AVIC announced the official launch of its new regional turboprop program in Beijing on 19th of December. As a new generation turboprop, MA700 pursues both speed and economics for regional air transportation, with expected EIS in 2019. The MA700 family will add to the commercial line of China made aircraft after ARJ21 and C919.

The new turboprop is positioned for medium size commuting market with 800km range. MA700 has good adaptability to high and hot operation environment, and short and frequent takeoff and landings. It will achieve lower cost in terms of fuel consumption, operation and maintenance as compared to aircraft of same category. It adopts highly efficient dynamic design, intelligent management system, advanced cockpit integration technology, environmental and efficient propulsion system and fly-by-wire, which is used on a turboprop aircraft for the first time. MA700 will achieve cruise speed above 600km/h, and is capable of fast climb up to cruise altitude within 13 minutes. Fast cruise, fast departure and quick turnarounds are the major characteristics of the MA700. Optimized design of the passenger door, the glass cockpit, wider and cozier seats makes the MA700 a more comfortable, greener, faster and safer aircraft.

The latest development of the big MA family, currently comprised of MA60 and MA600, MA700 distinguishes itself from its competition in the following aspects:

It is more economical with less fuel consumption and reduced maintenance cost.

It has better adaptability to high and hot operations and unpaved runway, which means it could operate in 95% of China domestic airports.

It is faster with maximum cruise speed above 610km/h, the speed of a jet with the economics of a turboprop.

It is greener with CO2 and NOx emission and noise performance above international standards.

It is more comfortable with a larger and quieter cabin and bigger compartments for hand luggage.

The MA700 will have three configurations in the future, the baseline, extended and contracted. They will have same cabin cross-section, similar cockpit and maintenance interfaces to keep maximized commonality in structure, systems and ground handling. Based on the MA700 platform, multipurpose aircraft will be developed to meet the demand in medical care, search and rescue, meteorology, maritime surveillance, scientific experiment and other business areas.