HARBIN — China’s home-developed Y-12 versatile plane has started to carry the domestic short haul civil transport in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, according its developer.

The Nenjiang Mo’ergen airport started operation on July 27, opening flights between the Nenjiang city and the provincial capital Harbin, as well as the cities of Mohe and Heihe on the China-Russia border.

The airport thus became the first general airport in Northeast China which focus on short haul transport. It is also the country’s first general airport with short-haul flights linking the hub airport with remote regions.

It represents that the Y-12 airplane has officially entered into the service of the country’s civil aviation transport.

The Y-12 series, manufactured by AVIC Harbin Aircraft Industry Company Ltd, is a regional turboprop aircraft designed for passenger, cargo and emergency rescue flights in plateau or mountainous regions.

The twin-engine propeller-driven Y-12 series aircraft is designed according to airworthiness standards of China and the United States.