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Farnborough, July 21 (Reuters) - Emirates Airline President Tim Clark said on Tuesday that the company expects to receive Boeing 777-9 aircraft during the second quarter of next year, as Boeing moves closer to certification for the long-delayed wide-body jet.

Clark stated during the Farnborough Airshow in Britain that the delivery delay means the aircraft is at risk of falling behind technologically even before it is delivered.

He added, "We will have to draw a line at some point... We were supposed to receive it in April 2020... So if we receive it in the second quarter of 2027, it will be very difficult in any case."

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration told Reuters on Monday that it expects to certify the aircraft later this year or early next year.

* Continued investment

Clark urged aircraft manufacturers to continue investing in new technologies and not to stop developing after the 777-9 was put on the market, stressing that the sector needs to be more ambitious.

Clark added, "My legacy will be to bring manufacturing companies from the Middle Ages to the late 20th and early 21st centuries."

These comments contrasted with those made by airline executives on Monday, who warned manufacturers against rushing the development of a new generation of aircraft before current programs are completed, at a time when the sector is facing delivery delays and challenges in obtaining certifications.

Engine maintenance delays

Clark also criticized engine manufacturers for high costs and maintenance delays, saying these problems were beginning to affect Emirates' operations.

He continued, "We have seen engine manufacturers raise prices sharply."

He added, "The slow pace of engine maintenance and installation on aircraft has begun to cause us harm. It is unacceptable that 28 engines remain in our warehouses awaiting maintenance."

Airlines are facing rising costs and operational pressures related to engine maintenance, and limited overall maintenance capacity and supply chain constraints are affecting the availability of spare engines and repairs.

Clark told Reuters in June that Emirates had not yet seen sufficient progress on concerns about the durability of Rolls-Royce engines for its Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, also noting a dispute between airlines and engine manufacturers over prices and delivery delays.