A new Chinese regional jet, the ARJ-21 (which stands for Advanced Regional Jet for the 21st Century), is being assembled at the Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Factory in Shanghai. The plane was developed by the China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC I), and production began in 2002. It is expected to be finished by the end of the year. The ARJ-21 will give China a presence in the aviation market, which up until now has been dominated by foreign companies such as Boeing and Airbus.

The ARJ-21 will seat between 70 and 110 passengers and will fly at a maximum of 39,000 feet. It can travel 3,700 kilometers without needing to stop for refueling. Components for the plane are assembled in Xi’an, Shenyang, and Chengdu are then sent to Shanghai, where the production is completed. A larger workshop will be ready for use in May, will allow 5 planes to be built at the same time, and the plant will be able to produce 50 planes a year.

According to AVIC I, there have already been 71 orders for the plane, from leasing companies and regional airlines such as Shanghai Airlines Co. and Shangdong Aviation Group. Air travel in China has risen dramatically in the last 5 years, and the new demand means that China will need 1,600 new airliners by 2020.

This project has allowed the Chinese to hone their marketing and management skills, and the ARJ-21 is being seen as a test. If everything goes will with it, China could have its own jumbo jet by 2010. Currently, only the United States, Russia, France, Germany, Britain, and Spain have the ability to build jumbo jets.