Bradley Perrett covered China, Japan, South Korea and Australia. He is a Mandarin-speaking Australian.
Before joining Aviation Week in 2006 he was a macroeconomics, politics and aerospace journalist with Reuters. Perrett holds a bachelor’s degree in law from Macquarie University, Sydney. He left Aviation Week in 2020.
The Comac C919 is moving into the detail design phase, with the Chinese manufacturer saying that development is, in general, going smoothly. “There have been no particularly large problems,” CFO Tian Min tells Aviation Week. “Overall, it has been smooth.” The company has declared completion of preliminary design. “The C919 program remains precisely on track for entry into commercial service in 2016,” it says in a statement. First flight is due in 2014.
Chinese leasing companies are close to venturing into speculative aircraft orders as the next stage in their development. Lessors are already making inquiries with manufacturers but, as mostly new companies still feeling their way, they are reluctant to commit to the distant delivery dates that are available. The global aviation industry is already getting used to names such as ICBC Leasing, CDB Leasing, Bank of Communications Leasing and Dragon Aviation Leasing.
Local government enthusiasm for economic development will help propel Chinese general aviation development over the coming decade, perhaps accelerating the opening up of low-altitude airspace that is creating the industry’s opportunity.
