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Helicopter Co-op Successful
The Harbin Aircraft Industry Group Corp Friday produced its 200th fuselage, for the five-seater EC120 helicopter -- a joint programme between China, France and Singapore.
"The moment shows that China's international co-operation in the helicopter sector has entered a new era,'' said Zhang Yanzhong, general manager of the China Aviation Industry Corp II, mother of the Harbin company.
The EC120 programme started in 1993 and was the first time that China had shared investment and risks with a foreign partner in helicopter production, Zhang said.
China holds a 24 per cent share in the company while France-based Eurocopter owns 61 per cent and Singapore-based Technologies Aerospace holds the remaining 15 per cent.
"China is mainly responsible for the design and production of the fuselage, fuel system and operating system,'' Zhang said.
The Harbin aircraft company is now capable of manufacturing 10 fuselage each month, thereby meeting the current market demand, he said.
The single engine helicopter is designed to meet both military and civilian requirements, including search-and-rescue and evacuation operations, intelligence uses and other applications.
With a maximum flying range of 750 kilometres, the helicopter is economically efficient to operate, competitively priced and easy to maintain, according to Bi Jianfa of the China National Aero-Technical Import and Export Corp, a foreign trade company in which Zhang's corporation holds a 50 per cent.
"The EC120 helicopter made its maiden flight in 1995 and began production on a small scale in 1997 after it was certified by the Joint Airworthiness Authority,'' Bi said.
It began winning more orders after it received airworthiness certificates in 31 other countries including the United States, France, Germany and Italy.
"We had received 256 orders for EC120 helicopters by the end of June this year, of which 110 were delivered,'' Bi said.
Zhang Yanzhong said the helicopter is to receive an airworthiness certificate from the Chinese Aviation authorities in October this year.
Making the helicopter's market prospects even rosier, Zhang said.
"Demand for EC120 helicopters is expected to reach 1,600 in the next 10 years,'' he said.
The EC120 programme is one of China's most successful joint-ventures in the helicopter sector, Zhang said.
The international co-operation involved in the programme has accelerated the development of China's helicopter industry.
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