to six years, which would put the most optimistic scenario at 2028.
COMAC had previously told Chinese media that it expected to obtain approval from the European civil aviation authority as early as 2025.
“As we have officially announced, the C919 will not be able to be certified in 2025,” said Guillermet, who predicted that this would happen “within three to six years.”
COMAC began the certification process for the C919 around 2021, two years before the 168-seat aircraft entered service in China.
The EASA director, on the other hand, acknowledged the manufacturer’s efforts in meeting the requirements. “Comac has put a lot of resources, will and technical means into this certification. I have no doubt that the company will be successful.”
COMAC seeks overseas customers
The most advanced commercial aircraft project ever developed in China, the C919 has similar characteristics to the Airbus A320neo, including the use of a CFM Leap-1 turbofan.
The aircraft is also equipped with many Western components, which in theory would make it more attractive to overseas customers.
Although there are no detailed technical data available, observers believe that the C919 is less efficient than the A320neo and the 737 MAX, but has a lower acquisition cost.
FAA certification is not being pursued
COMAC has only delivered 16 C919s to China’s three largest airlines, but it has plans to accelerate production to meet hundreds of local orders.
However, the state-owned company has made no secret of its ambition to export the aircraft, hence the search for EASA type certification, which would open numerous opportunities for the aircraft.
Although European approval will occur in 2028, this is an appropriate window for COMAC, since production of the C919 should reach a high level of maturity by then, capable of meeting potential demand.
Despite this, the company does not intend to seek type certification from the FAA, the US civil aviation agency. The two countries are in the midst of a trade war that has led to Boeing jets being rejected by Chinese carriers.
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Ricardo Meier
Creator of the website that started in 1996 as a magazine. He also writes on Brazilian websites AUTOO, MOTOO and MetrôCPTM.
