China's AG600 large amphibious aircraft proven safe, reliable: test captain

China

China's AG600 large amphibious aircraft proven safe, reliable: test captain

2025-04-20 15:38 Last Updated At：04-21 00:37

China's AG600 large amphibious aircraft has proven its safety and reliability through rigorous testings, the aircraft's test captain said.

The aircraft is designed to carry out rescue missions such as firefighting and maritime search and rescue in all types of terrain across the country, including operating on water.

With a maximum takeoff weight of 60 tons, it can carry up to 12 tons of water, cruise at a minimum speed of 220 kilometers per hour, and has a maximum range of 4,500 kilometers.

The aircraft undergoes an average of 16 test flights per month, setting a record for China's civil aircraft testing efficiency and establishing airworthiness certification methods for amphibious planes, according to Zhao Sheng, a senior test pilot of the test flight center of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, who is also the aircraft's captain in test flights.

"The aircraft's safety has been fully verified following compliance test flights. Its performance and stability have been verified as well, meeting airworthiness regulatory requirements. There is still space for improvements. For example, during the crosswind testing, the aircraft has been tested under conditions with wind speeds of up to nine meters per second, and there is room for further improvement. We can also expand into flying in a high-altitude region. We can explore the possibility of operating in extremely high-altitude regions. These aspects still require more tests and improvement," said Zhao.

The amphibious aircraft AG600M is an upgraded model of the AG600 large amphibious aircraft family.

Compared with the other models of AG600, the aircraft is specially developed to serve firefighting missions, with extensive enhancements.

"First, the fuselage of AG600M is one meter higher than the previous models, which enhances its wave resistance and allows the aircraft to handle larger waves. The original propeller had four blades. Now it has been replaced with the six-blade propeller, with a smaller diameter. This further improves its wave resistance capabilities. The lower section of the aircraft features a large boat hull, which provides support when the aircraft is on water. Additionally, the aircraft employs a high-wing configuration, with the wings mounted above the fuselage. This design keeps the propellers above the water surface, preventing it from touching water. These unique characteristics distinguish amphibious aircraft like this one from other planes," Zhao continued.

Zhao said that the landing gear of the aircraft is mounted to the fuselage, so that it does not disturb the aircraft's movement on water.

The AG600M aircraft also has floats mounted to its wings for stability, and a tail water rudder for direction control, according to Zhao.

The AG600 large amphibious aircraft obtained its type certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in Beijing on Sunday, marking its successful development and approval to enter the market.

Securing the type certificate validates the AG600's design compliance with airworthiness standards and lays the foundation for acquiring additional certifications, including the production certificate (PC) and airworthiness certificates (AC).

The aircraft has to go through pre-operation reviews, including flight tests, before it is put into service. Trainings for safe operation and maintenance will also be carried out.

Global activists arrive in Cuba with humanitarian aid

Hundreds of activists from Latin America, North America and Europe have arrived in Cuba as part of an international solidarity convoy, bringing over 20 tons of humanitarian aid for Cubans struggling with a severe economic and energy crisis.

The first members of the convoy arrived in Cuba by air while a second group is expected to come aboard a flotilla that sailed out of Mexico.

The first group was officially welcomed to Cuba during a ceremony in Havana, where Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel expressed appreciation for the solidarity at a critical time for the Cuban people.

The group brought humanitarian aid to local hospitals including medicines to treat cancer patients. The activists were briefed about the hardships currently being faced by Cubans.

Convoy organizers met with Cuban government officials and talked to the media about their initiative.

"There are deeply humanistic motivations for this convoy. That's why people are conducting these 'acopios,' these aid collections in their own communities, in their own plazas, in their own homes, packing suitcases full of basic medicines that the blockade seeks to prevent the Cuban people from accessing," said David Adler, a convoy coordinator.

Cubans have endured a deep economic crisis for the past few years, made worse by a U.S. embargo. A recent oil blockade against the country has caused a severe energy shortage.

"For us, it's a good opportunity because we are walking in the neighborhoods, we are talking to ordinary people, we are hearing people's stories. With no intermediaries, we are hearing how difficult life is right now, how it's been difficult over the last few years but how its gotten infinitely worse in the last three months because of the fuel blockade brought on by Trump," said Manolo De Los Santos, the executive director of The People's Forum.

The activists said their task is to shed light on what U.S. government policies are doing to Cuba. British Member of Parliament Jeremy Corbyn, who has joined other parliamentarians in the convoy, said that their presence in Cuba is sending a clear message.

"I think the images around the world of ordinary people coming to Cuba with the necessary equipment for children to be treated in hospital, to repair the damaged electricity system and all the rest of it is very important, and I think that will lead to pressure on governments all around the world," said Corbyn.

The 10th Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), which concluded in the Colombian capital Bogota on Saturday, adopted the Bogota Declaration, calling on relevant countries to abide by UN resolutions and end the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said in his speech that Cuba is facing severe challenges and is engaged in a struggle for dignity and freedom. Cuba is willing to conduct serious and responsible dialogue with the United States on the basis of mutual respect, but the precondition is that neither side should interfere in each other's internal affairs or their respective political, economic and social systems.