NEW BREED: The MA600, a new regional aircraft to join China's turboprop fleet, rolls off the assembly line in the Xi'an Aircraft Industry (Group) Co. Ltd. on June 29

China's first homemade next-generation turboprop regional aircraft Modern Ark 600 (MA600) rolled off the production line on June 29 in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province, marking a milestone in the country's drive to be one of leading suppliers of passenger airliners with turboprop engines in the world.

The 60-seat MA600, an improved version of the MA60, was 300 kg lighter, making it 40 percent more fuel efficient than turbofan-powered planes, said Meng Xiangkai, President of the Xi'an Aircraft Industry (Group) Co. Ltd. that developed the new aircraft.

The MA60, powered by Pratt and Whitney PW-127J turboprop engines, is China's first regional aircraft designed and produced in line with international standards. With a maximum speed of 514 km per hour and a flight range of 2,450 km or four hours, the model was first tested in 1993 and approved in June 2000 for commuter services. Producers have received 122 orders, of which 15 have been delivered to Africa.

The MA600 is able to take off or land on a runway between 1,200 meters and 2,000 meters long and has an extended flight range of two hours, which lengthens its voyage capacity to 3,000 km in one hop.

Improvements were also made in the power system and cabin design. It performed well on soil, sandstone or even snow-covered fields, according to aviation experts.

The MA600's maiden flight was expected in September, said Chen Fusheng, a senior official from the China Aviation Industry Corp. I, the parent of the Xi'an Aircraft Industry (Group) Co. Ltd.

Experts say that turbo-propelled regional aircraft are the most economical and energy-efficient on short- and medium-range flights. Nearly half of the regional aircraft flying in Europe and North America are turbo-propelled. The demand for the relatively environment-friendly aircraft is expected to rise with fuel prices worldwide. For example, the China Aerospace Industry Research Center forecast that 5,300-5,500 regional aircraft would be needed in the next 20 years, of which 1,900 would be turboprops.