Three Cirrus SR20 planes assembled by Zhuhai-based China Aviation Industry General Aircraft (CAIGA) left Zhuhai (Jinwan) Airport on June 18 for use in pilot training by Beidahuang General Aviation in Harbin.

The SR20-2529H, SR20-2530H, and SR20-2531H are on a 10-day journey with 45 hours in flight across Guangdong, Hunan, Hubei, Henan, Liaoning, and Jilin to Heilongjiang Province 3,940 km (2,448 miles) away. Stopovers are in Zhuzhou Lusong, Zhoukou Xihua, Tianjin Binhai Dongfang, and Shenyang Fakou Caihu general aviation airports. The order by Zhaodong Beidahuang General Aviation Airport marks the first cooperation between Aviclub and Cirrus PC Division.

Considered one of the safest training airplanes, the SR20 single-engine aircraft has a modernized Lycoming IO-390, 215HP power plant and durable all-composite structure with the signature Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS). 

Cirrus SR20 plane [Photo courtesy nanfangplus]

Beidahuang Group is the largest state-owned farm base in China. Its subsidiary Beidahuang General Aviation was established in 1985 and became the world largest agricultural and forestry aviation company.

Under international cooperation, Cirrus Pulse assembly was more affected by the COVID-19 epidemic than the lines for other models. This is because the production site in Zhuhai Aviation Industrial Park in Jinwan District lacked components due to prolonged custom clearance time and hazardous chemical substance with a short shelf life that cannot be transported by air.

Spare parts and other materials have been cleared in succession since April, permitting June trial flights of the four airplanes. Another craft will soon depart for delivery.

Moreover, two of the airplanes on the Cirrus production line are being debugged for test flights, three are being assembled, and five are under assembly review, while components of 12 additional airplanes will arrive in Zhuhai this month. 

CAIGA acquired Cirrus Aircraft (originally Cirrus Design Corp), the world's second-largest general-purpose airplane producer, as a wholly owned subsidiary in 2011. In 2012, it opened production lines of Cirrus Aircraft at the Zhuhai base, which obtained a production certificate in November 2018.