A jumbo jet developed in China's mainland is expected to compete with Boeing and Airbus models on the world market by 2020, Miao Wei, vice minister of industry and information, said yesterday.

The design and production of the "super-sized" aircraft are expected to start between 2011 and 2015, before the Chinese-made planes are licensed to enter the market by 2020, Miao said. He was speaking during a forum at the 7th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Guangdong Province's Zhuhai City.

China pledged to develop its domestic aerospace industry in order to reduce reliance on overseas suppliers. All facets of the process from design and production to sourcing materials and assembly will be done in China.

The central government would consider accepting overseas investment in its aerospace industry, Miao said.

The country will set up three research and assembly centers to lead the development of larger planes, he added. Research work on the ARJ21 plane, the country's first jet and a precursor to the jumbo, will be sped up, as the plane is scheduled to enter service next year, Miao said.

Work on a 100-seat version of the ARJ21, a business-jet model and a freighter will start next year, he added.

He also revealed that Commercial Aircraft Corp of China, the maker of the ARJ21, has received 208 orders for the plane, including a deal for 25 planes that will be signed today with GE Commercial Aviation Services. It will be the company's first overseas deal, Zhang Qingwei, chairman of the Shanghai-based state-controlled firm, said.

The maiden flight of an 85-seat version of the ARJ21 is expected to take place this month. The flight was previously scheduled for March, but was postponed because of "delays in the delivery of key components," according to previous reports. Meanwhile, China has received 136 orders for the MA60, a propeller-driven commuter plane, Miao said. Xi'an Aircraft Industry Group Co., the maker of the plane, has already delivered 34 planes.

Commercial Aircraft Corp was launched in May with an initial investment of 19 billion yuan (US$2.78 billion).

Various state-controlled entities including Aviation Industry Corp of China have invested in the company.

(Shanghai Daily November 4, 2008)