Testing is part of the third of four phases of the certification process
Technicians and pilots from the European Aviation Safety Agency are in Shanghai almost permanently to carry out tests and verification flights of the Chinese C919 aircraft, in an advanced stage of the certification process.
According to a report published by the Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post, the European agency has intensified flight tests of the device, which seeks to obtain approval on the community market.
The tests are part of the third of four phases of the certification process and aim to assess the safety of the model through additional flights required by the European regulator, according to sources cited by the newspaper.
According to the same sources, the Civil Aviation Administration of China has mobilized resources, including airlines and experienced pilots, to support the process, while manufacturers and operators have provided technical and operational data collected over the past few years.
The C919, developed by Chinese state-owned company Comac, has been operating on routes in China since May 2023 and has already transported around four million passengers, according to official data.
Accumulated operational data and flight tests, considered a crucial phase of the process, should be followed by technical analyses, document verification and other procedures before eventual certification, the sources added.
Some indicated that political factors could influence the deadlines, since certification depends on a European regulator and the device integrates key components from Western suppliers.
The European certification of the C919, which aims to compete with models such as the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320, will allow the aircraft to operate commercial flights in the European Union.
The certification process is one of Beijing’s goals in its strategy to reduce technological dependence in the aviation sector, although the program continues to depend on essential supplies from foreign manufacturers.
