Avic’s helicopter manufacturer Avicopter aims to achieve certification next November and complete first deliveries for its light commercial helicopter, the AC311, before the end of 2011.

The 2-metric-ton helicopter, which had its first flight on Nov. 8 near the Avicopter Tianjin assembly plant, has already secured orders from two Chinese police force customers, Avicopter President Wang Bin tells Aviation Week at Airshow China. The Guizhou city and Tianjin Binhai police forces have each ordered one AC311, he says. Wang also says Avicopter plans to market the aircraft overseas. The multipurpose helicopter can also be used for law enforcement, search and rescue, flight training, tourism, VIP transport and aerial photography.

The AC311 is powered by one Honeywell LTS101-700D-2 turboshaft engine. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 2.2 metric tons and can seat six people. Avicopter says composite materials are widely used in “the design of the rotor head, main blades and tail blades.” Wang says the main cabin is made of composite materials, but the “tail structure is made of aluminum to keep the price down.”