Wu Yue, an assistant to the general manager of COMAC, said Yanliang serves as one of the most important flight-testing bases in China. Earlier, the ARJ21, the nation's domestic regional commercial aircraft, took about six years to complete test flights in Yanliang. The C919 is expected to take three years.

Lin said the C919's entry into the market is expected to be between 2020 and 2022.

"Apart from meeting flight safety standards, the fuel efficiency, maintenance costs and the comfort level of the aircraft should all be taken into consideration before it is put into use in the market."