The production of China's independently developed AG600 large amphibious firefighting aircraft is progressing smoothly as the aircraft on Sunday obtained its type certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in Beijing.
The certificate acquisition marks the successful development of AG600 and its approval to enter the market.
Located in Jinwan District of southern coastal city of Zhuhai, the birthplace of AG600 is the only special large aircraft production line in China that is open to the public.
The general assembly line of AG600 also serves as a national patriotism education demonstration base, with three exhibition areas of aviation culture, assembly production, and science popularization and research.
"The entire final assembly production line of the AG600 aircraft consists of six stations. When we say 'station,' we actually mean the workstation where the aircraft is being assembled. The station we are currently at is what we call Station 51, which is the major fuselage assembly station. The main task here is to join the forward fuselage, the center fuselage, the aft fuselage, as well as the wings and the vertical and horizontal stabilizers. The primary structural work is completed here and we can also describe it as building the entire skeleton of the aircraft. The station we see now is called Station 41, which is the system installation and debugging station. If we compare the aircraft to the human body, then Station 51 is like building the skeleton, while Station 41 is equivalent to installing the blood vessels and nervous systems," said Ma Jianming, head of AG600 general assembly line of South China Aircraft Industry Co., Ltd under China Aviation Industry General Aircraft (CAIGA).
Apart from the Station 51 and 41, the factory also has Station 52 for fuselage prefabrication, Station 53 for left and right outer wing automated docking, Station 54 for vertical tail docking, and Station 31 for full aircraft joint debugging and testing, according to Ma.
The entire factory operates as a station-based pulse production line, built on principles of digitalization, informatization, modularization, and flexibility. It features a fully automated docking and posture measurement system. According to Ma, the production line is capable of assembling over 10 AG600 aircrafts per year, with capacity that can be scaled up at any time based on demand.
"When the aircraft moves from one station to the next, it follows a fixed rhythm, for example, shifting forward once every 50 days. In this way, we can vividly see that it 'pulses' with each movement. Essentially, a pulse production line means that the aircraft progresses through the line at a steady and predetermined pace," he said.
China's AG600 amphibious aircraft production progresses smoothly following certification
The U.S. military strike against Venezuela and capture of its president, Nicolas Maduro, has shocked the international community, triggering a steady stream of condemnation and serious concerns worldwide.
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Spain issued a joint statement on Sunday, expressing serious concern about and firm opposition to the U.S. unilateral military operations in Venezuela.
The U.S. actions contravene fundamental principles of international law, particularly the prohibition on the use or threat of force, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, as enshrined in the UN Charter, constituting an extremely dangerous precedent against peace and regional security, according to the statement.
In expressing profound concern and firm rejection, the six countries stressed in the statement that the situation in Venezuela must be resolved exclusively by peaceful means, and through dialogue, negotiation and respect for the will of the Venezuelan people in all its expressions, without external interference and in accordance with international law.
Only an inclusive political process, led by Venezuelans, can lead to a democratic, sustainable solution that respects human dignity, according to the statement.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the U.S. raid in Venezuela as a violation of international law, adding that the Spanish government always advocates and defends international law and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
Addressing a meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez demanded the unconditional and immediate release of Maduro and his wife.
Noting that Latin America and the Caribbean are a zone of peace, he expressed his firm opposition to the use of force, which is an unshakable principle.
Any aggression against Venezuela shall be regarded as an attack against all CELAC member states, and nations must collectively oppose it, he stressed.
The South African government denounced the U.S. attack on Venezuela as a violation of international law, according to a statement released on Sunday.
History has repeatedly demonstrated that military invasions against sovereign states yield only instability and deepening crisis, the statement said.
South Africa calls on the UN Security Council to urgently convene a session to address this situation, according to the statement.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said what happened in Venezuela demonstrates that international law and the UN Charter are losing their practical effectiveness.
U.S. military action against Venezuela marks a dangerous precedent, as similar actions could be taken against any other nations, he said.
In addition, the foreign ministries of Namibia, Singapore, Oman and Pakistan also issued statements on the same day, expressing grave concern over U.S. interference in Venezuela's internal affairs.
They emphasized the need to uphold international law and the principles of the UN Charter while respecting Venezuela's sovereignty.
They also called on all parties to exercise restraint and resolve the crisis through peaceful dialogue.
U.S. move against Venezuela sparks condemnation, concerns worldwide
