COMAC CJ-1000A engine.

The COMAC CJ-1000A engine is a new jet engine that has been developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) for use on its C919 narrow-body airliner. This advanced engine is a game-changer in the industry, featuring cutting-edge technology and superior performance.

The COMAC C919 is China’s homegrown airliner which is hoped to offer an alternative to the Boeing/Airbus duopoly in this section of the market. The CJ-1000A engine is pivotal to making this an all-Chinese product.

One of the key features of the CJ-1000A is its high-bypass ratio. This means that a larger percentage of the air passing through the engine is used to generate thrust, rather than being used to cool the engine or provide other ancillary functions. This makes the engine more efficient and reduces fuel consumption, which is a major benefit for airlines looking to save money on operating costs.

In addition to its high-bypass ratio, the CJ-1000A also utilizes advanced materials and manufacturing techniques. The engine's fan blades, for example, are made from a composite material that is both lighter and stronger than traditional materials. This allows the engine to be more efficient and reliable, while also reducing maintenance costs over the life of the engine.

The CJ-1000A also features a state-of-the-art digital control system, which constantly monitors and adjusts its performance. This system ensures optimal efficiency and reliability at all times, making it easier for maintenance crews to diagnose and repair any issues that may arise with the engine.

The modular design of the CJ-1000A allows for sections of the engine to be replaced rather than the whole engine having to be removed for maintenance or repair.

News updates on the CJ-1000A have been eagerly anticipated by aviation enthusiasts and industry insiders alike. In a recent announcement, COMAC revealed that it has completed testing of the CJ-1000A engine and has obtained certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

This is a major milestone for COMAC, as it paves the way for the CJ-1000A engine to be used on the C919 airliner. With certification in hand, COMAC can move forward with the production and delivery of the C919 to customers around the world.

According to industry sources, the CJ-1000A engine has also been tested by international certification agencies, including the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States. These certifications are expected to be obtained in the near future, allowing the CJ-1000A engine to be used on C919s that are delivered to international customers.

In addition to its certification, the CJ-1000A engine has also undergone rigorous testing in extreme weather conditions. According to reports, the engine has successfully completed tests in temperatures ranging from -40°C to 50°C. This demonstrates the engine's ability to operate in a variety of environments and conditions, making it a suitable choice for airlines operating in diverse regions of the world.

In conclusion, the COMAC CJ-1000A engine is a cutting-edge piece of technology that offers superior performance and efficiency. With certification from the CAAC and expected certification from international agencies, the engine is poised to be used on the C919 airliner, which is set to make waves in the aviation industry. As the first aircraft designed and built entirely in China, the C919 represents a major milestone for COMAC and the Chinese aviation industry as a whole

First International Sale of the COMAC ARJ21 Regional Jet.

The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) has for the first time inked a deal to sell one of its aircraft to an airline outside of China, the COMAC ARJ21 regional jet to Indonesian carrier TransNusa.

This is a major milestone and reinforces the fact that China is becoming a very relevant force in the airliner manufacturing space. To date, the COMAC ARJ21 regional jet has been sold and operated exclusively on China's domestic networks by airlines such as Chengdu Airlines (launch customer), OTT Airlines (Subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines), China Express Airlines, China Southern Airlines, China Flight General Aviation Company (CFGAC), Genghis Khan Airlines and Jiangxi Air.

Who is the international launch customer of the COMAC ARJ21 Regional Jet?

Indonesia's PT TransNusa Aviation Mandiri, more simply known as TransNusa is a regional domestic airline with routes concentrated in the eastern part of the country. It is based in Kupang on the island of Timor and services destinations in Nusa Tenggara, Timor and South Sulawesi. TransNusa was inaugurated in August 2005 using aircraft chartered from Pelita Air and Trigana Air Service and gained its own operator licence in August 2011.

TranNusa started operations with destinations in South Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara and Timor.

Throughout its life, TranNusa has forged various business partnerships with other operators, acting as a feeder airline for other carriers as well as leasing or block-buying seats on carriers such as Aviastar, Indonesia Air Transport, Sriwijaya Air and Riau Airlines.

Aircraft operated by TransNusa include Fokker 28s, Fokker 50s, ATR 42-300s. These aircraft were leased from Trigana, Pelita Air and Riau Airlines.

TransNusa has operated various aircraft including this ATR-600.

