The Avic Y-12F twin-turboprop utility aircraft recently received type certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It previously obtained approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

Developed by China’s Avic Harbin Aircraft Industry Group, the Y-12F features the Honeywell Primus Apex integrated avionics system. Compared with previous Y-12s, it has a new wing, wider fuselage and updated Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turboprop.

The aircraft also has more range than its predecessors. Possible missions include passenger transport, airdropping supplies, maritime surveillance, aerial telemetry and photography, remote sensing and geological prospecting.

Honeywell claims its Primus Apex avionics suite is the first U.S. Part 23 avionics system to offer flight management functions that meet the latest FAA technical standard order requirements. Other aircraft with the Primus Apex are the Pilatus PC-12NG, Pilatus PC-24, SyberJet SJ30 and Viking Twin Otter 400.