China's large civil chopper completes trial flight in frigid weather

China's independently-developed large civil helicopter AC313A completed its maiden trial flight in frigid weather in China's northernmost city Mohe, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, according to its manufacturer Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

After the trial flight, another AC313A helicopter will join in the trial flights, which would help make further improvements and airworthiness certification. It is scheduled to complete all the trial flights within the year and acquire the airworthiness certification, paving the way for civil operation.

The helicopter is a 13-tonne-class large multi-purpose civil helicopter with a single main rotor and tail rotor. It can carry up to 28 people on board and load up to five tonnes of water for firefighting missions. It took to the skies for its maiden flight on May 17, 2022.

The AC313A can install various facilities for emergency rescue missions. This allows it to carry out missions across the country such as supply delivery, forest and urban firefighting, lifting large equipment, disaster prevention and relief, medical rescue, law enforcement, maritime rescue and search, and transport for offshore oil platforms.

It can operate in complicated terrains and weather conditions, such as a high plateau or in extreme temperatures.