China's ARJ21 jet certification expected in 2010

BEIJING, Dec 19 (Reuters) - China's first domestically developed regional aircraft, the ARJ21-700, has started applying for domestic certification and is expected to complete the process in 2010, the government said.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said this in a statement seen on its website on Friday.

The 90-seat jet successfully completed its maiden test flight last month.

The plane is manufactured by Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, an arm of the country's newly created aviation giant China Aviation Industry Corp, which aims to challenge Boeing Co (BA.N) and Airbus (EAD.DE) someday.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration opened an office in Shanghai last year with the goal of helping Chinese aircraft obtain certification and assist with other safety issues, and which could also boost U.S. aviation related sales in China.

Global regulators often follow the FAA on safety issues, and certification by the U.S. regulator will be a crucial step for any new airliner eyeing global sales.

China has secured 208 orders for the jet -- due to start commercial delivery within 18 months, but the vast majority are from domestic airlines -- including five firm orders from General Electric's (GE.N) aircraft leasing arm.

GE is expected to supply the jet engines for the aircraft, which will rely on key foreign technology for some 40 percent of the value of the plane.

Production capacity for the jets is currently at 20 units a year, but that will eventually be increased to 50, said the ministry's website.

($=6.83 yuan) (Reporting by Kirby Chien, Editing by Jacqueline Wong)