China-Made Aircraft to Support National Emergency Rescue System

Agreements on several domestically-made pieces of aviation equipment were signed on May 8 at the Yangtze River Delta International Emergency Disaster Reduction & Rescue Expo. They are to contribute to emergency rescue operations.

Developed and produced by Aviation Industry Corporation of China, Ltd. (AVIC), the equipment consists of the AG600 Kunlong seaplane, the AC352 multifunctional helicopter and the AC311A helicopter, and is to be provided to several airlines and Jiangxi Province.

The AG600 seaplane is a large amphibious aircraft developed for China's emergency rescue system. Independently-designed and built by China, it is currently the world's largest amphibious aircraft.

It is mainly used for emergency rescue, forest fire fighting and sea patrols.

Signing of the AG600 purchasing agreement marked that the aircraft has obtained a primary position in the market and is expected to play a role in China's emergency rescue and natural disaster prevention for some time. A series of flight services will be launched based on AG600's outstanding amphibious properties.

The AC352 chopper is a medium-sized multirole helicopter jointly developed by AVIC and Airbus. It is expected to obtain certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in 2021.

Meeting the latest international airworthiness standards, a large number of mature advanced technologies are used on the aircraft.

When configured for search and rescue it can carry more than 2 tons of fuel and can travel longer and farther than other craft of its kind. It is installed with radar, a direction finder and real-time digital mapping and automatic identification systems, making it suitable for inland and offshore search and rescue missions in extreme weather.

In terms of the AC311A helicopter, it is manufactured by AVIC Changhe Aircraft Industry (Group) Corporation Ltd. The 2-ton civil light helicopter, with a single engine, a single main rotor and a tail rotor, completed forensics testing on plateau and high-altitude and cold regions in 2014 and 2015 respectively and obtained CAAC's certification. It passed AEG investigation in 2016.

Being equipped with various devices, the helicopter can be widely used in fields of overhead patrolling, emergency relief, medical rescuing, enforcement of public security, agriculture and forestry spraying and administrative flights.

The only enterprise in China to have supply capacity of the full industrial chain integrating aircraft platforms, mission equipment, systematic networking and service, AVIC offers whole solutions to aviation emergency rescue.

The company will speed up domestic development of aviation emergency equipment to safeguard national security, support the national economy and improve the well-being of the population.

A purchase agreement on AG600 seaplanes is signed on May 8 at the Yangtze River Delta International Emergency Disaster Reduction & Rescue Expo. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

A purchase agreement on AC352 choppers is signed on May 8 at the Yangtze River Delta International Emergency Disaster Reduction & Rescue Expo. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

A purchase agreement on AC311A choppers is signed on May 8 at the Yangtze River Delta International Emergency Disaster Reduction & Rescue Expo. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)