C929 aircraft enters detailed design stage now: COMAC

The C929 aircraft has entered its detailed design stage, Qi Xuefeng, deputy general manager from the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), said during a recent meeting updating progress on the new aircraft model.

Qi made the remarks at the meeting held by Centre Area Transportation Authority on Friday in Beijing.

The C929 is the first intercontinental jet passenger aircraft produced in China fitted to hold between 250 to 350 seats, and with a range of 12,000 kilometers.

Earlier on October 23, Wu Guanghui, chief designer for the domestically developed C919, said that carbon emissions for the C929 will be cut by 60 percent compared to older models, adding that C929 aircraft is now undergoing preliminary design and will adopt a series of measures to reduce its environmental impact.

Qi also outlined the latest improvement in Chinese produced aircraft, including that the C919 was operating in line with expectations, flying more than 1,000 hours.

And, a total of 116 ARJ21 aircraft, made by COMAC, have been delivered to date, carrying more than 9.6 million passengers, and have become the backbone of China's regional aviation market, Qi added.

The C929, originally called CR929, reportedly was initially conceived as a joint effort between China and Russia. Chinese experts said that the name change reflects that the C929 passenger aircraft is now being independently developed by China, with Russia participating as a system and technology provider.