A Survey of the Aerospace Industry in China Research Paper

Introduction

This industry review is a survey of the Aerospace industry in China. It will analyze the industry on both commercial and military aviation development in the recent past, as well as the space program. It identifies the current operations, developments, and challenges facing the airline industry in China. It will be outlining the operational efficiency, financial and workforce efficiency in the commercial and military aviation developments, and the underlying factors behind the successful development of this industry in modern china (Bnet).

This was done in the event of establishing the overall developments processes of the industry in terms of accuracy, efficiency, and reliability. This will outline the success story of the Chinese as they have become the fastest-growing economy in the world in almost all sectors including the aerospace industry (Covault, 2003).

Overview of the aerospace industry in China

The Chinese aerospace industry has experienced a lot of developments that are aimed at enabling it to become the aerospace giant in the 21 century. Numerous research and development programs have been put in place and thus have led to an increase in the development in both the commercial and the military sectors. This industry has faced both negative and positive circumstances and the extensive research and development initiatives have increased the chances of ever manufacturing commercial and civil aircraft.

The Chinese aerospace performance has been lopsided, satellite launches capabilities, ballistic missile development, and the increase in the demand of all types of planes have made them begin indigenous production of aircraft in the recent past (Shambaugh, 2004).

Commercial and military aviation developments and programs

China boosts to have the third-largest civilian market which accounts for a quarter of the world’s commercial airline fleet, the dream of building a domestic commercial aerospace industry is beginning to take effect. A few strides can be seen e.g. the development of ARJ21-700 has been complete and undergoing the final tests. In June 2009 Airbus china which is owned 49% by airbus unveiled the first airbus A320 with the capability of producing four of them per month. The long-term plan is to build planes for commercial purposes in the international market by the year 2020. Most of the components used by foreign planes are built in china with over 200 enterprises building airplane parts (Schweitzer, 1992).

The military and missile production sectors have also experienced their share of growth and developments and have been relatively organized and capable (Iannotta, 2001). This became china’s top aerospace priority after the cold war as it developed nuclear weapons. Only China has also demonstrated mastery of all aspects of a comprehensive aerospace industry:

1. Production of aircraft and SLV/missiles
2. The supporting engineering, materials, and systems.

Plans and prospects in the aerospace industry

Beijing’s aerospace focus is normal for a rising great power. All states seek security; potential great powers seek security through aerospace. Countries of significant size, population, and development level naturally compete for great power status: contingent on regional domination, it confers significant security. Regional domination hinges on military superiority, especially the capacity to determine the nature of conflict and to deter it before it occurs (e.g. satellite detection of enemy military deployment followed by threats of sanctions if troops were not withdrawn). Military capacity and societal support for governmental grand strategy demand economic growth. The dual use potential of most technology unites military and economic sectors (Yunzhi, 2003). It hopes to attract. The fund will likely play a role in helping China towards its goal of one day building a jumbo jet to take on the Airbus-Boeing duopoly (Marsh, McGregor, and Mure, 2003). These developments can be seen in the following events in the industry;

Development of a civil/commercial aviation plane (AVIC)

The absorption of aerospace technologies and the production techniques in the production of parts for exports has increased the exposure of the Chinese in this sector. This has fuelled development and the demand is expected to surpass that of Europe and the US (People’s). Mr. Yata explained;

“As demand in Europe and the United States slows, the Asia-Pacific region will be a growing market for commercial airplanes in the coming two decades to fit increasing demand for tourism, passenger and freight transport” (2009).

Due to this projected demand, the government projects have intensified and Beijing’s political goals support a program of technological development based on grand strategic, not on short-term economic, needs. Comprehensive aerospace capability is desired but has not yet been achieved. Aircraft manufacturing has taken a back seat to the more pressing priority of missile development and thus has received inadequate resources. In the recent past, this has been changing and we expect tremendous developmental strategies in the future.

The completion of the AVIC project marked the conquest and the beginning of a modern aerospace giant which would compete with the US and Russia on a global scale (Koubi, 1999).

AVIC’s competitiveness with existing models i.e. Boeing and Airbus

Competition with some international airplane manufacturers had been minimal since China is yet to develop a large courier but in the future, the favorable conditions e.g. Cost and capacity advantages in the Chinese market would have a great impact on the market share of those companies.

Space program

Space development is a reflection of comprehensive national strength in any state and thus china is pursuing it. Particularly attuned to this ethnonationalism measuring stick, Beijing regards aerospace as its most effective overall technology driver and diffusion mechanism. Rather than seeking mere space spectaculars, in recent years Beijing has developed aerospace capability methodically, without overemphasizing manned spaceflight.

The lessons of the Space Race extend far beyond the Cold War. The Space Race provides an excellent example of how modern great powers naturally seek security through aerospace development, giving a historical perspective to the initiatives of today’s developing aerospace powers, such as China. The Space Race provides an excellent example of how modern great powers naturally seek security through aerospace development, giving a historical perspective to the initiatives of today’s developing aerospace powers, such as China. Space programs in china are prioritized since they are addressing the national objectives of:

1. Military modernization
2. Infrastructure development in the economic, technological, communication, etc.
3. Resource and environmental management efficiency
4. The creation of the international status

Boeing role in the development of the industry

Boeing’s entry into the Chinese market can be dated back to the early 20th century has been the most used plane. The entry of airbus in the 1970s shaped the competition ground, with the successful entry of airbus in the Chinese market and currently, Airbus revenue in china surpassed that of Boeing (Westlake, 1988). Many components made for Boeing are built-in china and this has contributed to an increase in the absorption of aerospace technologies and production techniques in the partnerships (Fulghum, 2004). In the recent investments in China to tap the increasing demand as Mr. Yata said that;

“To Boeing, China would be the second-largest market for commercial planes in the next two decades….and adding that the country would buy an estimated 400 billion U.S. dollars’ worth of commercial airplanes, or 3,700 units over the period” (2009).

Conclusion

We have identified several areas relating to an aerospace sector that need to be addressed to increase the safety of commercial and military components from origin to destination. We believe that standardized procedures and actions should be implemented by operators, carriers, and cargo facilities to prevent any security or operational lapse in the sector. We further believe it is in the best interest of the air industry to use this consistent set of procedures to safely move commercial and military components (Spaceref). China may also find it difficult to establish a domestic commercial aerospace industry that manufactures everything from the ground up because this sector truly is a global industry.

The airport modernization programs and associated developments such as the new aerospace policy are ultimately at a nascent stage of their development. Consequently, it is not unexpected that there will be teething problems, delays, and some pain as the system adjusts to a new paradigm. All those involved are learning along the way. However, the frustrating issue for the main parties involved is that the key policy decisions have been taken without sufficient consultation with stakeholders and are announced late in the day, creating significant planning challenges.

References

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