The past 30 years have seen significant process in the growth of the Y-12 utility aircraft, as well as maturing cooperation between China and the US from "government to enterprise."

On November 11 a US aircraft company signed a contract with Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (HAMC) for 20 Y-12 utility aircraft at the 2014 Airshow In Zhuhai. This is the first time that the US has imported utility aircraft from China, which is a very significant moment for Chinese aircraft manufacturing.

The Y-12 is a high wing twin-engine turboprop utility aircraft that has evolved over 30 years. In aspects like capacity, performance, efficiency, and safety, the Y-12 has developed and improved. Compared with equivalent aircraft from Germany and Spain, it has predominant advantages. It could be said that the progress of the Y-12 is characterizes the technical development of "Made in China" products since Reform and Opening-up.

China spent the first 20 years improving the Y-12 to win over recognition from the US. During that period, international cooperation was the base for its final success. In March 1995, the Y-12IV model of the Y-12 series first obtained certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Of the Y-12 series, the US market favors the Y-12F, which has an engine produced by Canadian P&WC, a propeller from the US company Hartzell, and a cockpit designed by US Honeywell. Chinese companies were responsible for the design of Y-12F's undercarriage, and overall integration of the whole aircraft.

It took another 10 years from the launch of US-China Aviation Cooperation Program (ACP) to the export of the Y-12F to the US. The ACP was co-built by the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), aiming to create a win-win environment for the aviation industry in both China and the US.

With the positive influence of international cooperation, "Made in China" aeronautic products are becoming stronger and more reliable in the international market. Keeping up with the positive trend, other "Made in China" products besides aircraft will soon find their way into the US market as well.

This article is edited and translated from 《“中国制造”为何能“飞”进美国？》 ，source: Beijing News, author: Shi Zehua