The mainland's ambition to have a 'large domestic aircraft' to challenge the world's industry giants Boeing and Airbus will be realised in 10 to 20 years, the country's top aviation expert predicts.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, which opened yesterday, Wu Guanghui , director of the No1 Aircraft Design Institute under the China Aviation Industry Corp 1 (Avic 1), said China's aircraft industry was not very far behind the world's leaders - probably just 'five years behind'.
'If the chain of funding doesn't break ... I believe, with the government's strong support, we can beat [the world's industry leaders] in 10 to 20 years,' Mr Wu was quoted by China News Service as saying.
Mr Wu, tipped to be appointed master designer of a new company, which will be established by March to design and build large jets, said the mainland's civil aviation industry was 'childish'.
Citing the history of Boeing and Airbus, Mr Wu said it would be a 'very long process' to crack problems such as fostering the market, training the pilots and establishing a maintenance system.
The mainland has hoped to challenge the dominance of Boeing and Airbus in the local market by developing its own large aircraft - with more than 100 seats or weighing above 100 tonnes.