FAA establishes offices in Shanghai, Beijing

The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has established certification offices in Shanghai and Beijing to help Chinese authorities in certifying the ARJ21, the first China-made regional jet. Director John Hickey of the FAA aircraft certification services, and Kenneth Jarrett, US consul general in Shanghai, cut the ribbon to open the Shanghai office on March 9. The FAA Beijing certification office was also formally established the same day. "This is certainly facilitating the exchange of aeronautical products between the United States and China,” said Hickey. He thanked the Civil Aviation Administration of China for its support in establishing the two branches. The offices will assist CAAC on the ARJ21 airworthiness work. Director Zhang Hongying of the CAAC airworthiness department said the opening of the FAA offices in China is a milestone in the successful cooperation between China and the US in the area of airworthiness. Director Xia Xinghua of the CAAC East China Regional Administration also attended the ceremony. At the ceremony, FAA also awarded Jiangxi Hongdu Aviation Industrial Shareholding Co the N5A aircraft-type certificate that will pave the way for the aircraft to fly international routes. N5A aircraft is designed, developed and produced by Hongdu Group. It is the first multipurpose agricultural and forestry aircraft in China. The aircraft is equipped with an advanced power unit and operation equipment, and can fly in the ultra-low altitude of 3-5 meters high.