Heavy-lift helicopter qualifies for commercial operation

An AC313 civil helicopter is in test flight at the Lyumeng Airport in Jingdezhen, East China's Jiangxi province, March 24, 2017. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

China's first heavy-lift helicopter for civilian purposes, the AC313, successfully completed a test flight in heavy rain at the Lyumeng Airport in Jingdezhen, East China's Jiangxi province on March 24, the last of its airworthiness tests.

This was the first time for China's domestically made large helicopter to test fly in heavy rain, and success shows that the 13-ton helicopter for civil use is capable of flying in complicated weather conditions.

The test had to be carried out in rain with precipitation exceeding 0.762 millimeters in six minutes, and the helicopter had to fly at high speed at a height between 200 meters to 500 meters after take-off and before landing.

Engineers from the developer, Aviation Industry Corporation of China, and test pilots initiated plans for the test and possible emergencies to secure the safety of the flight.

All its devices and systems worked normally in the test, and the pilots gained clear vision in the cab. The helicopter has totally met with airworthiness regulations.

The helicopter fills the gap between China's large civil helicopters and developed countries, setting a milestone for China's helicopter development.

The AC313 can fly over all spaces in the country, shouldering work such as transporting personnel and goods, search and rescue, medical rescue, sightseeing and other business flights.

The AC313 took its first flight in March 2010 and received its production certificate in November 2012. It passed tests on 212 items of its airborne equipment, 131 items of airworthiness verification, 215 flight subjects and 88 safety subjects.