Guest blogger Amy Zhang is a Market Development Manager at GE Aviation
It’s not often that your job creates tears of joy. But as a native of China now working for GE Aviation as a U.S. citizen, I felt the future flying in the skies over Shanghai during the recent historic first flight of China’s ARJ21 regional jet.
I think back to my days as a young college student in aeronautics in Beijing, and China dreamed of developing a commercial passenger aircraft. Now, all of these years later, that dream is a reality. Better yet, GE is a key player in providing and integrating the complete propulsion for the ARJ21. For the last several years, hundreds of GE and Chinese technical leaders have collaborated on complex challenges and formed lasting friendships. And it has happened at the very moment China’s aviation industry is blossoming.
This is a perfect place for GE Aviation. Even though the ARJ21 has just begun its flight test program, the aircraft already has over 200 orders. Last month, GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS) became the first customer outside of China, and more Western customers are expected by the time the aircraft enters service in 2010. So, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) is well on its way toward reaching the original forecast for 850 aircraft over the next 20 years. That means billions in revenues for GE engines and support!
But my enthusiasm for the GE and COMAC collaboration goes beyond the ARJ21. In the aviation industry, valuable long-term relationships are everything, and they are built on trust and meeting your commitments over many years. While thousands of GE jet engines power Airbus and Boeing airplanes in China today, the ARJ21 experience shows China how GE can be a valuable technical and business partner on its own development programs. China now dreams of developing a larger passenger airline, and the GE team in China and in the U.S. will be there to support them. I realize it’s many years away – but I plan to be there for that “first flight” as well!
Check out this recent blog post for more information on the ARJ21.
