Designers on the Superjet 100 by yearend are likely to decide which stretched model of regional jet to pursue, says Superjet International CEO Alessandro Franzoni. Designers are still busy trading seat-count and range to devise the right solution. Options appear to have narrowed to a 120-seat model, which would be brought to market quickly, in about two years, or a 130-seat model. However, the latter would require more extensive work, including bigger changes to the engine and wing (a composite wing is being considered), Franzoni says.

The Taiwanese military is maintaining its long-standing opposition to commercial flights taking the shortest route between the island and mainland China, citing the need to guard against surprise air attack. Defense Minister Gen. Chen Chao-ming says he supports the policy of charter flights that don’t go through the sensitive restricted zone in the Taiwan Strait.

China’s two aircraft-making conglomerates, Avic 1 and 2, have been merged back together as a prelude to further reorganization, including a dedicated helicopter subsidiary; the combined organization, foreshadowed earlier this year, is called Avic, or China Aviation Industry Corp., as it was before it was split into Avic 1 and 2 in 1999.