A Chinese aircraft manufacturer has delivered 108 Modern Ark (MA) aircraft to China and 17 other countries in the past 12 years, injecting new impetus to the development of regional aviation, Xinhua News Agency reported on Sept. 27.

The MA series aircraft are regional airliners produced by China’s Xi’an Aircraft Industrial Corporation under the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). The series has carried more than 10 million commercial passengers with a flight time of over 420,000 hours.

The aircraft were first exported in 2005 to a total of 18 countries along the Belt and Road in Africa, South America, Oceania, and Asia. The reliable operation of the MA series has earned the trust of local passengers, consolidating the friendship between China and these countries.

With the assistance of the aircraft, Zimbabwe and Tonga have eased transportation pressure and established their own civil aviation systems. The MA series also contributed to the rapid development of air transportation in Cambodia, Laos, and Nepal. In addition, the twin turboprop engine passenger aircraft MA60 even provided hope for the people in Nepal and Cameron after natural disasters.

Experts believe that the overseas operation of MA60 has not only achieved economic benefits, but also enhanced friendships. It is a beneficial exploration for the overseas expansion of China’s manufacturing, marking the maturity of the country’s civil aircraft development.

As the first domestically produced civil aircraft that has acquired the Standard Airworthiness Certificate, MA60 has boosted the manufacturing technologies and capabilities of China over years of development and operation.

According to Xi’an Aircraft Industrial Corporation, the development of the MA series has also promoted talent cultivation for both China and its export destinations, training more than 3,000 civil aviation professionals, including pilots, technicians, and flight attendants.