ACAC announced today the delay of the planned first flight of ARJ21-700, due to the fact that supplier/suppliers of key systems were not able to provide necessary test conditions on time. Currently ACAC is making efforts to ensure on schedule delivery of key systems, including advanced flight system, so as to be able to deliver the ARJ21-700 to airline customers in 2009.

 

The ARJ21-700 is configured to seat 78 to 90 passengers. The ARJ21-700 was rolled-out on December 21, 2007.

 

“While we are disappointed with this delay, we expect to fly the ARJ21-700 Regional Jet in September or October of this year, and with the efforts from every party, we will try our best to avoid development issues to delay Entry Into Service (EIS),” said Mr. Luo Ronghuai, ACAC President,” we have strong relationships with our suppliers and are working together to ensure a First Flight this year.”

 

“Over 170 ARJ21-700 aircraft had been ordered, and our customers are excited to have this innovative aircraft in their fleets,” Mr. Luo Said， “We strongly believe that when the ARJ21-700 enters service in 2009, it will be the state-of-the -art aircraft our customers expect us to deliver and will offer our operators an aircraft that is dependable with a low cost of operation and maintenance. It will be a strong example of the capabilities of the growing Chinese aviation industry.”

 

 

AVICI Commercial Aircraft Co., Ltd. (ACAC) was founded in September 2002, and it is the only Chinese aircraft company that aims at developing civil aircraft. ACAC is jointly invested by 15 investors from aviation industrial institutes and enterprises including China Aviation Industry Corporation 1 (AVIC1) on the principle of Joint Investment, Risk and Profit Share. ACAC is headquartered in Shanghai.

 

ACAC serves as the responsible legal and operational entity of the ARJ21 project, and it is also the ARJ21 type certificate and production license holder. ARJ21 is the first medium and short range regional jet designed by Chinese with completely independent intellectual property rights.