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Exclusive | China’s C919 faces ‘final exam’ as EU pilots stay in Shanghai ‘permanently’: sources

South China Morning Post · · 248 words · By Frank Chen
open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3349669/eu-tests-chinas-c919-…

fact_checkFact-Check Results

8 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

info Single Source 4
help Insufficient Evidence 3
check_circle Corroborated 1
info
“China’s aviation authorities have mobilised a range of resources to support European certification of the C919, the home-grown airliner aiming to take on Boeing and Airbus, with steady progress made in recent months, multiple sources said.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence mentions the C919 and its development history (Wikipedia), but none of the retrieved web search results or cross-references explicitly state that 'China's aviation authorities have mobilised a range of resources to support European certification of the C919' or confirm 'steady progress made in recent months' regarding this specific support effort. The claim appears to be drawn from a source not fully represented in the evidence provided, making corroboration difficult.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Air China, officially Air China Limited, (中国国际航空公司, Zhōngguó guójì hángkōng gōngsī) is a Chinese airline and the flag carrier of the People's Republic of China. It is headquartered in Shunyi, Beijing.…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_China
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — China Eastern Airlines (branded as China Eastern) is a major airline in China, headquartered in Changning, Shanghai. It is one of the three major airlines in the country, along with Air China and Chin…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_Eastern_Airlines
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Comac C919 is a narrow-body airliner developed by Chinese state owned aircraft manufacturer Comac. The development program was launched in 2008 as a competitor to the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. P…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comac_C919
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“Technicians and pilots from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have set up shop in Shanghai for more checks and in-flight tests in recent months, according to a source who took part in some technological exchanges with the agency.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results from different dates (Jan 16, Jan 18, Jan 19, 2026) independently report that EASA pilots have been conducting test flights and verification activities for the COMAC C919 in Shanghai.
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web search NEUTRAL — Jan 19, 2026 ·PilotsfromEASAhaveperformedverification and evaluationflightson the Chinese-manufactured narrowbody jet, assessing its performance, handling qualities, and overall safety under real oper…
https://www.aeronewsjournal.com/2026/01/easa-pilots-take-fli…
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web search NEUTRAL — Jan 16, 2026 ·Pilotsfrom the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) haveconductedtestflightsof the Chinese narrowbody passenger aircraft COMAC C919 inShanghai, marking an important but still ear…
https://avioradar.net/en/easa-begins-flight-tests-of-chinas-…
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web search NEUTRAL — Jan 18, 2026 ·Pilotsfrom the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)haverecentlybeenconductingtestflightsof China’s COMAC C919 airliner inShanghai. The...
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1211375170479626/
info
““They now stay in Shanghai, like almost permanently, for tests and flights,” the source said.”
SINGLE SOURCE
This claim, stating EASA personnel are staying 'almost permanently,' is not directly supported by the evidence. The web search results confirm recent testing in Shanghai (Claim 1), but none of the retrieved snippets confirm the duration or the 'almost permanently' aspect of their stay.
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web search NEUTRAL — TheEuropeanAuthority foraviationsafety.EASAPro. for aviation authorities, industry professionals, job applicants & media.
https://www.easa.europa.eu/
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web search NEUTRAL — ...SafetyAgency(EASA)isan agency of theEuropeanUnion established in 2002 by Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 of theEuropeanparliament and the Council in order to ensure a high and uniform level of safety i…
https://skybrary.aero/articles/european-union-aviation-safet…
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web search NEUTRAL — Our 6-day itineraryinShanghai, China00:00 Intro00:27 Day 1 –FlighttoShanghai, check-in at Jianguo HotelShanghai, Xujiahui Park area04:53 Day 2 – Buf...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfOEPajh0do
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“It is understood that the European watchdog is requiring more test flights to prove the C919’s safety.”
SINGLE SOURCE
While the evidence confirms EASA is involved in testing the C919 (Claim 1), the specific assertion that EASA is 'requiring more test flights to prove the C919's safety' is not explicitly confirmed by the provided sources. The Wikipedia entries only provide background on the C919, not the current testing requirements from EASA.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The CFM International LEAP ("Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion") is a high-bypass turbofan engine produced by CFM International, a 50–50 joint venture between the American GE Aerospace and the French S…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CFM_International_LEAP
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Comac C909 (ICAO code: AJ27), originally known as the ARJ21 Xiangfeng (Chinese: 翔凤; pinyin: xiángfèng; lit. 'Soaring Phoenix'), is a 78–90 seat regional jet manufactured by the Chinese state-owned…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comac_C909
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Comac C919 is a narrow-body airliner developed by Chinese state owned aircraft manufacturer Comac. The development program was launched in 2008 as a competitor to the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. P…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comac_C919
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“Such flights mark the third phase of a four-stage certification process.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence confirms the C919 is undergoing development and testing (Wikipedia entries), but none of the retrieved sources specify that the current test flights mark the 'third phase of a four-stage certification process.' This detail is specific and uncorroborated.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The ACAE/AECC CJ-1000A (Chinese: 长江-1000A, lit. 'Chang Jiang-1000A') is a Chinese high-bypass turbofan engine currently under development by the Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC), through its Co…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ACAE_CJ-1000A
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Comac C919 is a narrow-body airliner developed by Chinese state owned aircraft manufacturer Comac. The development program was launched in 2008 as a competitor to the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. P…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comac_C919
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Comac C939 is a planned long-range wide-body twinjet airliner family being developed by Chinese Comac as a competitor to the Boeing 777X and Airbus A350. It is designed to be larger than the other…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comac_C939
help
“The source said the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) had been rallying support from airlines, including their top pilots, to aid the certification push.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results or Wikipedia entries to support the claim that CAAC is gathering support from airlines and their top pilots for the C919 certification.
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“A second source with knowledge of ongoing arrangements said Comac and Chinese airlines operating the C919 were providing past and real-time data to EASA.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results or Wikipedia entries to support the claim that Comac and Chinese airlines are providing past and real-time data to EASA.
help
“China Eastern Airlines had also shared repair and maintenance data, they said, including those accumulated from periodical A and B checks on the first batch of C919s that joined its fleet in 2023.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results or Wikipedia entries to support the claim that China Eastern Airlines shared specific repair and maintenance data from 2023 checks.
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.