Michelin rubber chosen for China’s first airliner

Michelin has been selected to develop and supply tyres for the first commercial airliner to be designed in China, the Comac C919. The tyre maker reports the contract with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China grew out of an alliance created in November 2009. Comac intends to have the first prototype C919 in the air by 2014 and Michelin will supply its Air X radial to the 150 to 200 seat single-aisle segment airliner. The C919 is expected to enter commercial service in 2016, with sales of the airliner initially targeted at China’s domestic market.

To comply with Comac’s requirements and selection process, Michelin notes it had to meet a host of challenges. These included respecting a tight development schedule, helping to lower aircraft operating costs, providing technical assistance in China and increasing production capacity in Asia.