L’envol du panda ? Aviation civile chinoise et innovation

Résumé

The purpose of this article is to analyze the Chinese strategy for technological catch-up in the
field of civil aviation. We will do this in five steps. We will begin with a look back at the
first decades of Chinese aeronautical history. Then we will analyze the industrial policy
which, from the 1990s, led to the constitution of the two national champions,
AVIC and COMAC. Thirdly, we will decipher the flagship program that is the C919. In
a fourth, we will study the place of Chinese production in the world market. Finally, we
will take stock of the reality of Chinese technological “looting” in the field of
aircraft construction .