An aerial view of Faku General Aviation Base in Northeast China’s Liaoning province. [Photo/Xinhua]

Shenyang Faku General Aviation Base in Northeast China’s Liaoning province received certification from the Civil Aircraft Administration of China (CAAC) to manufacture the Tecnam P2006T Aircraft on Jan 11, ending China’s reliance on foreign manufacturers for this type of aircraft.

The Tecnam P2006T Aircraft, which is known for being a ‘BMW in the air’, is the lightest twin-engined, four-seater aircraft with fully retractable landing gear and liquid-cooled Rotax engines that can run on 92 octane unleaded automotive gasoline as well as 100LL.

Measuring 8.69 meters long, 11.4 meters wide and 2.84 meters high, the aircraft’s maximum lift weight is 1,180 kilograms. The aircraft can fly up to 287 kilometers per hour, and its normal cruising speed is 250 kilometers per hour.

Certified in the European Union by EASA under CS23, the P2006T received Federal Aviation Administration FAR Part 23 certification in 2010.

“Obtaining the qualification of the P2006T symbolizes Faku aviation base’s capability for manufacturing world-leading aviation products, ” said Chen Dawei, director of Faku county.

In recent years, Faku has seized the opportunity of low-altitude airspace management reform to develop a general aviation industry. At present, a complete industrial chain of aircraft assembly, manufacturing, training, and operations management has taken shape –– and Faku has successfully hosted several international flight conventions.

The Faku General Aviation Base has been rated as an industrial park with significant investment value and also set up the first pilot flight service station in China. In early 2014, the Faku General Aviation Base was officially approved as the first general aviation hi-tech industrial base in Liaoning province.

It is now home to around 20 companies undertaking aircraft related businesses.

A Tecnam P2006T Aircraft manufactured by Faku General Aviation Base in Northeast China’s Liaoning province on display in its hangar.[Photo/Xinhua]