ARJ21 airplane expected to go into commercial operation in 2008

China's first internally-developed regional jet, the ARJ21 is expected to get its air-worthiness certificate in 2007 and go into commercial operation in 2008, sources with China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC I) said on Monday in Zhuhai.

During the 6th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, to be held Oct. 31 to Nov. 5 in Zhuhai, southeast China's Guangdong Province, the the manufacturer will offer a display of the ARJ21's seats, said the sources.

The ARJ21 feeder airplane is the world's first plane designed according to China's natural environment. The plane will be capable of landing and taking off at airports in western China's plateau in high temperatures.

Powered by turbofan engine, the plane has a range of 2,000 nautical miles and can carry between 70 and 110 passengers.

The ARJ21 program was formally approved by Chinese authorities in 2002, with a first-stage investment of 5 billion yuan (625 million U.S. dollars) from the government.

Source: Xinhua