China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corp (CATIC) told Xinhua on Tuesday it had signed a framework agreement for strategic cooperation with China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC I) Commercial Aircraft Co Ltd on the ARJ21's international business.

The two sides would cooperate in the business of ARJ21's market development, after-sales service and overseas purchasing and supplement managing related to the ARJ21 program, a move to expand the overseas market.

The ARJ21, China's first homegrown regional jet, is a 70 to 90 seat regional aircraft that combines domestically developed intellectual property with advanced engines and airborne systems supplied by world famous European and North American companies.

The ARJ21 manufacturer, the state-owned AVIC I Commercial Aircraft Co., Ltd., last week signed a memorandum of understanding with GE Capital Aviation Services to place firm orders for five ARJ21 jets. GECAS became the first global lessor to add the ARJ21 to its fleet.

The manufacturer said it currently had orders for 181 ARJ21 aircraft from domestic airline companies.

The maiden flight of ARJ21-700 scheduled for last month was postponed to September or October because some key systems failed to be delivered at the scheduled time, said AVIC I Commercial Aircraft Co., Ltd. on Friday.

The company initially planned to deliver the aircraft to the first customers in the third quarter of 2009. It was now doing its best to deliver the high-quality aircraft on time.

Established in 1979, the Beijing-based CATIC is a large state-owned company with aviation products and technology imports and exports as its core business.

The two sides would cooperate in the business of ARJ21's market development, after-sales service and overseas purchasing and supplement managing related to the ARJ21 program, a move to expand the overseas market.

The ARJ21, China's first homegrown regional jet, is a 70 to 90 seat regional aircraft that combines domestically developed intellectual property with advanced engines and airborne systems supplied by world famous European and North American companies.

The ARJ21 manufacturer, the state-owned AVIC I Commercial Aircraft Co., Ltd., last week signed a memorandum of understanding with GE Capital Aviation Services to place firm orders for five ARJ21 jets. GECAS became the first global lessor to add the ARJ21 to its fleet.

The manufacturer said it currently had orders for 181 ARJ21 aircraft from domestic airline companies.

The maiden flight of ARJ21-700 scheduled for last month was postponed to September or October because some key systems failed to be delivered at the scheduled time, said AVIC I Commercial Aircraft Co., Ltd. on Friday.

The company initially planned to deliver the aircraft to the first customers in the third quarter of 2009. It was now doing its best to deliver the high-quality aircraft on time.

Established in 1979, the Beijing-based CATIC is a large state-owned company with aviation products and technology imports and exports as its core business.

(Xinhua News Agency April 2, 2008)