A symbol of China's sky-high capabilities

The C919 will provide an opportunity to promote the nation's industrial chain, which is just what it needs

China's homegrown passenger jet, the C919, is expected to make its maiden flight in the first half of this year. Even though its debut has been delayed at least twice since 2014, that is not the point. What I care most about is how the preparation work goes before the maiden flight.

Since the nation started research on the plane, and the first C919 rolled off the assembly line, China has understood that in building such a highly advanced product, the manufacturing stage could only follow on the scientific engineering process. Being eager for success or acting on impulse will only create more unnecessary problems.

There is no doubt that the C919 will have a successful maiden flight sooner or later. Whether early or late is not the key issue.

People believe the C919 will become the new symbol of China's industrial capability, or a calling card for the country's power. However, these were not the primary objectives for building a homegrown commercial aircraft.

The C919 will provide an opportunity for China to promote its whole industrial chain, which is just what the country needs. Boeing and Airbus have estimated that China's civil aviation market needs 5,000 to 6,000 more aircraft to meet demand in the coming 20 years. It is a huge market of enormous economic value, but this is not the nation's main reason for building the C919.

China has become the workshop of the world over the past two decades. This has meant that a large number of low value-added industrial products have been made and assembled in China. The lower costs of the nation's huge labor force and means of production helped it win business.

However, the situation is changing. The advantage of low costs has been weakened as some production has been transferred to other countries and regions which can provide much cheaper manpower and raw materials.

China has to move toward a high-end industrial system with an emphasis on technology, focusing on research and innovation. This is the only way to advance the innovation and profitability of manufacturing in China and the only way to promote and upgrade its industrial ability.

The transformation and upgrading of China's manufacturing industry will be hard to achieve without the government's guidance and policy support. The manufacture of high-end, integrated industrial products, such as the C919, is one kind of the way of fulfilling the objective. The aircraft has required expertise in avionics, automatic control, material science, mechanical design, aero-engines and many other disciplines. The technological demands it has created will promote research, innovation and investment to develop related fields, which are also high value-added industries. Manufacturing the C919 will promote the development of a whole industrial chain and increase China's international competitive power.

Unlike traditional industrial products such as clothing or general merchandise, huge civil aircraft could be in service for more than 20 years. The benefit period for related industries and services will be the same. It will create big economic value and a lot of job opportunities.

The C919 could be a guiding light for China to improve its industrial abilities. The aircraft's successful research, manufacturing and marketing operation will mean that China's industrial chain has high-end innovation capability and is in a leading position internationally.

The challenges faced in producing the C919 were not only in research and manufacturing, but also came from market competition, business considerations and support capability, which also reflect the country's industrial competence.

When it comes into service, the C919 will face strong competition from international manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus. Customers will make comparisons between the C919 and other aircraft in terms of reliability, economic efficiency, security, maintainability, comfort and support services. This will be a big challenge but also an opportunity.

There is no going back. China's commercial aircraft have to keep on improving. We believe the C919 will be a successful first step for China to stake its claim for a place in the civil commercial aircraft industry.

The author is deputy editor-in-chief of Aerospace Knowledge magazine. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

(China Daily European Weekly 02/10/2017 page8)