Monitoring Desk
BEIJING: The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) said that China’s indigenously-developed AG600 large amphibious aircraft is expected to enter the market in 2025.
According to AVIC, the AG600M aircraft, a model specialized for firefighting belonging to the AG600 large amphibious aircraft family, aim to obtain the type certificate in 2024.
The AVIC – China’s leading plane-maker – will endeavor to push forward the initial small-batch deliveries of AG600M aircraft in 2025, the AVIC said.
The Chinese plane-maker will also facilitate another model of the AG600 aircraft family, particularly for rescue missions, to obtain the type certificate in 2025.
AG600M amphibious aircraft test missions
The year 2023 is crucial for aircraft development, as a series of major test missions are scheduled for this year. The AVIC will strive to enable the AG600M aircraft to serve firefighting missions, China’s leading plane-maker said.
The plane-maker is committed to making decisive efforts in achieving major targets of the AG600 project, contributing to sustaining China’s natural disaster prevention and emergency rescue systems.
Several flight and ground test missions are scheduled this year to ensure that the AG600M aircraft can carry out firefighting missions. These tests aim to ensure progress toward securing the airworthiness certification, the AVIC said.
These tests include flight tests in typical mission scenarios, iron-bird tests, lab validation tests, static tests, airworthiness validation flight tests, and quality tests for airborne devices, among others.
Codenamed Kunlong, or “water dragon” in Chinese, the AG600 aircraft family is developed as vital aeronautical equipment to strengthen China’s emergency rescue capabilities. It can combat forest fires, maritime search and rescue, and other critical rescue missions.
