China's ARJ21 begins demonstration flight around Qinghai-Xizang Plateau

(ECNS) -- An ARJ21, China's domestically developed passenger jetliner, took off from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Wednesday, and arrived at Aba Hongyuan Airport at an altitude of more than 3,500 meters above sea level after a 50-minute flight, marking the official start of a one-month demonstration flight around the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, according to the developer, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC).

The aircraft will fly over a number of high-altitude airports during its demonstration flight in Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu provinces and Xizang Autonomous Region to verify the reliability of ARJ21 aircraft to high-plateau airports, high-altitude routes and the applicability of special flight procedures.

A plateau airport is defined as one at an altitude exceeding 1,500 meters above sea level, while those above 2,438 meters are classified as high-plateau airports, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

China now has 25 high plateau airports, about 50 percent of the world's total. The ARJ21 jetliner launched its first high-plateau air route connecting southern Xinjiang's Kashgar Laining International Airport with Khunjerab airport in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County in July.

With China's economic and social development, demand for civil aviation transportation and aircraft adapted to high-plateau airports and routes in the plateau areas has gradually increased in recent years, said COMAC.

The demonstration flight around the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau will further verify the performance of ARJ21 aircraft, laying the foundation for domestic commercial aircraft to open more high-plateau routes on the country's plateau areas.

The ARJ21regional jetliner, with a flight range of 2,225-3,700 kilometers, is a type of regional liner designed and manufactured by COMAC.

It obtained the type certificate in December 2014 and the production license in July 2017.