Factory opens for producing C919 jet parts

A new factory that will supply the flight control systems for China's homegrown single-aisle C919 passenger jet has opened in Xi'an, Shaanxi province.

The 10,000-square-meter facility is run by HonFei Flight Technology Co Ltd, a joint venture between AVIC Xi'an Flight Automatic Control Research Institute and the United States manufacturer of aircraft engines and avionics Honeywell Aerospace.

HonFei will use the site to research, develop, manufacture, test and simulate advanced flight control technologies, hardware and software.

Primarily, work will be dedicated to the new C919 jet, which has received 815 orders and is expected to enter commercial use in 2021.

Honeywell was earlier selected by the Commercial Aircraft Corp of China, manufacturer of the planes, to provide flight control systems, wheels and brakes, auxiliary power units, and navigation systems for the C919.

HonFei said it would also like to bid for other business opportunities, such as providing systems for the CR929 aircraft, the long-range widebody aircraft currently under co-development by China and Russia, due to take to the skies in 2025-28.

"We have been committed to supporting the emergence of a globally competitive aviation sector in China, and we look forward to extending our relationship with COMAC for the upcoming CR929 program and more," said Steven Lien, president of Honeywell Aerospace Asia-Pacific.

Honeywell said that it has for decades supported China's commercial aviation development through industry partnerships, business cooperation and its corporate social responsibility programs.

Last month, Honeywell Aerospace and Sichuan Airlines Group created two new high-tech learning centers, providing modern teaching equipment for impoverished children in Southwest China.

The $80,000 investment is the latest Honeywell program in education. For 10 years, the firm has focused on bringing educational resources to rural areas, and encouraging children to pursue a lifelong path of learning.

"With our common ideals, collaboration between Honeywell and Sichuan Airlines will expand from our business-related partnership, to regional benefits that expose those in rural areas to the opportunities to learn," Lien said.

He added that he hoped the partnership "would bring the world a little bit closer each day".

Meanwhile, State-owned carrier Sichuan Airlines has invested about 8 million yuan ($1.16 million) in the past few years into the poverty alleviation work of impoverished villages in Sichuan province, including helping local residents to build new homes and roads.