China Targets African Markets for its LE500 Turboprop Aircraft After South African Type Certification

China is targeting African markets with AVIC developed LE500 turboprop trainer aircraft after obtaining the type authorization certificate (TAC) from South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA).

Since April 2015, the application has been supported by CAAC (Civil Aviation Administration of China), AVIC International Aero-Development Company and the South Africa AVIC International Flight Training Academy., the company said in a statement last month.

 For the LE500 trainer, obtaining the TAC laid the foundations for delivery to the flight academy for testing, as well as operations in the African market and export to those countries along the belt and road regions. 

 It can be used for passenger and cargo transport, agriculture and forest operations, parachuting, air-drops, SAR, geophysical surveys, pilot training and more.