On October 13, the Seminar on Civil Aviation Operation and Management for Central Asian Countries, organized by the Ministry of Commerce and hosted by the MOFCOM Training Base for International Business Officials (Shanghai), visited the domestic large aircraft design and R&D center as well as the final assembly manufacturing center for an on-site inspection of commercial aircraft design, research, and large-scale, systematic production. 20 participants from three countries, including the Civil Aviation Committee of Kazakhstan, the Civil Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan, the Civil Aviation Authority of Mongolia, Mongolian Hunnu Airlines LLC, QAZAQ Air of Uzbekistan, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan participated in the visit.
（Participants take a group photo at the design and R&D center）
In the morning at the Design and R&D Center, as the C909, C919, and C929 aircraft models came into view, participants immediately raised their phones to capture these achievements, imbued with the wisdom and dedication of China’s aviation professionals, from multiple angles. Ms. Altina Karimova, Manager of the Operations Center at the Civil Aviation Authority of Kazakhstan, expressed her heartfelt admiration: “It felt as if I were inside a documentary about large aircraft——but all of this was real. After learning about COMAC’s history and observing these intricate aircraft models, I look forward to the day when COMAC’s airliners will fly to Kazakhstan.” At that moment, the models were far more than static displays; they stood as powerful testaments to China’s aviation dreams turning into reality.
(Participants explore the interior of the C929 aircraft model)
In the afternoon, participants visited the Final Assembly Manufacturing Center to observe the modern aircraft production line firsthand. The participants witnessed how an aircraft is transformed from its “skeleton” to being clad in its “outer skin”——from the digital precision assembly of core components such as fuselage docking and wing installation, to the final painting process. Every step of the process left them deep impression. Mr. Kanat Abdurakhmanov, Head of Business Planning and Analysis at QAZAQ Airlines, remarked, “I was particularly amazed by COMAC’s technical culture, rigorous production processes, and highly efficient component logistics system. Observing the experts working on the assembly line was truly fascinating.”
(Participants take Group Photo at Final Assembly Center)
From the digital blueprints at the Design and R&D Center to the colossal aircraft at the Final Assembly Center, this visit allowed participants from Central Asian countries to witness firsthand how this “national will” and “symbol of national strength” transformed from a vision into reality. They deeply felt the powerful driving force of the large aircraft program as a flagship of innovation.
Following the visit, Mr. Askar Akirbekov, Chief Expert of the Civil Aviation Committee of Kazakhstan, remarked: “Observing the C919 passenger jet up close, its design philosophy, sheer scale, and advanced configurations highlight the remarkable achievements of China’s aviation industry and its growing global competitiveness. The entire visit was both insightful and inspiring, not only deepening my understanding of aviation development but also sparking my enthusiasm for international cooperation in aviation manufacturing”.
This seminar is the second civil aviation themed program jointly organized by our university and COMAC. On May 23, 2014, during the inspection of COMAC, the General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that the equipment manufacturing industry serves as the foundation for a strong nation, with large aircraft playing a pivotal role in driving development and symbolizing national progress. Moving forward, both sides will leverage their respective platform advantages, deepen cooperation as the cornerstone, and jointly contribute to the large aircraft industry. Together, they will inject more wisdom and strength to advance domestic large aircraft from the blueprint of “forging wings” to the takeoff of “intelligent manufacturing”.
Written by: Chen Xiaoye
Photographed by: Li Fang
Reviewed by: Chen Wei
