THE US FEDERAL Aviation Administration has issued its first type-certificate for an aircraft designed and produced in China - the Harbin Y-12 IV.
Its Part 23 approval of the twin-turboprop airliner forms part of a larger programme to bring the Civil Aviation Administration of China's (CAAC) airworthiness regulations in line with FAA standards.
An FAA official in Asia says: "The Y-12 programme was used as a vehicle to demonstrate the CAAC's compatibility with FAR Part 23." He adds that most Chinese CCAR-23 certification procedures for small-category aircraft are now recognised by the FAA.
In 1991, the USA and China signed a bilateral airworthiness agreement, allowing the FAA and General Administration of Civil Aviation of China to oversee the manufacture of US aircraft in China. Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing (HAMC) and the CAAC applied for Part 23 certification of the Y-12 in September 1992, leading to modification of the Y-12 II to meet US requirements.
The Y-12 IV features a larger, reshaped, wing, fitted with wing-lets. Its non-retractable tricycle landing gear has also been reinforced with stronger struts. The aircraft is powered by two locally produced 500kW (680shp) Pratt & Whitney PT6A-27 turboprops.
HAMC hopes that US type-certification of the Y-12 will be boosted by the opening, of the North American market but it has not yet been granted FAA production certification. That is expected to take at least another year.
The aircraft has already been certificated by the UK Civil Aviation Authority and is China's top-selling commercial- aerospace export. Overseas sales to date total 61 aircraft to 13 countries, including Fiji, Malaysia, Nepal and Peru.
A derivative of the larger Xian Y-7 turboprop - the YD-7 - is expected to be the next Chinese aircraft to be submitted for FAA certification. Modifying the Y-7 in compliance with FAR Part 25 airworthiness requirements will be much more complicated and time consuming than for the Y-12, say FAA Asian officials.
FAA associate administrator for regulation and certification Tony Broderick says that a "shadow certification" is under way for the YD-7, which will be a Part 25 aircraft with significant US content.
Source: Flight International
