(Yicai Global) Dec. 29 -- China's Xinzhou-700, a new short-haul aircraft developed by a state-owned aerospace and defense firm, has entered its trial production phase, marking another success for the country's aviation industry.

Avic Aircraft Co. [SHE: 000768], a subsidiary of Aviation Industry Corporation of China, has started making structural parts for the aircraft's flaps in Xi'an, the capital of northwestern Shaanxi province, state news agency Xinhua reported yesterday. Production of cargo door components kicked off in northeastern Shenyang.

The turboprop will make its first flight in November 2019 and AVIC aims to get it to market by 2021 after licensing from the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

China has taken some significant steps in aviation recently. The AG600, a large amphibious aircraft also developed by AVIC, passed its maiden flight review and met all technical conditions for its debut earlier this month.

The Xinzhou-700 uses an efficient aerodynamic design and advanced avionics system, Xinhua quoted an AVIC official as saying. The mass-produced plane will compete in the high-end market, the official added.

China is also working on developing engines for its own aircraft. A research project for the CJ1000A, developed to power the narrow-body twin-engine jet airliner Comac C919, passed its conceptual design review on Dec. 10. The Comac C919 is the country's first domestically produced large passenger aircraft. It successfully completed all its test flights this year.