So if the C919 is to be commercially viable, COMAC needs to get the plane up in the air on or close to its ambitious schedule while the market for medium-range aircraft remains hot.
The GTF will power Mitsubishi's new regional jet, as well as Bombardier's new CSeries, a 110-130 seat (and potentially 150 seat) medium-range aircraft that has 90 firm orders, the latest coming from Republic Airways last month.
Separately, Vivek Lall, who heads the Indian operations at Boeing's Integrated Defense Systems unit, said the company will bid to sell six medium-range maritime patrol aircraft to India.