The development of high-quality, large aircraft remains one of the key ingredients of China’s latest five-year planning. The aircraft should be safe, with a focus on design and the supply chain. The civil aviation industry was specifically mentioned by General Secretary Xi Jinping during last week’s 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. Large aircraft remain key part of Xi’s aviation strategy.
COMAC, which has been tasked with developing China’s commercial aircraft strategy, shared some details of Xi’s presentation on its website. In often verbose language, the reports describe how COMAC staff was watching Xi’s opening speech, sitting in a hangar in Shanghai next to a C919 in the final assembly and at other sites.
Active as a journalist since 1987, with a background in newspapers, magazines, and a regional news station, Richard has been covering commercial aviation on a freelance basis since late 2016.
Richard is contributing to AirInsight since December 2018. He also writes for Airliner World, Aviation News, Piloot & Vliegtuig, and Luchtvaartnieuws Magazine. Twitter: @rschuur_aero.
