Micronesia to get AVIC unit's plane

A Chinese aircraft manufacturer said on March it will deliver one Y12E aircraft to Micronesia this year.

It is also Harbin Aircraft Industry Group Co Ltd's first aircraft export to the country, which would help explore the Oceania market, according to the company, a subsidiary of Aviation Industry Corporation of China or AVIC. HAIG is one of the nation's leading aircraft producers that started production and research since 1950s.

It has independently developed a variety of aircraft, including helicopters and light regional aircraft, besides providing components for world famous aviation enterprises such as Boeing and Airbus.

"With the increasing research and development input, our aviation equipment is gaining more popularity at home and abroad," said Zhang Jichao, HAIG chairman.

Micronesian President Peter Christian paid a visit to HAIG last week and said the Y12E model is comfortable and very suitable for inter-island passenger and cargo transport.

A company source said the Y12E is in line with China-built aircraft's highest level of airworthiness, large cargo volume and reliability. The high wing twin-engine aircraft is a light and general purpose plane, designed to serve in high altitudes and high temperature environments.

Sources close to HAIG said the company spared no efforts in R&D, as the central government launched the Made in China 2025 strategy in 2015 with the aim of transforming China from a big-scale manufacturing player into a top-end manufacturing power.

"The past years saw the booming of aircraft industry, including robust demand for regional aircraft, pilot training and even the construction of general airports and regional airports," said Song Kui, a researcher from the Heilongjiang Academy of Social Sciences.

AVIC data show that the number of general aviation aircraft in China may reach 9,000 with the market value expected to reach $60 billion by 2020.