Mass production of a domestically manufactured passenger jet -- a long-cherished desire for Japan -- is on the brink of a crisis. It is vital to examine the details of the aircraft's development and prepare for the resumption of the project.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. has announced that it would freeze its plan to mass-produce the Mitsubishi SpaceJet (formerly the Mitsubishi Regional Jet) for the time being.
The development of the aircraft has been much delayed than initially expected. In addition, the sharp decline in passenger demand due to the spread of the novel coronavirus further worsened the situation.
A sudden change in the environment surrounding the project caused by the pandemic was likely unexpected for MHI. It was inevitable that the producer made the decision to freeze the project.
MHI intends to postpone flight tests, drastically reduce development costs over the next three years and review personnel distribution. Mass production of the passenger jet is reportedly expected to start in fiscal 2024 at the earliest.
Even as MHI downsizes its preparations for development, it is hoped that the company will continue to make efforts to acquire type certification documentation required for flying in Japan and the principal export destination of the United States.
Until the project is resumed, it will be important to analyze why the development ran into difficulties and make use of the results of the analysis in the future.
The SpaceJet is the first passenger jet to be developed in Japan in more than half a century since the YS-11 propeller plane.
MHI had initially planned to start delivery of the passenger jet in 2013. However, since then, it has postponed the delivery six times mainly due to reviews of the manufacturing process and changes in the design of the electric wiring system.
It seems that the company, which supplies parts and components to Boeing Co. of the United States among other aircraft manufacturers, has not had sufficient know-how to design and manufacture an entire aircraft on its own.
As one of the main reasons for MHI to freeze the project, it has been pointed out that in the early stage of the aircraft's development, the company stuck to the principle of self-sufficiency. Even after changing its policy to hire a large number of foreign engineers, it failed to have a sufficient cooperative structure between them and Japanese engineers.
This is a major project in which MHI spent about 1 trillion yen and the government provided about 50 billion yen in subsidies. It has already received orders for about 300 aircraft from domestic and overseas airlines.
The aircraft industry is supported by a wide range of related companies. The SpaceJet has about 1 million components, far more than the 30,000 components of an automobile. About 30% of the parts procured for the passenger jet will be produced in Japan.
The impact of the delay in the development of the SpaceJet is significant because the project was also aimed at fostering the parts industry and strengthening the foundation of the manufacturing industry.
MHI President Seiji Izumisawa said, "I'm sorry to have made the decision to pause [the development of the SpaceJet]." It is important for the company to maintain the technologies it has developed while giving full explanations to subcontractors and airline companies that plan to purchase the jets.
The government, for its part, is responsible for having given strong support to the development of the "Hinomaru jet." It needs to consider post-pandemic support measures for the project.
-- The original Japanese article appeared in The Yomiuri Shimbun on Nov. 24, 2020.
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