China's first engineering center for airworthiness was inaugurated Friday in Shanghai.

The establishment of the center, which falls under jurisdiction of the Shanghai-based Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC), is an important step the Chinese civilian airplane builder has taken to catch up with other aviation industry giants in the world, especially Boeing and Airbus, said Zhao Yuerang, chief of the airworthiness administrative department of COMAC.

"The most urgent task for the center at the moment is to help China-made ARJ21 planes acquire licenses of airworthiness in countries including the United States," said Zhao.

ARJ21 planes would have to obtain an airworthiness license in China by 2010 before going into commercial operation.

According to Zhao, the center will have four offices, with Hao Lian as chief. It will employ 60 people -- all trained, high-tech talents in aircraft design and development. It will expand to more than 100 people in the future.

The ARJ21 (Advanced Regional Jet for the 21st Century) is developed independently by China. It will be the first Chinese aircraft to be sold to Europe and the United States.

So far, 208 orders for ARJ21-700 plans have been placed, including 25 by GE Commercial Aviation Services of the United States. The jet sells for about 27 million U.S. dollars, compared with 30 million U.S. dollars for a 90-seat Bombardier jet.

(Xinhua News Agency May 23, 2009)