TYPE: Regional jet airliner

PROGRAMME: Project officially launched by AVIC I on 7 November 2000 as US$700 million programme under the auspices of a newly created New Regional let Programme Management Company. This was renamed ARJ21 (Advanced Regional Jet, 21st century) in 2001 and allocated initial investments from AVIC I (20 million yuan); CAC, SAIC and XAC (each 5 million yuan); and SAC (3 million yuan). Further investment is being sought from other Chinese and foreign companies. The parent company is responsible for defining airframe configuration (due to be finalised in mid-2003); defining and subcontracting work-shares; schedule and quality control; final assembly, certification, marketing, and customer support. Programme go-ahead approved by Chinese government June 2002; announced October 2002 with formation of ACAC and allocation of 5.2 billion yuan (US$650 million) start-up funding; Boeing to provide engineering support. Manufacture at seven factories, including Xian and Shanghai; final assembly at Shanghai. Selection of General Electric CF34 announced 5 November 2002. First flight targeted for mid-2006, certification for mid-2007 and service entry by end of 2007.

CURRENT VERSIONS: ARJ21-700: Baseline version, seating 78 to 85 passengers.
ARJ21-900: Stretched version, with seats for 98 to 105 passengers.
Freighter and Business jet: Planned future variants.

CUSTOMERS: Total of 35 ordered by 1 October 2003 by Shandong Airlines (launch operator, 10), Shanghai Airlines (five) and Shenzhen Financial Leasing Company (20). Estimated sale of 500 (350 domestic and 150 export) over 20 years.

DESIGN FEATURES: LOW, swept wing (approximately 28° at leading-edge) with winglets; engines pod-mounted to rear fuselage; all-swept T tail. Supercritical wing section being designed and wind tunnel tested by Antonov design bureau. Wings 3° dihedral, tailplane 3° anhedral.

FLYING CONTROLS: Honeywell/Parker Hannifin electrically actuated (fly-by-wire) ailerons, elevators and rudder; no mechanical back-up. Three-segment leading-edge flaps. Two-segment trailing-edge flaps, with three-segment spoilers forward of each outer flap. Hamilton Sundstrand flap actuation.

LANDING GEAR: Liebherr Aerospace retractable tricycle type with twin wheels on each unit.

POWER PLANT: TWO 80.1 kN (18.000 lb st) class rear-mounted General Electric CF34-10A turbofans with FADEC. Smiths Aerospace thrust reverser actuators. Standard fuel capacity 12,719 litres (3,360 US gallons: 2,798 Imp gallons).

ACCOMMODATION: Flight crew of two, plus two cabin attendants. Five-abreast seating for up to 85 (in ARJ21-700) or 105 (ARJ21-900) passengers in all-economy basic layout at 81 cm (32 in) pitch. Alternative mixed class configuration offers eight-seat business section (two rows, four abreast, at 96.5 cm, 38 in pitch) at front with 70 and 90 economy class respectively, to rear. Galleys (two), wardrobe, storage area and lavatory at front of cabin; second storage area and lavatory at rear. Type I passenger door at front on port side with Type I service door opposite; two Type III emergency exits over wing on each side. Underflow baggage door forward and aft of wing on starboard side.

SYSTEMS: Hamilton Sundstrand APS 2300 APU, electrical power generation and distribution system, and emergency ram-air turbine. Liebherr Aerospace air conditioning, deicing and bleed air systems.

AVIONICS: Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 selected April 2003 suite includes VHF-4000 voice/data receiver, RIU-400O five 254 x 203 mm (10 x 8 in) LCDs, EICAS, solid-state weather radar, AHS-3000 and FMS-4200.