The Chinese COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) C919 Jetliner will make its first passenger flight in March. This flight will be an important milestone for China as it will be the beginning of an independent Chinese aviation industry. China Eastern Airlines will be the first carrier to fly a homemade plane. While many other domestic airlines are racing for the plane, foreign countries like Nigeria have already expressed their interest in the plane.

Nigeria’s aviation minister has said the country will consider acquiring the C919 when it officially joins China’s aviation fleet. The medium-range aircraft is currently undergoing a mandatory 100-hour inspection process that began on December 26. The aircraft, which has flown to 9 cities and 10 airports to date, made its last flight from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport on January 28. To Nanchang Changbei International Airport in Jiangxi Province.

The C919 is expected to complete its test flight by February, after which it will receive final inspection and verification results from the Civil Aviation Administration of China. Once approved, the aircraft will fly on major routes such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Kunming, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Shenzhen.

China Eastern Airlines has already trained nine pilots and twenty-four flight attendants to fly the C919. The company has also trained thirteen maintenance personnel, including flight engineers, to work on local aircraft and is in the process of training a second group of personnel.

China is the world’s most populous country and the second largest aviation market. Therefore, it makes sense for the government to take advantage of the local airline market and compete with international players. When the C919 Jetliner enters service, it will put Beijing on the global aviation map and help bring the duo of international aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus to an end.