Latest news with #widebodyjet
South China Morning Post
13 hours ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
To rival Boeing and Airbus, China's C929 needs more than top engineering
China's development of its first widebody passenger jet represents its ambition to compete globally. But lifting the C929 off the ground will require more than just advanced engineering. Supply chain resilience, talent development and global trust will determine if the programme can truly fly. . History, however, has shown that widebody developments are The home-grown C929, developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) and expected to carry up to 440 passengers with a range of 12,000km, is looking to rival the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787, both popular airline choicesHistory, however, has shown that widebody developments are filled with challenges Boeing delayed the launch of its 787 for three years after outsourcing missteps while an Airbus struggling with A350 supply chain bottlenecks has limited its production to six per month. Farther back, the Ilyushin Il-96, designed in the Soviet Union, faltered soon after the union's collapse as the technical components became obsolete. These cases highlight the need for robust supplier coordination and modern technology, and serve as lessons for Comac to balance localisation and global integration. China hopes to avoid these pitfalls through aggressive localisation The C929 is targeting 90 per cent localisation, with 70 per cent of core subsystems developed domestically. Around 1,200 Chinese suppliers in cities like Shanghai and Chengdu are involved, expected to produce over half of the airframe using domestic composite materials. The C929's fuselage sections are being manufactured by Huarui Aerospace Manufacturing while Comac will carry out the final assembly of the aircraft.
South China Morning Post
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- South China Morning Post
China's C929 jet secures Western tech as manufacturer signs parts deals
China's chief civilian aircraft maker has secured deals to buy Western-made parts for its first widebody jet – expected to resemble the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 series – despite ongoing turbulence in trade and supply chains. Advertisement The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) reached an agreement to work with French aerospace firm Safran on the development of the widebody C929's brake controls, ice detection system, tyre pressure indicators and on-board oxygen system, according to reports from Chinese media outlets on Monday. Comac said on its website on Tuesday it had signed a 'memorandum of understanding' with Safran during this week's Paris Air Show. A photo from the event depicts a signing ceremony for the braking control and tyre pressure systems. The Shanghai-based plane manufacturer separately reached a deal to acquire aircraft cabin door sensors from the US-based Crane Aerospace and Electronics, the media reports said. Comac landed those deals despite slowdowns in global aviation supply chains and uncertainty fanned by US export controls. Advertisement
