HeliHub.com
5 Jan, 12Civil Aviation Administration of China has certified the 13-tonne AC313 earlier today. The AC313 was developed by government-owned manufacturer AVIC from the Harbin Z-8, itself relying very heavily on the 1960s French design - the SA321 Super Frelon.
AVIC expect to market the AC313 for emergency rescue operations, forest fire prevention, transport, offshore operations, medical aid, sightseeing and business trips - although experience in other parts of the world would suggest to us that some of these potential uses may be more marketing froth than anything else.
The AC313 has made two trial flights to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in 2010 and 2011 to establish its credentials at altitude, and AVIC has advised that the service ceiling is 8,500 metres - almost 28,000 feet.
Jeremy Parkin - HeliHub.com
Related Posts
- Honeywell and Avic Helicopter enter collaboration agreement
- China’s AC313 helicopter reaches 8,000m
- China set to bid AC313 for Presidential VXX program
- AVIC expects to produce 300 helicopters per year by 2015
- AC313 carries out trials on Chinese Navy hospital ship
- AC313 flies – China’s first indigenous helicopter takes to the air
- China poised to fly AC313 helicopter
