Opinion

Comac, a contemporary to the skies

By Wen Jia (Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-02-06 14:45

Its Chairman of the Board Zhang Qingwei has said the company is open to strategic investors from at home and abroad. Moreover, instead of living on state subsidies as fanned by some Western analysts, the company could easily find fund resources at securities markets.

Another move from past lessons is to work with key-parts suppliers and source C919's components globally despite its pursuit of independence in overall design. Chief Designer Wu Guanghui made it clear that Comac is selecting suppliers of engines, airborne equipment, and materials through international bidding. A C919 needs over 6 million parts.

Wu's words are proved by its option for LEAP-X1C engine offered by Safran and General Electric through their CFM International joint venture, instead of engines tendered by Pratt & Whitney and home-grown AVIC Commercial Aircraft Engine Company. Comac is also working with New York-listed Alcoa on aluminum structural concepts and alloys, and with Nexcelle company on nacelle. Such open-minded global sourcing is most cost-efficient to enter the upper part of the world supply chain.

The LEAP-X1C engine, compared with mainstream CFM56s, is expected to use 16 percent less fuel, 16 percent less carbon dioxide, and 60 percent less nitrogen oxides, meeting post-Copenhagen environmental challenges.

How to optimize its overall design and management to achieve safety and maximum efficiency is the current challenge for Comac. The financial problem of Y-10 is at least related to cost and financial management. The delay in delivery of Airbus 380 due to minor differences in electric wire modes is also rooted in management.

It may be easier for Comac to pool the world's most advanced aviation technology and best parts than to assemble them into the best plane of its kind. Just as Premier Wen Jiabao said in Comac workshops on November 28, 2009, "every technique, and even every bolt counts for success." The most competitive management will ensure safety and the best quality.

Another concern is the technological, navigational or other barriers in some advanced countries. Chinese products have so far confronted with varied kinds of barriers and nontraditional conservatism. Even within the World Trade Organization scheme, there have been cases in which challengers exploited dispute settlement procedures in postponing the actual arrival or delivery of Chinese products.

Yet overseas sales could be supplemented at home. While small and medium-sized airports are expanding to meet people's need for speed, Chinese airlines often resort to wide-body aircraft for short tours simply due to lack of smaller planes.

One more thing is certain: C919 will be saving money for consumers mainly because of wage sacrifices by Chinese professionals. By working out a cheaper and more "green" quality airplane and creating or keeping the jobs for many across the world, a successful Comac will benefit not only the global aviation industry and numerous airlines, but also people in dozens of other fields such as finance and logistic services, and eventually earthly residents in general.

After Boeing and Airbus, Comac from China is bringing in fresh air to the high skies.

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