Book Review + Interview on James Fallows' China Airborne

choi

(1) Minxin Pei, 'China Airborne,' by James Fallows: review. San Francisco Chronicle, May 20, 2012.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/ar ... 5/18/RVCO1OBC0B.DTL

Quote:

"With more than 2,600 modern aircraft (mostly Boeings and Airbuses), China has the world's second-largest commercial fleet (about half of America's). Its airlines, among the most dangerous two decades ago, now rank among the safest and the most valuable in terms of stock market prices.

"Like its economy, the Chinese aviation industry suffers from fundamental flaws embedded both in its low-tech economy and its authoritarian political system. * * * Unable to make any of the crucial components of a modern jet, such as engines and advanced avionics, China has to import them. Most importantly, China has no expertise in integrating extremely complex and reliable systems like a modern jet.

(2) China's New Plan: A Great Leap Into The Air. NPR, May 19, 2012
http://www.npr.org/2012/05/19/15 ... t-leap-into-the-air
(interview with author)