AC313A helicopter begins cold-weather flight tests

Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has announced that the AC313A has begun tests – including airspeed, rotor speed, environmental control system, hovering performance, level flight and climb performance,  and engine starting – for its first cold-weather flight test mission in Mohe, China’s northernmost city.

AVIC stated that this new phase involves carrying out flight tests under frigid environments to move towards improvement and airworthiness certification targets for the AC313A.

The AVIC-developed AC313A is a 13-tonne-class large multipurpose civil helicopter with a single main rotor and tail rotor. The AC313A is being specifically developed for emergency missions, and can carry up to 28 people onboard and load up to 5 tonnes of water for firefighting missions. Part of this design is to operate in complicated terrains and weather conditions, such as a high plateau and high and low temperatures; which makes these current cold-weather tests vital for its all-environment role.

The AC series of rotorcraft are being developed to address the country’s growing need for a national emergency air rescue response system.