China Certifies AC352 Super-Medium Twin Helo

Avicopter’s AC352 super-medium, twin-engine helicopter—the Chinese-manufactured variant of Airbus Helicopters H175—has been awarded airworthiness certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

Jointly developed by Airbus Helicopters and the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (Avic), with Avic's Avicopter responsible for manufacturing the fuselage and certain subassemblies, the H175 is powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67Es and was certified in 2014.

The 7.5-ton AC352 can carry up to 16 passengers and has a maximum range of 458 nm. It is powered by the Chinese-built WZ16 engine, a local variant of the Safran Ardiden 3C. Safran said the new-generation 1,500- to 2,000-shp turboshaft features a compact modular architecture, a best-in-class power-to-weight ratio, low cost of ownership, and 10 percent lower fuel consumption than competitive engines. The new engine was a joint development and production project by Safran Helicopter Engines and the Aero Engine Corporation of China.

The first flight of the AC352 took place in 2016 in Harbin, China. Under Avic's agreement with Airbus, the AC352 can be sold only in China and a small number of countries close to China where Airbus would be unlikely to sell any H175s.

Under this background, the 6th Annual Civil Helicopter Industry International Forum will take place in Xi’ an city, Shaanxi Province on August 19^th and 20^th. This event is host by Helicopter Branch of Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics , and co-organized by China Flight Test Establishment and Galleon (Shanghai) Consulting Co., Ltd.

The whole helicopter industry chain will get together in the forum, OEMs, general aviation (GA) operators, research units, governments and associations, main-system/sub-system suppliers, parts & components suppliers, manufacturers at home and abroad, solution providers. Keep abreast of the industry frontier development trends and industrial layout, and jointly explore the future development opportunities and challenges of civil helicopter industry, committing to innovation and promoting the integrated development of all segments of the industrial chains.

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