Latest news with #ZhangYanzhong
Qatar Tribune
05-08-2025
- Automotive
- Qatar Tribune
From nose to tail, how China is reshaping the aviation supply chain
Agencies While its home-grown airliners bring China the most attention in the complex, lucrative field of aviation, the country is also making strides in an equally important realm: the many components necessary to ensure the safe, smooth operation of jets and other aircraft. Recent developments in a number of areas show Beijing is continuing to reduce its reliance on foreign parts, close long-standing technological gaps and assert itself as a major player in civil aviation at all levels of the supply chain. We have gathered some of them below. During an interview on state broadcaster CCTV, Zhang Yanzhong of the Chinese Academy of Engineering offered a rare public update on one of the country's most closely watched aviation projects: the CJ-1000A, a domestically produced large commercial jet engine. Designed to power the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) C919 – China's answer to the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 narrowbody aircraft – the CJ-1000A is seen as paramount to the country's efforts to limit its reliance on foreign aerospace technology. Zhang said the engine's development is progressing smoothly and remains on schedule. 'All I can say is that our engine is progressing as planned, and the current progress is very positive. As for when it will be installed on Chinese aircraft – just wait for the good news,' he told CCTV. The Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC), the CJ-1000A's developer, has said their product will perform on par with CFM International's LEAP-1C engine, currently installed in C919 models flying commercial routes. A successful roll-out of the Chinese company's engine would represent a major leap forward in the country's campaign for aviation self-sufficiency. In July, Beijing's chief aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), approved the manufacture of SINOPEC AEH I – a domestically developed aviation-grade fire-resistant hydraulic fluid. Manufactured by the China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), it is the first home-grown product of its kind to receive official airworthiness approval. The certification paves the way for its use in civil aviation, and makes China the third country in the world capable of producing this specialised class of phosphate ester-based hydraulic fluid, critical for aircraft safety and performance. On June 5, China's AES100 turboshaft engine received a production licence in Hunan province and signed its first commercial sales contract. The AES100, also produced by AECC, is a 1,000-kilowatt-class advanced turboshaft engine tailored for civil aviation. Its manufacturer has touted its high safety standards, strong fuel efficiency, ease of maintenance and adaptability across various environments. It is designed to power twin-engined and single-engine helicopters as well as tilt-rotor aircraft, typically used for transport, sightseeing, emergency rescue and utility operations. As with the CJ-1000A, mass adoption of the engine would be a major step forward in China's efforts to source its aircraft propulsion systems locally after decades of relying on foreign suppliers. On average, lightning strikes a commercial airliner once a year. While rarely catastrophic, these incidents can pose serious risks, especially as traditional lightning protection systems struggle to keep up with the demands of high-speed, high-altitude flight. At a July 29 showcase at the National Communication Centre for Science and Technology in Beijing, Hefei Aerospace Electro-Physical Technology unveiled a new protection system to guard against this risk. Pan Yuan, also of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said the event that lightning protection is critical for guaranteeing flight safety in complex weather. The technical challenge, he noted, lies not only in shielding the aircraft from direct lightning strikes but also in mitigating secondary effects, such as electrical surges that can damage on-board systems. Particularly complex is the protection of fuel systems, where failure could lead to disaster. The new system, if proven effective in commercial application, would grant Chinese-made aircraft a stronger reputation for safety and improve their case for overseas certification, an essential step for the country's jets to enter the global market.
South China Morning Post
04-08-2025
- Automotive
- South China Morning Post
From nose to tail, how China is reshaping the aviation supply chain
While its home-grown airliners bring China the most attention in the complex, lucrative field of aviation, the country is also making strides in an equally important realm: the many components necessary to ensure the safe, smooth operation of jets and other aircraft. Recent developments in a number of areas show Beijing is continuing to reduce its reliance on foreign parts, close long-standing technological gaps and assert itself as a major player in civil aviation at all levels of the supply chain. We have gathered some of them below. CJ-1000A engine whirring along During an interview on state broadcaster CCTV, Zhang Yanzhong of the Chinese Academy of Engineering offered a rare public update on one of the country's most closely watched aviation projects: the CJ-1000A, a domestically produced large commercial jet engine. Designed to power the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) C919 – China's answer to the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 narrowbody aircraft – the CJ-1000A is seen as paramount to the country's efforts to limit its reliance on foreign aerospace technology. Zhang said the engine's development is progressing smoothly and remains on schedule. 'All I can say is that our engine is progressing as planned, and the current progress is very positive. As for when it will be installed on Chinese aircraft – just wait for the good news,' he told CCTV. The Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC), the CJ-1000A's developer, has said their product will perform on par with CFM International's LEAP-1C engine, currently installed in C919 models flying commercial routes. A successful roll-out of the Chinese company's engine would represent a major leap forward in the country's campaign for aviation self-sufficiency. Hydraulic fluid gets the green light
