Xi'an Aircraft Industry Corporation rolled out its first MA600 turboprop on 29 June 2008. MA600 made its maiden flight on 10 October 2008. The aircraft is equipped with new avionics, improved passenger cabin and engines with increased thrust when compared to MA60.[4]
Xi'an Aircraft Industry Co., manufacturer of the MA600, noted that the successful test flight is "an important milestone" in Chinese domestic aircraft production. MD Meng Xiangkai revealed that the aircraft is expected to obtain its airworthiness certificate and enter service in the second half of 2009, with the first delivery to the Civil Aviation Flight University of China in Sichuan Province. Batch delivery will start in 2010.[5]
The aircraft will be equipped with the Becker-Communications "DVCS6100 Digital Intercom System,Cabin Intercommunication and Passenger Address". The cockpit is equipped with the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite.[6]
Various operators in Asia and Africa have ordered 310 (March 2018).[7]
The MA700 is the development of MA600, which is a stretched version of MA60 with up to 86 seats. the Maiden flight is scheduled for November 2019, and expected deliveries to buyers are scheduled to begin in 2021. The MA700 will adopt advanced technologies such as fly-by-wire control and modular avionics and will replace its predecessors including the MA60 and its variants.[9] MA700 is designed to have an increase of fuel efficiency of 20% and the reduction of operating cost of 10% in comparison to MA600, despite being larger than MA600.[10]
