China's AG600 large amphibious aircraft obtains type certificate

China's independently developed AG600 large amphibious firefighting aircraft on Sunday obtained its type certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in Beijing, granting approval for the aircraft to enter the market.

The type certificate represents a milestone in China's development capabilities in the large special-purpose aircraft sector and the civil aircraft manufacturing industry, the aircraft developer Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the country's leading aircraft manufacturer, said in a statement. 

The AG600 is China's first large civil special-purpose aircraft developed in accordance with the requirements of the civil aviation airworthiness regulations.

It has been developed to meet the urgent needs of the national emergency rescue system and the national natural disaster prevention and control system, safeguarding people's lives and property.

The AG600 is the world's largest civil amphibious aircraft in terms of takeoff weight. Its successful development also fills a gap in China's large-sized amphibious aircraft sector, according to the AVIC.

It is slightly larger than mainstream single-aisle airliners currently in the market. It has a length of 38.9 meters, a height of 11.7 meters and a wingspan of 38.8 meters, according to data from its developer.