The AS700 “Xiangyun,” a manned airship independently developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, Ltd., has obtained its production certificate (PC). This is the country’s first PC rendered to a domestic manned airship, heralding the mass production and delivery in this regard.
Having received its type certificate (TC) in December 2023, the air vehicle now has the green light for its commercial operation. From TC to PC, the airship has been approved for both design and production. Since 2024, the AS700 prototypes have completed 187 test flights totaling 602 hours across multiple landscapes. The developer has established a comprehensive supervision system overseeing the entire production process, from raw material procurement to component manufacturing, assembly, and final inspection, enabling efficient mass production.
The airship is expected to improve the business environment for the civil aviation industry and play innovative and significant roles in various sectors, such as low-altitude tourism, urban security and cultural consumption.
(Executive editor: Yuan Ting)
