A lot of people like making fun of Comac but it’s viable. China can have its domestic airlines but and operate these planes. They’ll learn and iterate. Sure they have to buy avionics and engines from others today. But it’s only a matter of time. A country that can figure out AI and fission and rockets and robots will definitely get there. At that point I am not sure how the labor costs Boeing and Airbus face can compete.
There's a reason the Martin B57 which NASA crash landed recently was not made by English-Electric despite being a Canberra Bomber, and the Harrier Jumpjet is known in america as the McDonnell Douglas AV-8B. National-Strategic concerns dictate production happen on-shore, and has done for a very long time.
Comac will make better and better aircraft. It won't stop Airbus or Boeing being viable companies any more than it will stop Bombardier, or Embraer. All airlines make political compromises. Wings are assembled inside one economy, so the aircraft can be sold inside that economy. Or, engines are maintained inside that economy. Or, a new JV is spun up which blends both economies interests somehow.
If you look under the covers, Bombardier has had many acquisitions, sell-offs, "manufactured under licence" in it's time. Not bad for a snomobile company!
Aircraft are not bought solely on price, despite what people might say about fleet bidding. operating costs might be a stronger reason than initial fleet acquisition cost. Or cost of compliance. Or pilot re-training. or, in the post MAX crash era, reputation.
(not in the industry, don't drive an aircraft for a living)
A lot of people like making fun of Comac but it’s viable. China can have its domestic airlines but and operate these planes. They’ll learn and iterate. Sure they have to buy avionics and engines from others today. But it’s only a matter of time. A country that can figure out AI and fission and rockets and robots will definitely get there. At that point I am not sure how the labor costs Boeing and Airbus face can compete.
There's a reason the Martin B57 which NASA crash landed recently was not made by English-Electric despite being a Canberra Bomber, and the Harrier Jumpjet is known in america as the McDonnell Douglas AV-8B. National-Strategic concerns dictate production happen on-shore, and has done for a very long time.
Comac will make better and better aircraft. It won't stop Airbus or Boeing being viable companies any more than it will stop Bombardier, or Embraer. All airlines make political compromises. Wings are assembled inside one economy, so the aircraft can be sold inside that economy. Or, engines are maintained inside that economy. Or, a new JV is spun up which blends both economies interests somehow.
If you look under the covers, Bombardier has had many acquisitions, sell-offs, "manufactured under licence" in it's time. Not bad for a snomobile company!
Aircraft are not bought solely on price, despite what people might say about fleet bidding. operating costs might be a stronger reason than initial fleet acquisition cost. Or cost of compliance. Or pilot re-training. or, in the post MAX crash era, reputation.
(not in the industry, don't drive an aircraft for a living)