News
C919: First delivery to China Eastern Airlines marks aviation milestone
The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) delivered the first C919 jet to China Eastern Airlines in Shanghai on Friday, showing off the narrow-body passenger plane with a 15-minute flight that marked a milestone in the country’s aviation ambitions.
The plane, with a flight number MU919, took off at 11.40am from Shanghai Pudong International Airport and landed at 12.02pm at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, according to flight tracker VariFlight.
China Eastern Airlines is the first customer to receive the C919, which was designed to compete with Boeing’s 737 and Airbus’ A320.In a ceremony in Shanghai Pudong International Airport, which was live streamed by state media, the C919 also received a number of certifications, including the “airworthiness certificate”, a permit for commercial passenger operation.
Flight MU919 had 164 seats and was painted with “the world’s first C919” on its side in Chinese and English.
After delivery to China Eastern, the C919 will undergo more than 100 hours of test flights, with stops in Shanghai, Beijing, Xian, Kunming, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Lanzhou, Haikou, Wuhan, Nanchang, and Jinan, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. Upon completion, the plane will receive confirmation of its operational safety, maintenance reliability, and support capabilities.
Xinhua reported the C919 is expected to meet the rest of the requirements in the spring of next year, after which it will be put into commercial operation.
The Shanghai-based airline ordered four of the aircraft in May at a cost of US$99 million each. Comac has said it plans to deliver the rest of the orders within the next two years.The state-owned aerospace manufacturer confirmed at the Zhuhai air show in November that it had secured orders from seven leasing firms for 300 of the planes, which are designed to carry 158 to 192 passengers
Zhang Xiaoguang, director of marketing at Comac, said on Friday the C919 will be adjusted according to passenger needs.
“The continuous optimisation of the C919 comes from more than 10,000 improvement requests we have collected from airlines,” Zhang was quoted as saying by Shanghai Securities News.
The plane was certified to fly by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in September after 14 years of development.
China has high hopes that the C919, its first domestically produced passenger jet, will reduce dependence on foreign technology as ties with Western countries deteriorate.However, most of its key parts are imported from foreign manufacturers, including the engine, avionics, control systems, communications and landing gear.
Delivery of the C919 could be complicated further as the advanced technology sector has been negatively affected by China-US tensions.China’s aviation industry is facing more export controls from Washington, which is deeply concerned with the country’s military-civil fusion strategy that aims to modernise the defence force by integrating civilian research and the commercial sector with military-industrial players. – SCMP
Public’s interest in the upcoming Provincial Council elections remains low, according to the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL).
PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi told The Island that there was an urgent need to encourage voter participation, noting that a higher voter turnout is essential for a functioning democracy.
Hettiarachchi said that the current level of political campaigning has been relatively subdued, with fewer aggressive or violent activities than seen in previous elections—a trend he described as a positive development.
He, however, stressed that local councils play a vital role in the lives of citizens, from birth- to death-related services, and also contribute to the legislative process. As such, voters must understand their importance and engage in the electoral process.
Despite the peaceful nature of the campaign so far, PAFFREL has received 20 complaints regarding the misuse of state resources and 15 complaints related to physical assaults. Hettiarachchi, however, added that no major incidents have been reported to date.
By Chaminda Silva
A group of 44 diplomats, including those from Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, the Netherlands, India, Myanmar, Palestine, France, New Zealand, Cuba, Egypt, Japan, the United Kingdom, Thailand, Canada and South Korea, headed to Kandy, by train, yesterday morning, to witness the sacred relic exposition.
The group travelled to Kandy in a special observation saloon of a train that departed from the Colombo Fort Railway Station around 7:00 am.
The ‘Sri Dalada Vandanawa’, a special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic, commenced yesterday (18), and will continue till 27 April.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake, along with the ambassadors, high commissioners and other diplomats, participated in the inaugural event.
“This initiative aims to convey a message to Sri Lanka’s friendly nations that the country is recovering economically, overcoming previous challenges, and fostering national harmony. The event also seeks to strengthen international support for Sri Lanka,” the PMD said.
Yesterday (18), on the opening day, the public had the opportunity to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm From today (19) onwards, it will open for public veneration, daily from 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm.
Police investigations have revealed that the shooting of a 27-year-old man in Ahungalla on Thursday night was a revenge attack. The motive is said to be his failure to carry out a contract killing assigned by a prominent underworld gang leader currently hiding in Dubai.
The 27-year-old victim, who was seriously injured in the attack, is currently receiving treatment at the Balapitiya Hospital. Investigations have further revealed that the attack was ordered by an underworld figure, known as “Abrew,” who is reportedly hiding in Dubai.
It has come to light that Abrew had given the young man a contract to kill a rival. However, since the contract was not carried out, the attack is believed to have been an act of retaliation.On the night of 17 April, around 9:48 pm, the young man received a phone call from an individual who instructed him to come and collect a packet of ice (a term commonly used to refer to crystal meth).
Accordingly, the 27-year-old arrived near the Revatha Primary School, in Balapitiya, Ahungalla in a three-wheeler. At that location, a hired gunman, who had arrived in another three-wheeler, fired three shots at him and fled the scene.
Despite being injured by one of the bullets hitting him, the young man managed to reach the Ahungalla Police Station in the same three-wheeler he had come in. Police officers then arranged for him to be admitted to Balapitiya Hospital for treatment.
By Hemantha Randunu
US strikes on Yemen oil terminal kill at least 74, Houthis say
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