China-assembled A320 plane makes test flight

TIANJIN, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The first Airbus A320 plane assembled in
China's northern city of Tianjin took off at 10:45 a.m. Monday for a test
flight, from the Tianjin Binhai International Airport.

The plane is due to be delivered to the domestic Sichuan Airlines by the
end of June, said Jean Luc Charles, General Manager of the Airbus (Tianjin)
Final Assembly Company Ltd.

The test flight will take four hours.

The Tianjin-based assembly company is expected to deliver a total of 11
A320 aircraft this year. Starting from 2011, the company will be able to produce
48 A320 planes every year, said Jean Luc Charles.