UPDATE – The strict Covid-policy of the Chinese government is further delaying the test flight and certification campaign of the COMAC C919. The latest lockdown that hurts the program is that of the entire city of Xi’an since December 22. As a result, four of the six test aircraft are stranded at Xi’an’s Yanliang test base as the crew isn’t allowed to leave the city. Xi’an lockdown is further delaying COMAC C919.
China is continuing a very cautious policy on Covid infections since the outbreak of the first wave in Wuhan at the end of 2019 and early 2020. Entire companies or harbors are known to have been closed in the past months only after the discovery of a single infection. Xi’an has seen over 1.100 infections between early and late December, forcing the authorities to seal the entire city with thirteen million citizens until further notice.
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.