The MA700 turboprop airliner is now due to fly in 2018, a year later than previously planned, says manufacturer AVIC, forecasting deliveries no earlier than 2020.

The state company is prepared to market the 78-seat aircraft on the basis of only a Chinese airworthiness certificate if, because of regulatory obstacles, it is unable to get FAA validation of the certification.

The MA700 is still in the detail design phase, says an AVIC representative.

The aircraft will be powered by the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150C engine, a new powerplant that AVIC expects to give it an advantage in the market. Low production costs are intended to be another advantage.

The big prospective disadvantage is lack of Western validation of the airworthiness certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), by either the FAA or the European Aviation Safety Agency. Many countries, especially those with advanced economies, insist on certification or validation by the FAA, EASA or other highly regarded agencies.

AVIC can sell the aircraft despite that because the CAAC airworthiness requirements are even higher than those of the FAA, says the representative.

The FAA is working with the CAAC toward recognizing the Chinese agency's competence, but the regulatory program has been delayed.

AVIC¡¯s current production turboprop is the Y-7, based on the Antonov An-24 and now marketed in two versions called MA60 and MA600. The most valuable experience AVIC has gained from those programs has been learning to work with customer airlines, says the representative.