China engages US suppliers in C919 programme

[sonicboom]

China engages US suppliers in C919 programme

By Leithen Francis

US manufacturers Parker Aerospace and Honeywell have won contracts to provide systems for the C919 narrowbody jet in development by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), although the terms of the deals require them to partner with Chinese companies.

Comac has chosen Parker to provide the aircraft's hydraulic, fuel and inerting systems, while Honeywell has been selected to provide the auxiliary power units.

Honeywell says it is developing a variant of its 131-9 APU for the C919. Its local partner is Harbin Dongan Engine, part of Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). The 131-9 family of APUs is already found on the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 narrowbody types, against which the C919 is intended to compete.

Parker, which already provides hydraulic and flight control systems for the Comac ARJ21 regional jet, intends to form a Chinese joint venture with AVIC Systems to provide in-country support for its C919 systems. China relied chiefly on off-the-shelf systems for the ARJ21, but now intends to develop its own systems.

Comac is aiming to conduct the first flight of the C919 in 2014 and introduce it to service in 2016. In December, the manufacturer revealed that CFM International Leap-X turbofans would power the C919.

China engages US suppliers in C919 programme