China's first regional jet gets type certificate

Powered by GE's CF34-10A, the first Chinese regional jet developed by Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) called the ARJ21-700 aircraft has received its Type Certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) today in Beijing, paving the way for the aircraft's entry into service.

The Chinese company will be looking to developing international markets with Africa clearly on the agenda.

Earning a United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification is a precondition for the ARJ21-700 to enter the global aviation market.

Since 2003, the aviation authorities of China and the USA had been negotiating the ARJ21-700 application for FAA type certification and shadow certification. As a result, the FAA will accept a type certification application of AVIC I Commercial Aircraft Company’s ARJ21-700 that will be sent by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

The FAA also decided to develop a shadow certification for ARJ21-700 under the current standards and established the CAAC Technology Support Office in Shanghai and Beijing.

COMAC launched the ARJ21 program in 2002 and selected CF34-10A engine to power the aircraft in the same year. Since then, GE and COMAC have been collaborating closely during the aircraft's detailed design and the aircraft/engine integration phases. The aircraft took the maiden flight in November 2008 and completed all the required certification test programs this month. COMAC has announced 278 orders of the ARJ21 regional jet aircraft.

"This certification is a monumental achievement for COMAC, and GE is honored to play a significant role in the ARJ21 aircraft program,”said David Joyce, President and CEO of GE Aviation. "GE and COMAC have developed a strong relationship working on this program. Our team is proud to be more than a strategic participant in the development of China's aviation industry."