China's 'Modern Ark' Comes Ashore at Singapore

The colorful shape of Xian's MA 60 regional turboprop airliner, the largest aircraft in the show's regular static display, is a very noteworthy visitor to Asian Aerospace.

The 56-seat MA 60 (MA, for Modern Ark) made its debut at last year's Air Show China, in Zhuhai, but its visit to Singapore marks the first time that the MA 60 has been shown outside China-and is a statement of the Chinese aviation industry's growing confidence in the civil air transport market.

The MA 60 is 30% cheaper than its Western competition, says Xian Aircraft VP Nie Zhongliang, who notes that it will become an even more competitive option now that China has joined the World Trade Organization.

When the MA 60 was launched publicly in November, Xian said his organization would supply the aircraft to Chinese customers through an innovative leasing arrangement, never before seen in China. According to Xian the MA 60 has now entered service with launch customer Sichuan Airlines (the registration on the aircraft at Singapore suggests that it is the fourth MA 60). Interestingly, a camouflaged model of an MA 60-standard aircraft on the CATIC stand is displayed in full People's Liberation Army Air Force markings.

The MA 60 is the latest development of China's long-running Y7 family of turboprop airliners and utility transport. It differs significantly from its predecessors through the addition of Pratt & Whitney PW127J turboprops with Hamilton Standard props, a Rockwell Collins cockpit avionics fit, and a more modern passenger cabin.

The MA 60 is the second Chinese transport to receive U.S. FAA certification. The first was the Y12, a Twin Otter look-alike.

By Robert Hewson