Western Certification Key To Unlocking Global Sales For Chinese Rival
Pilots from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have been conducting test flights of the C919 commercial airliner from Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) in Shanghai, as part of COMAC’s bid to gain certification from Western regulators. The certification process, which began in 2019 but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, is expected to take three to six years, according to EASA executive director Florian Guillermet. While some airlines, such as Ryanair, have expressed interest in purchasing the C919 if the price is right, others have raised concerns about buying aircraft from Chinese military companies. The development was first reported by AeroTime.