China's AG600 amphibious aircraft receives TIA certificate for test flight

(ECNS) -- AG600, codenamed "Kunlong",China's homegrown large amphibious aircraft received its first Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) and officially entered the phase of test flights on Tuesday, according to the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

Received during a meeting held by the Airworthiness Certification Center of the Aviation Administration of China in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, the certificate indicates that the configuration of the aircraft, the expected airworthiness and its expected safety performance have met the TIA requirements, laying a solid foundation to complete the airworthiness certification.

AG600 is designed to meet the needs of maritime rescue, fighting forest fires, marine monitoring and other emergency rescue missions. The development of the aircraft is to strengthen China's emergency-rescue capabilities and to enhance the capability of China's emergency-rescue aeronautical equipment system.