China to Expand Civil Aircraft Industry in 2006-2010 Period
Xinhua | May 15, 2007
China's civil aircraft industry will expand through independent innovation and international cooperation, according to the government's 11th five-year plan for the development of the industry.
The government plans to start development of its own aircraft with a takeoff weight of more than 100 tons or more than 150 seats and make new progress in key techniques in design, manufacturing and testing.
The country will accelerate the development and manufacture of its first turbofan regional airliner, the ARJ-21, and produce a range of indigenous regional jets.
Regional jets and general aviation aircraft of different sizes will be put into mass production and the industry will endeavor to expand exports.
The plan also calls for a quicker pace in building the assembly lines for Airbus A320 in north China's Tianjin Binhai New Area.
According to the plan, China will strengthen its capability in developing long-life and high-capacity satellites and make full use of them in telecommunication, navigation and remote sensing.