The country will develop next generation aero-engines with standards "higher than those powering Airbus 320 or Boeing 737," a lawmaker and aviation expert said yesterday.

 

"Now that China has embarked on the 'large plane project', research and development of new aero-engines must gather steam, as the country cannot rely on imports to satisfy its huge future needs," said Liu Daxiang, of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), yesterday.

 

The country had formally started the large-sized aircraft project, Premier Wen Jiabao said in his Government Work Report delivered to the NPC, the country's top legislature, on Monday.

 

"As a country with a huge demand for large-sized planes, it is absolutely unimaginable to rely on import of aero-engines for long," Liu told China Daily during a break in the fifth session of 10th NPC.

 

Liu is also deputy chief of Science and Technology Committee of China Aviation Industry Corp I (AVIC I).

 

In its latest market outlook, the AVIC I-affiliated Aviation Industry Development Research Center said China needs 2,230 large airliners by 2025, by which time Boeing expects the number to reach 3,900.

 

To make China's future large aircraft competitive in the market, the country should set higher standards of design and development for its new generation engines, Liu said.

 

"For example, they must be more powerful than those in service, such as the engines powering A320 or B737."

 

Liu, who lobbied for the large plane project, said he would move a motion at the NPC meeting urging the government to expedite the development of new aircraft engines by increasing investment.

 

The world's advanced aircraft, either military or civilian, are equipped with the third- or fourth-generation engines; while the dominant military aero-engines in China are of the second generation, Liu said. Third-generation standards have just been put to use in the country.

 

Liu was referring to the indigenous "Taihang" turbofan third-generation engine. It will power the country's fighter aircraft, AVIC I Vice-President Geng Ruguang had said at a ceremony on January 4 in Beijing to unveil a Jian-10 fighter jet model.

 

(China Daily March 8, 2008)