EASA Pilots Move to Shanghai in Push to Certify China's C919

European aviation safety pilots and engineers are now based permanently in Shanghai, accelerating flight tests for China's C919 passenger jet, according to industry sources. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) team is conducting intensive checks and in-flight evaluations. This sustained, on-the-ground presence signals steady progress in the certification process. China's aviation regulator is dedicating significant resources to support the European approval. Certification by EASA is a critical step for the C919 to compete globally against dominant aircraft makers Boeing and Airbus. The C919, built by state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), is China's first domestically produced large passenger plane. It began commercial service within China in 2023. EASA certification would allow it to fly routes to and from Europe.