China's Changhe Aircraft Industries plans to certificate a new civil version of the Z-8 heavy helicopter next year.
The Z-8F flew for the first time in August, ending several months of delays in the test programme.
The Z-8F, derived from the Changzhou WZ6-powered Z-8 military helicopter, was originally scheduled to fly in late March, but there were problems integrating new Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6B-67A engines.
The Z-8 is China's fourth indigenous civil helicopter.
Source: Flight International