Over the period 2017 - 18, TransNusa bought four new aircraft of their own, three ATR 72-600s and an ATR 42-500. By 2019 the airline boasted a fleet of 1 BAe 146 and 7 ATRs with 3 ATRs about to be delivered. Things were looking good for TransNusa with various safety awards having been achieved. Then Covid hit.

Like most places in the world, Covid changed travel in Indonesia. As a result, TransNusa decided to temporarily cease operations in September 2020 and returned aircraft to their lessors.

A restart for TransNusa.

In November 2021, TransNusa announced it was coming back. This time the airline would reinvent itself as a Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) with a restart set for February 2022. A recent investment in the airline by China Aircraft Leasing Company (CALC) to the tune of 35.68% has been responsible for the change in strategy. No doubt this change is also responsible for the decision to lease 30 ARJ21s.

What is the COMAC ARJ21 Regional Jet?

The Comac ARJ21 Xiangfeng (Chinese for Rising Phoenix), is a twin-jet airliner with engines mounted on each side of the rear fuselage. The ARJ21 (Advanced Regional Jet) began development in March 2002 with the first prototype rolling out on 21 December 2007. CAAC type certification was achieved on 30 December 2014.

The project for various reasons fell behind and certification was eventually 8 years behind target. Testing in cold climate and ice conditions was actually conducted in North America with many of the proving flights conducted around the world.

Chengdu Airlines was the launch customer of the COMAC ARJ21.

The ARJ21 does depend heavily on imported technology and parts, such as engines by General Electric and the wing designed by Antonov of Ukraine. China maintains that the design has been done completely in China by supercomputers, however, there are those who are keen to point out the similarities with the McDonnell-Douglas MD-80 and MD-90. The MD-80 and MD-90 were licenced to be built in China, and tooling for those airframes was left in China.

Chengdu Airlines was the first to receive the ARJ21 and took delivery on 29 November 2015. They commenced commercial services on 28 June 2016 with a flight from Chengdu Shuangliu Airport to Shanghai.

Mass assembly of the ARJ21 will enable 30 units to be produced per year and is located in the same facility as the COMAC C919 production plant in Pudong, Shanghai.

Type	ARJ21-700	ARJ21-900
First Flight	28 November 2008	TBA
Crew	2
Passengers	One class 90 Two class 78	One class 105 Two class 98
Cabin Width(Internal)	3.14 Meters (10 feet 4 inches)
Cabin Ceiling Height	2.03 metres (6 feet 8 inches)
Aircraft Length	33.46 metres(109 feet 9 inches)	36.35 metres (119 feet 3 iinches)
Main Wing Span	27.28 metres (89 feet 6 inches)
Main Wing Area	79.86 square metres(859.6 square feet)
Main Wing Sweep back	25 degrees
MTOW	40,500 Kg (89,300 lb) Standard 43,500 Kg (95,900 lb) Extended Range	43,616 Kg (96,157 lb) Standard 47,182 Kg (104,019 lb) Extended Range
OEW	24,955 kg (55,016 lb)	26,270 Kg (57,920 lb) Standard 26,770 Kg (59,020 lb) Extended Range
Cargo Capacity	120.14 cubic metres (711 cubic feet)	TBA
Takeoff Dist.	1,700 metres (5,600 feet) Standard 1,900 metres (6,200 feet) Extended Range	1,750 metres (5,740 feet) Standard 1,950 metres (6,400 feet) Extended Range
Fuel Capacity	10,386 Kg (22,897 lb)	TBA
Engines x 2	General Electric CF34-10A
Engine Thrust x 2	75.87 kN (17,057 lbf)	82 kN (18,500 lbf)
Speed (Cruise)	Mach 0.78 (828 kph, 447 kn, 514 mph)
Speed (Maximum)	Mach 0.82 (870 kph, 470 kn, 541 mph)
Service Ceiling	11,900 metres (39,000 feet)
Range	1,200 NM (2,200km, 1,400 Miles) Standard 2,000 nm (3,700 km, 2,300 miles) Extended Range	1,200 NM (2,200km, 1,400 Miles) Standard 1,800 nm (3,300 km, 2,100 miles) Extended Range

The TransNusa Deal.

The ARJ21 deal calls for 30 aircraft to be delivered with an option for 30 more in the future. The delivery of February 2022 looks like it might be on time, as an ARJ 21 in TransNusa colours has been seen at Shanghai's Pudong airport.

This is an important step for COMAC as it can now show that their aircraft are relevant in the non-Chinese market as well.

Do you know any more? Please free to comment below, we value our reader's input.