Home ›› 28 Sep 2021 ›› World Biz
China’s C919 jetliner - a no-show at the country’s biggest air show this week – has found it harder to meet certification and production targets amid tough US export rules, according to three people with knowledge of the programme.
The state-owned manufacturer, Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC), has been unable to get timely help from suppliers and has run out of some spare parts, those people said.
As of December 2020, the US has required special licenses to export parts and technology assistance to any company with ties to the Chinese military. That has thrown a monkey wrench into the C919 programme, which has been in development for 13 years - one of the longest such periods in aviation.
U.S.-linked suppliers are gradually receiving the licences, but the hiccup has slowed down Chinese certification, and months-long delays threaten to affect early production, said the people, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.
