GB/T 38717-2026Terminology of amphibious aircraft (English PDF)

Foreword

This document complies with the provisions of GB/T 1.1-2020 "Standardization Work Guidelines Part

1.Structure and Drafting Rules of Standardization Documents". Drafting. This document replaces GB/T 38717-2020 "Terminology for Amphibious Aircraft". Compared with GB/T 38717-2020, the main differences are structural adjustments and... Aside from editorial changes, the main technical changes are as follows:

a) Added terms and definitions for "bow point," "stern point," "bilge," "anti-sway plate," "wading structure," and "displacement" (see 4.5, 4.6, 4.23). 4.45, 4.54, 4.55);

b) The terms and definitions for "load-bearing pontoon" and "supporting pontoon" have been removed (see

3.5 in the 2020 edition);

c) Added terms and definitions for "roll angle", "overturning moment", "hydrodynamic layout", "drag peak" and "splash coefficient" (see 5.7, 5.19). (5.24, 5.30, 5.35)

d) The term and definition of "wave resistance" have been removed (see

5.7 in the 2020 edition);

e) Added "water flight test", "water landing", "maximum water landing speed", "minimum water takeoff speed", "water takeoff decision speed", and "water takeoff critical moment". "Engine failure speed", "Minimum control speed on water", "Maximum takeoff weight on water", "Maximum landing weight on water", "Emergency landing on water", "Landing speed on water" The terms and definitions of "water response," "water resistance," "watertightness," "waterproofing," "drainage," "drainage channel," and "waterproofing" (see 6.2, 6.5, 6.8) are as follows: (6.10, 6.17, 6.18, 6.19, 6.20, 6.21, 6.22, 6.23, 6.24, 6.25, 6.26, 6.27, 6.28)

f) Added terms and definitions for "easily corroded parts", "easily corroded critical components", and "heavily corroded coatings" (see 7.19, 7.20, and 7.21);

g) Added terms and definitions for "high sea state," "simulated sea state," "water-air mixing," and "crosswind" (see 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, and 8.9);

h) Added the terms and definitions for "length of the waterborne reference flight site" and "mooring device" (see 9.2, 9.7);

i) Added terms such as "overflow outlet", "water injection", "continuous drop", "water rescue", "umbrella drop", "airdrop rescue", "airdrop altitude", and "airdrop speed". Definitions (see 10.4, 10.10, 10.17, 10.21, 10.22, 10.23, 10.24, 10.25);

j) Some terminology has been changed (see 4.10, 4.16, and

1 Scope

GB/T 38717-2026 is the Chinese national standard covering the vocabulary of the amphibious aircraft - the hull and step, the sponsons and floats, the water handling and porpoising, the take-off and alighting on water, and the corrosion and sealing terms peculiar to an aircraft that floats. China builds the AG600, the largest amphibian flying, which is why this vocabulary exists at national level. It replaces GB/T 38717-2020. It was issued on 28 January 2026 and has been in force since 1 August 2026, replacing GB/T 38717-2020. The document is under the responsibility of the Standardization Administration of China. This page is published from the official record of the 2026 edition; the clause text of a standard this recent is not yet in circulation, and the figures, limits and tables it contains are those of the document itself, delivered in full with the English translation.

This document defines the classification, configuration, hydrodynamic performance, flight testing and operational characteristics, corrosion protection, and waterborne flight environment of amphibious aircraft. Terminology related to airports and mission systems. This document applies to the research, development, production, and operation of amphibious aircraft.

2 Normative references

This document has no normative references.

3 Classification Terminology

3.1 amphibious aircraft An aircraft that can take off and land on both water and land.

3.2 An amphibious aircraft with a hull-like taxiway on the lower fuselage.

Note. See Figure 1. Figure