Safran Helicopter Engines has obtained a Validation of Type Certification (VTC) from the CAAC (Civil Aviation Administration of China) for its Arriel 2H engine powering the Avicopter AC312E. A VTC is based on the EASA type certificate (obtained in 2018) and confirms that an imported engine conforms with Chinese airworthiness standards.

This Arriel variant was selected in 2015 to power this helicopter developed by AVIC Harbin Aircraft Industry Group, a subsidiary of Avic (Aviation Industry Corporation of China), and certified by EASA in April 2018. The twin-engine AC312E — indirectly derived from the Airbus Helicopters Dauphin — made its maiden flight in July 2016.

Developed from the Arriel 2+, the 2H is one of the most powerful Arriel variants with a take-off power rating of 986shp.