IATA YN2ICAO Y12

Harbin Yunshuji Y12

Harbin

TravelerPulse profile

Chinese light turboprop built for short, rugged routes.

First flight

1982

Category

Regional turboprop

Seating

17–19 passengers

Range

1,340 km

Engines

Two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 or PT6A-135A turboprops

Status

In production

The Harbin Y-12 is a twin-turboprop light utility transport aircraft designed and manufactured by Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (HAMC) in China. It was developed in the early 1980s as a versatile aircraft capable of operating from short, unpaved strips in remote regions, and has since been exported to numerous countries across Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. The aircraft is derived from the earlier Harbin Y-11 and incorporates PT6A turboprop engines, significantly improving performance and reliability over its piston-powered predecessor. Several variants have been produced, including the Y-12 II, Y-12 IV, and Y-12F, each offering incremental improvements in payload, range, and avionics. The Y-12 is widely used by regional airlines, government operators, and military services in developing nations, valued for its low operating costs, STOL capability, and ability to carry passengers, cargo, or both in a mixed configuration.

Notable operators

Operators include Tara Air (Nepal), Air Vanuatu, Maldivian, and various African and Asian regional carriers and government agencies.

Notable facts

›The Y-12 is certificated by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and has received airworthiness approval in multiple countries.
›It is capable of operating from grass, gravel, or short unpaved runways, making it suitable for remote and undeveloped airstrips.
›Over 200 aircraft have been exported to more than 30 countries since the 1980s.
›The Y-12F variant features a redesigned fuselage with a pressurized cabin and winglets for improved performance.
›The aircraft can be configured for passenger, cargo, aerial survey, skydiving, or medevac operations.