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)