Summary

  • Xian MA60 is a Chinese turboprop airliner derived from the Antonov An-24, designed for STOL capabilities in remote areas.
  • Most MA60 users are military or government operators, with a few airlines also flying this unique twin-turboprop aircraft commercially.
  • Notable similarities between the MA60 and western-made twin-turboprops include Pratt & Whitney engines and Honeywell APU.

The Xian MA60 is a Chinese-built turboprop airliner developed from the company's earlier Y7-200A model. The Y7 itself was based on the Antonov An-24, with the aim of delivering short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities in remote locations. Most users of the MA60 today are military or government operators, but a handful of airlines also fly the rare twin-turboprop type commercially.

A brief guide to the Xian MA60

According to fleet data made available by ch-aviation, 119 units of the Xian MA60 are listed as having been produced over the years, with one unbuilt example also shown on the site's database. Of these, just over half are in use today, with 63 aircraft listed as being active. The majority of the inactive aircraft are listed as being in storage, although certain units have been destroyed or written off in crashes.

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According to the Aviation Safety Network, the Xian MA60's only fatal accident took place in May 2011, when Merpati Nusantara Airlines flight 8968 crashed into the sea while executing a go-around. Deemed to have been caused by pilot error, this accident resulted in the deaths of all 25 people onboard. In May 2015, a Joy Air Xian MA60 was also written off after a fatality-free runway excursion.

Despite its Chinese production, the Xian MA60 has certain notable similarities to western-built twin-turboprop airliners. For example, the Jakarta Post noted in 2011 that it is powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127J engines from the same PW100 family used on ATR, Dash 8, Dornier, and Fokker models. Meanwhile, its auxiliary power unit (APU) comes from US-based Honeywell Aerospace.

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A REALTonga Xian MA60 on an airport apron.
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In terms of the type's performance and specifications, Flugzeug Info lists the Xian MA60 as having dimensions of 29.20 meters (95 ft 10 in) wide, 24.71 meters (81 ft 1 in) long, and 8.85 meters (29 ft) tall. Typically seating 52-56 passengers (with a maximum of 60), the type has a range of 1,430 km (772 NM), a maximum cruise speed of 519 km/h (280 knots), and a service ceiling altitude of 25,000 feet.

Joy Air

Regarding the Xian MA60's present users, the largest commercial operator of the type today is the Chinese carrier Joy Air, which has 24 examples at its disposal. 23 of these twin-turboprop airliners are active, with the last one presently in storage. Historically speaking, it has also operated a 25th Xian MA60. Registered as B-3706, this example of the type left Joy Air for Express Airlines in March 2021.

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A Joy Air Xian MA60 on an airport apron.
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The MA60 has been in production since 2000, having entered service in August of that year with Sichuan Airlines. Despite this, the examples that Joy Air flies are relatively young, with an average age of just 11.8 years. Overall, their ages range from 6.7 to 15.7 years old. These turboprops have a curious configuration that features 47 economy class and just two business class seats. The oldest units are:

  • B-3421 and B-3710: 15.7 years old.
  • B-3451: 15.3 years old.
  • B3452 and B-3453: 14.9 years old.

Lao Skyway

The next-largest commercial operator of the Xian MA60 in the present day is Lao Skyway, with three standard examples. Based at Wattay Airport (VTE) in Vientiane, Laos, the airline previously operated under the identity of Lao Air. It began doing so in 2002, before a rebrand saw it take on its current identity of Lao Skyway 11 years later, in 2013. Today, it flies both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.

Lao Skyway's three MA60s are all presently active and have an average age of 12.1 years old. Unlike Joy Air, the carrier has fitted these Chinese turboprops with an all-economy seating configuration. As such, they have a slightly higher capacity and are able to accommodate 56 passengers in a 2-2 layout. One of the three is 16.3 years old, while the other pair have just reached the 10-year mark.

The best of the rest

Away from these two airlines, the MA60 generally sees service as a military and government transport aircraft across Asia and Africa. However, other commercial operators of the type do still exist, such as Cameroonian flag carrier Camair-Co. This airline presently has two active examples of the Xian MA60 at its disposal, with an average age of nine years old. Each has 48 economy seats onboard.

Aside from being used in the commercial sector, the Xian MA60 also serves an interesting range of operators in its home country of China. These include the China Civil Aviation Flying College, the China Flight General Aviation Company (for government use), the China Meteorological Administration, and the People's Liberation Army Air Force. Further afield, other military operators of the type include the likes of:

  • Força Aérea Nacional Angolana.
  • Force Aérienne du Djibouti.
  • Lao People's Liberation Army Air Force.
  • Royal Cambodian Air Force.
  • Section Liaison Air Yaoundé (Cameroon government).
  • Zambian Air Force.

Did you know about the Xian MA60? Perhaps you've even flown on it yourself with one of the airlines mentioned? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!