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COMAC C919-600 completes first flight

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COMAC completed the first flight of its C919-600 last Wednesday, a shortened, high-altitude version of the C919. COMAC

 has 40 firm orders from Xizang Airlines, formerly Tibet Airlines, and this version of the C919 is specifically intended for high-altitude markets, including Daocheng, the highest-altitude commercial airport in the world.  The airport in Daocheng is located 14,472 feet above sea level, and aircraft take-off performance is degraded in the thinner air at high altitudes.

The network of high-altitude airports served by Xizang from the airlines’ Lhasa base includes several of the highest commercial airports in the world, which require aircraft with strong “Hot and High” performance to operate in the Chinese plateau.

C919-600
image COMAC C919 600

High-Altitude Operations

“Hot and High” operations basically describe low air density caused by high airport elevation and high temperatures. At airports along the plateau that are well above sea level, air density is reduced, reducing engine thrust and lift, which requires additional thrust or longer runways for take-offs.

COMAC completed the first flight of its C919-600 last Wednesday, a shortened, high-altitude version of the C919. COMAC has 40 firm orders from Xizang Airlines, formerly Tibet Airlines, and this version of the C919 is specifically intended for high-altitude markets, including Daocheng, the world’s highest-altitude commercial airport.  The airport in Daocheng is located 14,472 feet above sea level, and aircraft take-off performance is degraded in the thinner air at high altitudes.

The network of high-altitude airports served by Xizang from the airlines’ Lhasa base includes several of the highest commercial airports in the world, which require aircraft with strong “Hot and High” performance to operate in the Chinese plateau.


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