China's amphibious AG600 aircraft greenlighted for mass production

China's domestically developed AG600 "Kunlong" amphibious aircraft has officially entered mass production after receiving certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China on Wednesday.

The certificate confirms that the developer, Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), has built a quality system that meets airworthiness regulations and ensures consistent production that adheres to design standards.

Slightly larger than mainstream single-aisle airliners, the AG600 measures 38.9 meters in length, 11.7 meters in height and 38.8 meters in wingspan – a size comparable to that of the Boeing 737.

Designed for a maximum practical range of 4,500 kilometers, the AG600 boasts a maximum takeoff weight of 60 tonnes – equivalent to the weight of 40 to 50 passenger cars – making it the world's largest amphibious civilian aircraft by takeoff weight.

A powerful tool for forest firefighting, the aircraft is equipped with a "water-scooping bucket" on its belly. By simply skimming across the water surface, the aircraft can fill up to 12 tonnes of water in just 20 seconds, before heading for firefighting operations.

The AG600's development involved hundreds of supporting units and tens of thousands of components, showcasing China's comprehensive capabilities in collaborative design and manufacturing, supply chain management and process consistency control for large special-purpose aircraft.

AVIC experts stated that future efforts will prioritize China's emergency rescue and natural disaster prevention needs, advancing the AG600's serialized development, enhancing the aviation emergency rescue service network, and building a comprehensive rescue equipment system with the AG600 at its core.

Since its development began in 2009, the AG600 has achieved several key milestones, including its maiden flight in 2017, its first takeoff from a reservoir in 2018, and its first flight over the sea in 2020.