Aircraft
Flight Deck Woes Still Hampering C919
Comac's new narrowbody continues to face challenges related to program team coordination.
An early Comac C919 prototype sits in preparation for a flight test in Shanghai. (Photo: Comac)
An early Comac C919 prototype sits in preparation for a flight test in Shanghai. (Photo: Comac)

When China announced plans to develop a second airliner to boost the country’s economic competitiveness, it was widely believed that these efforts would crack the long-standing duopoly that Airbus and Boeing have maintained in the narrowbody commercial jet market. More than a decade later, the C919 program continues to be hampered by weak oversight and manufacturing delays, sparking concerns about its ability to gain certification in Western markets.