Aircraft
GE Takes ARJ21 Delays In Stride
One of four ARJ21-700 protoypes taxies following a flight test in Shanghai. Beset by setbacks resulting from unspecified design changes and testing delays, the Chinese jet appears unlikely to earn certification before the middle of this year.
One of four ARJ21-700 protoypes taxies following a flight test in Shanghai. Beset by setbacks resulting from unspecified design changes and testing delays, the Chinese jet appears unlikely to earn certification before the middle of this year.

With a firm launch customer in hand and fourth test aircraft ready to take flight, two years ago China’s ARJ21 program appeared to have found its stride just as the last Singapore Airshow approached in 2010. At the time, project leader Comac and subsidiary Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Co. (SAMC) expected to gain certification by the end of that year, around which time a new carrier called Chengdu Airlines agreed to take the first production airplane, officially placing China back in the business of delivering indigenously designed and built commercial airplanes.