The head of the European aviation regulatory agency told a French monthly magazine on Monday that it would take three to six years for the agency to certify China's COMAC C919 single-aisle commercial jet.
COMAC has said its goal is to gain certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) this year to help the aircraft begin selling internationally. Currently, the C919 only operates in mainland China and Hong Kong.
Reuters said that with the design target of competing with Airbus and Boeing's best-selling narrow-body models, the C919 entered operation in China after obtaining domestic safety certification in 2022 and began operating in 2023.
Florian Guillerm, director of EASA, said in an interview published on Monday that as we have formally notified them, the C919 cannot be certified in 2025... We should certify the C919 within three to six years."
Commenting on a few points: From the perspective of technical certification, airworthiness certification itself is a rigorous and complex process, involving whether the design, manufacture, operation, etc., meet safety standards. However, there may also be non-technical political and market factors involved. In the global aviation market, Airbus and Boeing have long dominated the market. The emergence of the C919 undoubtedly disrupts the existing market pattern and creates competitive pressure on European and American aviation manufacturers. EASA's certification decision may be influenced by relevant interest groups behind the scenes to some extent. By extending the certification time, it can delay the entry of the C919 into the European market and other countries recognizing EASA standards, thereby giving more time for local aviation enterprises in Europe and America to consolidate their market positions. Additionally, geopolitical factors should not be overlooked. Under the current complex international political situation, competition in the aviation field has been given more political color, and the certification process may become a means for some Western countries to engage in博弈.
For COMAC, this is both a challenge and an opportunity. On one hand, it needs to closely cooperate with EASA in the next few years, provide more detailed data and technical documentation according to its requirements, and continuously demonstrate the safety and reliability of the C919. On the other hand, it should not limit its focus to the European and American markets. Currently, the C919 has been stably operating domestically and has obtained airworthiness certificates from countries such as Brazil, New Zealand, Australia, and Russia. It can further expand these markets and promote the construction of regional airworthiness mutual recognition systems to reduce reliance on EASA and the FAA's airworthiness certification. At the same time, accelerate the research and upgrading of domestic aviation technology to reduce external factors that hinder its own development, and firmly follow the path of independent innovation and international development.
Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1830930923511812/
Disclaimer: This article solely represents the author's views.