"The agreement requires adherence to the strict airworthiness rules set by China's CAAC," said Zhou Kaixuan, deputy director of the Airworthiness Department of CAAC.

CAAC held its first type certification board meeting in Shanghai to discuss the airworthiness of Model ARJ21-700, indicating that the new plane's design, test and manufacture will be done in accordance with the body's airworthiness standards for civil aircraft.

CAAC will supervise the whole process of ARJ21 aircraft manufacture, ranging from the initial airworthiness test to the issuance of airworthiness certification and regular safety checks throughout the life of the aircraft, said Zhou. The 70-90-seat turbofan ARJ21 jet is targeted at regional transport markets in the 21st century, especially in China's western hinterlands.

"The new plane can compete with its overseas counterparts, as it is manufactured in line with the highest-standard airworthiness rules," he said.

The board meeting has decided to set up a 46-expert examination group that will oversee the research and manufacture of the new aircraft.

"Our work on the ARJ21 has gained the support of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)," Zhou said.

However, the FAA didn't make a commitment to the proposal the Chinese side put forward asking the FAA to send experts to participate in the monitoring of the manufacture of the new aircraft. It only agreed to send an observer.

"But we are still trying our best to get their participation through further discussion," he said.

Tang Xiaoping, president of AVICI Commercial Aircraft Company Ltd, said the company has completed the initial design and will start the research and manufacture of the ARJ21-700 by the end of this year.

(People's Daily September 27, 2003)