The AG600M aircraft, a full-configuration firefighting model belonging to the AG600 aircraft family, successfully conducted pivotal tests Tuesday morning, including scooping and dropping water, said the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the country’s leading plane-maker.

At 10:05 a.m., the AG600M aircraft carrying 12 tonnes of water took off from the ground runway at Zhanghe Airport in Jingmen, central China’s Hubei Province.

It consecutively conducted the flight tests of aerial water dropping, landing on a nearby reservoir and taxiing scooping, taking off again and dropping water over the preset area, and then successfully landing at the reservoir at 10:16 a.m., said the AVIC.

The successful completion of flight tests and obtaining purchase agreements marked that the AG600 amphibious aircraft’s key mission capabilities have been verified, and could open the market, said He Shengqiang, AVIC deputy general manager.

Both major moves highlighted that China’s independently-developed aeronautical equipment could support the country’s emergency rescue capabilities, said He.

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