Y-12, produced by the China Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (HAMC), is a light multipurpose aircraft with fixed wing and twin propeller engines. It has excellent short taking-off and landing performance with low-level requirement for runway, and is also easily maintained and endurable.

The three-day 2001 Y-12 seminar, sponsored by the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC), is attending by some 50 representatives from six African countries and experts from the U.S. and Canada.

At the opening ceremony, CATIC Vice President Wang Dawei noted that so far, his company has sold out a total of 130 Y-12 aircraft, of which 114 have been delivered to more than 20 countries in the world.

He told the participants that Y-12 could be configured differently to meet various requirements from users and be used for such purposes as for passenger or cargo transportation, parachute jumping, seed or insecticide spreading, aerial photography, emergency rescue, maritime surveillance, among others.

According to Wang, Y-12 has obtained airworthiness certificates in a dozen countries including China, the U.S., Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia, and it will soon be granted with airworthiness approval from aviation authorities in France and Canada.

The aircraft has also made flight demonstrations in over 30 countries worldwide and participated in international air shows in Britain, France, Chile, Singapore and other countries, Wang said.

With a promising and potential market for the Y-12, his company has received orders for 128 such aircraft from 18 countries including the Sudan, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Cuba and Bolivia, according to the CATIC vice president.

He promised that his company would provide better after-sale support to the customers, and so far has set up overseas bonded warehouses in Pakistan, Fiji, Peru, Singapore and Kenya.

Wang noted that the aircraft sold to African countries are in good performance, and some other African countries are negotiating purchase contracts with CATIC.

At the seminar, Chen Ruoqing, Y-12 Chief Designer from HAMC, also introduced the recent development of the aircraft, saying modification upon request from customers could be met.

It is learned that CATIC will strengthen and improve technical support and after-sale service in Africa by establishing regional field service center, on-job training center and spare parts supply center in Kenya.

During the seminar, the participants will focus their discussions on such topics as the operation and maintenance of Y- 12 fleet in Africa, the reliability and supportability of Y-12 aircraft and the Y-12 role in general aviation.

Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Du Qiwen and Kenyan Air Force Commander S.K. Muttai attended the opening of the seminar.

(Xinhua news Agency 08/09/2001)