Burundi certifies MA-60 to enter commercial service

Over four years after its first aircraft of the type arrived in Bujumbura, Air Burundi may deploy the MA-60 into commercial service after the Burundian civil aviation authority granted the aircraft its Validation of Type Certificate (VTC), reports ch-aviation.
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A Burundi government press statement indicates the conveyance of the certificate occurred in early December as confirmed by the country's Minister of Transport, Jean Bosco Ntunzwenimana.

With the VTC in place, the aircraft is now eligible to apply for a Certificate of Airworthiness which, if granted, will enable the aircraft to begin commercial flight operations.

During an EAC-China ATM High Level Forum in Arusha, Tanzania held late last year, the Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC), Liberat Mfumukeko, said the move would now allow the MA-60 to enter service not only in Burundi, but across the rest of the EAC bloc which includes Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda.

"The type acceptance and certification of the MA-60 aircraft opens the doors for EAC and China to expand their cooperation in the aviation sector through various avenues including technology transfer, purchase/lease and operations of Chinese aircraft and parts among others," he said.

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