Article Posted on : - May 24, 2011

BEIJING (PTI): A top Chinese aviation company will sell four indigenously developed passenger aircraft, MA60, to a Peruvian airline firm.

The China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC1) said that its subsidiary, the Xi'an Aircraft Industry (Group) Company Ltd. (XAC), has signed a contract to sell four Modern Ark 60's to a Peruvian airline express company.

The MA60 plane was in news earlier this month as it crashed in Indonesia's West Papua killing all 25 passengers and crew.

A preliminary investigation suggested that the cause of the crash was due to pilot error.

It was the first fatal accident for an MA60, Chinese state run Xinhua reported.

The MA60, which was introduced in the year 2000, is China's only domestically-developed regional passenger aircraft in service.

The MA60 is the most successful civil aviation aircraft developed by China so far. It has a maximum take-off weight of 21,800 kg and a seating capacity of up to 60 passengers, Xinhua reported.

Its success at home and in the international market has greatly enhanced the company's reputation, the news agency quoted a company official as saying.

According to the company, MA60 aircraft have been delivered to 14 countries in Asia, Africa and South America and are in use on more than 100 routes.