COMAC Accelerates C929 Widebody Development
COMAC is ramping up development of its C929 widebody aircraft as the Chinese manufacturer pushes forward with design work and early-stage testing, according to reports from the South China Morning Post.
The Shanghai-based state-owned planemaker is said to be mobilizing internal resources and industry partners to keep the C929 program on schedule, with the potential to accelerate timelines where feasible. At the same time, specialists from the Civil Aviation Administration of China are reportedly participating closely in the aircraft’s development, reviewing technical designs, providing feedback and advancing certain certification-related assessments in parallel with engineering work.
Sources familiar with the program indicate that preliminary wind tunnel testing has begun in recent months. This phase marks an important milestone, signaling tangible progress in aerodynamic validation and structural design for the new widebody platform.
In a further step toward systems integration, COMAC recently signed a letter of intent with Aviage Systems for cooperation on the C929’s core avionics processing system. Aviage Systems is a joint venture between General Electric and AVIC, combining Western avionics expertise with Chinese aerospace manufacturing capabilities.
The C929 is expected to seat up to 280 passengers, positioning it as a mid-size widebody aircraft aimed at competing with the Boeing 787 and Airbus A330neo families. The aircraft is designed to serve long-haul routes and support China’s ambitions to expand its presence in the global commercial aviation market.
Air China has been identified as the tentative launch operator for the C929, reflecting strong domestic backing for the program. At recent international events, including the Singapore Air Show, COMAC showcased a scale model of the aircraft and focused outreach efforts on potential customers in Southeast Asia. Delegations from Indonesia were reportedly among those expressing interest.
COMAC already manufactures the C909 regional jet and the C919 narrowbody. With the C929, the company aims to complete a full family of commercial aircraft spanning regional, single-aisle and widebody segments, reinforcing China’s long-term strategy to compete more directly with established Western aerospace manufacturers.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com