C919 certified by China

Comac has received its type certificate from the CAAC (Civil Aviation Administration of China) for its single-aisle C919, competitor to the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 families, marking the end of a lengthy certification campaign since the program's launch in 2009. The type certificate was issued by Chinese authorities during a ceremony in Beijing on September 29, 2022. 

An aircraft with Western equipment 

The twin-engine jet -powered by two Leap-1C CFMIs- has a carrying capacity of 168 passengers. Like the aircraft it competes with, its equipment and engine rely heavily on Western suppliers. These include, in addition to the previously mentioned CFMI, Collins Aerospace (which provides communications and navigation systems), Honeywell (which provides flight control systems) and Liebherr Aerospace (which provides landing gear and air management systems). 

China Eastern will most likely see the delivery of its first C919 postponed 

The C919's launch customer is China Eastern Airlines, which ordered five C919s at the beginning of March 2021. Their delivery schedule remains uncertain, however, as initially the delivery of the first of the five aircraft was to be before the end of the year. However, Chinese state media reports hint at a further delay to 2023. The bulk of the 800 orders and commitments for the C919 have come almost exclusively from Chinese airlines and lessors.