Aircraft manufacturer Aviation Industry Corporation of China (Avic) announced that the made-in-China AC-313/A heavy civil helicopter successfully made its maiden flight today. Now development work will continue as it enters the flight test phase. The aircraft is expected to receive certification by 2025, and then enter the market. 

The AC-313A is a model specially developed to meet China's needs for aerial search and rescue (SAR) missions. According to the manufacturer Avic, this helicopter could be used to strengthen national capabilities in emergency response. The company pointed out that the rotary-wing craft, weighing 13 tons, performed its first flight at Jingdezhen Airport in China's eastern Jiangxi province. Yet another step toward autonomy in aviation.