A type certificate issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China is the mandatory regulatory approval for aircraft and components in China. It formally certifies that the product meets all applicable airworthiness, safety, noise and emissions standards, and is the legal prerequisite for the product to be made, sold, installed on civil aircraft, and operated in Chinese airspace.

According to Yuan, the AEP100 is mainly tailored for the W5000 cargo drone built by Chinese aviation startup Air White Whale, which is poised to kick off test flights soon.

"We have received positive feedback from Air White Whale about the AEP100 as our model features state-of-the-art performance, with several technical indicators exceeding those of foreign rivals. The AEP100 has also delivered good stability — it has been mounted on W5000 prototypes for ground tests over the past year and has maintained steady performance throughout the period. Moreover, the engine offers robust power, enabling the W5000 to outperform its original designed capabilities," the executive said, adding that the W5000 will complete its maiden flight in the near future, marking a landmark milestone for the AEP100 engine.