EASA Says C919 European Certification Unlikely Before 2028
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has confirmed that the COMAC C919 is unlikely to be certified for use in Europe before 2028, contradicting earlier claims by the Chinese aircraft manufacturer. EASA Executive Director Florian Guillermet told L’Usine Nouvelle that while discussions with COMAC have been ongoing, formal certification has not yet begun.
“As we officially informed them, the C919 cannot be certified in 2025,” Guillermet stated. “We expect certification to take between three and six years.”
EASA has been engaged in technical exchanges with COMAC for several years, but Guillermet noted the manufacturer has not yet submitted a formal application for certification. Once initiated, the process will require a full validation of the aircraft, including its components and flight performance through a series of rigorous tests.
The C919, a narrowbody aircraft comparable in size to the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, is currently operated only by Chinese airlines. International interest in the aircraft is growing, particularly amid ongoing challenges faced by Boeing and rising geopolitical tensions that may increase the cost or complexity of acquiring U.S.-built aircraft.
Guillermet acknowledged COMAC’s ambition to bring the C919 to international markets and said the manufacturer is dedicating significant resources and technical effort to the project. “I have no doubt that it will succeed,” he added.
EASA certification would be a major milestone for COMAC, potentially easing entry into other global aviation markets by gaining recognition from one of the world’s leading aviation safety regulators.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com