D'LONG AEROSPACE
D'Long Aerospace was formed in June 2003 as a division of D'Long International Strategic Investment Co Ltd of China following the latter's acquisition of the 728/928 twinjet airliner from the bankrupt Fairchild Dornier. The company employs 20 former Fairchild Dornier personnel. During the second half of 2003, d'Long began efforts to raise between US$300 million and US$400 million from private and public sources to re-launch the programme, with the aim of starting deliveries in 2006. The company intends to retain the Oberpfaffenhofen assembly line, but expects to subcontract some 40 per cent of manufacture to China to ensure a price competitive with the Embraer 170/190.