Comac, a contemporary to the skies

Let's start with ABC of the world's civil aviation today: Airbus, Boeing and Comac.

Comac? Yes, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd. The two-year-old industry newcomer is sending its C919, an equivalent of A320 and B737, into service by 2016.

In aircraft manufacturing field that requires huge investment, high technology and high risk, the Chinese have had similar dreams with the Russians and Brazilians, the Japanese and Indonesians, the Dutch and Germans, the Swedish and Canadians. Their ventures have reaped limited or negative yields.