China's first self-designed feeder passenger jet, the "Advanced Regional Jet for the 21st Century" (ARJ21), is expected to make its maiden flight in 2008. This was revealed at the Eighth Asian-Pacific Civil Aviation Bilateral Partner Dialogue Meeting held in Shanghai on Wednesday.

The structural drawing of the turbo-fan jet has passed the appraisal process, and component parts of the jet are expected to go into production soon, according to an official with the East China Management Bureau of the General Civil Aviation Association of China.

The aircraft, fitted with between 70 and 90 seats, will be powered by a GE CF34-10A engine. Other component parts of the jet will be manufactured by domestic enterprises.

The jet is designed to withstand the high altitudes and high temperatures of China's western airports, providing a more comfortable environment for passengers, according to the official.

Measuring more than 31m in length, and eight meters in height, the jet can fly at altitudes of 11,887.2m (39,000 feet) and reach speeds of up to 450 nautical miles per hour.

The ARJ21 program was formally approved in 2002. Batch production is expected to begin in 2009.

Insiders said that China needs about 700 feeder passenger aircraft with 70-90 seats over the next 20 years, and ARJ21 could help meet that demand.

ARJ21 is the first regional jet that China has fully developed on its own, in accordance with the standards set by the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China, Federal Aviation Administration and Joint Aviation Authorities.

To date, 41 orders for the jet have been received from aviation companies including Shandong Airlines, Xiamen Airlines, and Shanghai Airlines Co. Ltd.

(Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2006)