Datong Light Aircraft Manufacturing Co – based in Datong city in Shanxi province – had a watershed  moment when it was recently granted a production certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, according to company officials. 

They said this is the first production certificate obtained by the Shanxi province's aircraft manufacturing company – and it also marks a milestone in the manufacturing of aircraft in Shanxi. 

The C42E light aircraft that received the certificate is a branded product which introduces technologies from Germany and is manufactured in Datong 

It weighs 280 kilograms and can fly for five hours or 800 kilometers when topped up with fuel. 

Founded in 2016 in Datong General Aviation Industrial Park, Datong Light Aircraft Manufacturing Co is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guangzhou Sino-German Light Aircraft Co. 

Its business range spans aircraft manufacturing and sales, construction of aircraft maintenance bases, building general aviation industrial parks and their operation, pilot training, aviation sports event operations and air tourism. 

As a result of obtaining the production certificate, Datong can now mass-produce the aircraft, marking a turning point in the general aviation business of Datong Light Aircraft Manufacturing Co. 

Officials said that it is also a milestone in the history of Shanxi province and Datong city's general aviation industry.