China's Comac C919 Enters New Stage of Production

The Comac C919 aircraft, China's highly anticipated jetliner which will compete with the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320, has entered a new stage of production with the delivery of the avionics system for the plane.

On Monday, Xinhua reported that Alan Jones, the CEO of Aviage Systems, whose company provided the avionics systems for the C919, revealed that the plane will have "the most powerful brain."

Jones said that the avionics system that will be used in the C919 is similar to the ones used on the Boeing 787 and 777-X. According to him, the system can be easily configured and is expandable; therefore, it can be optimized in the future to improve the plane's performance.

Last month, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) released pictures of the C919, which showed the plane in the final stages of being assembled. Reports indicate that even the landing gear have been installed currently.

Besides the avionics system, manufacturers of the C919 will also need to install the plane's hydraulic system and also a flight control system.

The Comac C919 is expected to go on testing in the fourth quarter of this year.

Meanwhile, experts say that the plane will go through rigorous testing while its avionics system is being installed. Reports indicate that the C919 will be fitted with the CFM LEAP-1C engine.

China has one of the largest airline markets in the world, and experts say that the decision to develop Comac C919 is an attempt by Chinese authorities to end foreign domination in this area.

Thus far, Chinese planes have not gained widespread acceptance in the western world, but experts are upbeat about the chances of the C919, which will feature the latest technology.

Reports indicate that there are already up to 450 orders for the Comac C919 aircraft, mostly from local customers. The first deliveries of the plane are not expected to be made until 2017 when it will be certified.