Article Posted on : - Sep 07, 2011

The AC313 civilian helicopter. A China Daily photo

BEIJING (PTI): China’s indigenously developed civilian freight helicopter, the AC313, successfully reached a flight altitude of 8,000 meters during a trial, a height that will enable the chopper fulfill plateau missions.

The AC313, developed and manufactured by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), hit its highest altitude to date during a trial flight on September 20 in northwest China’s Qinghai Province, AVIC said in a statement on Tuesday.

“The test flight has fully proven the helicopter’s function and reliability, and will decide the range of its flight altitude,” official news agency Xinhua quoted Xu Chaoliang, chief engineer of the AC313, as saying.

The helicopter, with a maximum takeoff weight of 13.8 tons, can be used for transportation, forest fire prevention, emergency search and rescue missions, disaster relief and medical aid.

The AC313 completed its maiden flight in March 2010.