The Chinese government has been strongly supportive of the manufacturing and export of the MA60, aiming to help the country's aviation industry tackle the international market.

The Modem Ark 60 (MA60), a short to medium range civil aircraft, was handed over to Air Zimbabwe at a ceremony held in China's central city of Xi'an on Friday. It will be the third Chinese-made aircraft with its own independent intellectual property rights delivered to the African country.

The MA60 is the first Chinese-made civil aircraft to enter the international market. The 60-seated turboprop-powered airliner is made by China's Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation under the China Aviation Industry Corporation (or AVIC I). In 2004, AVIC I signed a contract with Air Zimbabwe to sell three MA60s, two of which were delivered to the African country in April.

Sources from Air Zimbabwe indicate that, up until now, the two aircraft have flown 1829 flight hours in total, with an overall reliability at 98 percent. The MA60's performance is comparable to the Boeing 767-200ER and 737-200. With the advantage of low fuel consumption, comfortable interior design and first-rate system maintenance, it has established an excellent reputation among its customers.

According to China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (or CATIC), responsible for the aircraft's marketing, the MA60 has so far seen good market prospects. This year, the company has signed purchase contracts of 14 aircraft with Fiji, Nepal, Zambia, and others.

Wu Shengyue, vice president of CATIC, revealed that the company is ambitious about the export of the MA60, and its target is to sell 100 MA60s abroad before 2008.

Wu says that the development of the civil aircraft industry will benefit many related industries, and the growth of its exports will further motivate China's economy.

China's aviation industry has dreamed of exporting for years but encountered many technical barriers placed in its way by American and European competitors.

The Chinese government has been strongly supportive of the manufacturing and export of the MA60, aiming to help the country's aviation industry tackle the international market.

Source: CRI news