Expert: China should be equipped with 100 helicopters every year

China should be equipped with 100 helicopters every year in air emergency rescue system during the Twelfth Five-Year Plan (2011-2015), suggested Feng Peide, member of Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Feng, also a CPPCC member, said helicopters have obvious advantages in rescue, transportation and detection, which played a pivotal role during the rescue work of May 12 Sichuan earthquake.

The helicopter can get to all sites, where rescue teams can not get to very quickly, and they can assist in transportation and giving directions from the air. Meanwhile it is the best tool for rescue at sea.

Figures show the U.S. has 15,000 civil helicopters. But by the end of 2008, China only had 300 helicopters used in rescue, which means there are only some 3 helicopters per 100,000 square meters, amounting to 1/25 of the average level in major western countries.

China has a vast land area, with a long coastline and much mountain areas, and China is one of the countries in the world suffering most natural disasters and serious losses in the world. Air rescue is the most popular and effective way in the world.

Feng said if China produces 3,000 helicopters in the coming 20 years, the output value of the related industries will exceed 15 billion yuan, which will become a new economic growth point.

By People's Daily Online