Page 21 - AAA MARCH - APRIL 2013 ( CHINESE EDITION ) Online Magazine
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FEATURE CHINA HELICOPTERS







           AgustaWestland  is  not  resting  idle   helicopter will likely be used to fly cargo   The joint venture has recently
        either. The company currently has over   and passengers, as well as for firefighting.   broadened its helicopter support and
        40 helicopters of various types being   The AC313 is also expected to be helpful   services, offering Eurocopter-approved
        used for law enforcement, disaster   in search and rescue missions, and in the   rotor  blade repairs  on a  wide range  of
        relief, firefighting, harbour pilot shuttles,   oil industry. AVIC says it is planning to   helicopter types, from the light single-
        as well as VIP, utility and passenger   pursue certification of the AC313 in the   engine EC120 to heavy twin-engine
        transport. Some Chinese operators using   United States and Europe.     helicopters such as the Super Puma
        AgustaWestland helicopters at present                                   AS332and EC225.
        include Guangxi Province and the Public   Stumbling blocks                 “[CGAMEC’s] capabilities will soon
        Security Bureau of Nanning, Ordos,   Despite undoubted progress, Eurocopter   increase to also include gear box repairs
        Zhejiang and Shenzhen, as well as the   China’s Boulnois says many stumbling   on the Ecureuil light aircraft range
        Maritime Safety Administration, which   blocks still remain.            as well,” he says, “again reinforcing
        uses  the  craft  in  its  expanding  water   “The civilian market growth rate   Eurocopter’s belief in local deployment
        pollution monitoring activities.    will rely on economic agents as well as   of  capabilities  to  provide  cost-efficient
                                            on the capability to train enough pilots   services to meet customers’ needs, as the
        Domestic push                       and technicians. China  needs  to invest   rotorcraft sector continues to develop and
        Local manufacturers too are pursuing   in and develop in-country warranty and   mature in China.”
        aggressive  expansion  plans  through  a   technical support, maintenance, spare   According to Boulnois, a logistics hub
        combination  of  foreign  buyouts,  joint   parts,  logistical support  and facilities  in   opened in Beijing in 2009 in cooperation
        venture agreements and other initiatives.   order to meet the needs of the booming   with Hua-Ou Aviation Support Centre has
        At the end of 2012 Chongqing Helicopter   helicopter market,” he explains.  significantly reduced lead time and cost
        Investment Co (CQHIC),  announced      “China also needs to further exploit   of delivery of spare parts for Eurocopter’s
        that  it had acquired US-based  Enstrom   the full potential of airspace resources   Chinese customers – and further
        Helicopter in a move designed to    in order to establish a much stronger   supported the sector’s growth.
        capitalise on expectations that China   air traffic management system,” he   “As good maintenance and efficient
        will  be  a  major  market  for  helicopters   notes, “as well as creating an effective   training are the keys to safe operations,
        over the next two decades. The change   regulatory framework to encourage the   Eurocopter is planning the development
        in  ownership  is  expected  to  fund  new   development of general aviation while   of a nationwide support network,
        product development, increase marketing   ensuring safety and security.”  together  with  dedicated  training
        reach in Asia, and support manufacturing   Boulnois says Eurocopter China has   services,” he stresses.
        to help control and reduce costs.   played a pioneering role in developing   Among other cooperative ventures,
           The country’s expansion into the   support  and  services  infrastructure  and   Eurocopter  China  has  separately
        general  aviation  industry  has  also   networks throughout the country through   collaborated with the Civil Aviation Flight
        included its first locally made heavy-lift   various partnerships and cooperation   University of China and the Civil Aviation
        civilian helicopter, built by the Aviation   programmes with local partners.   University of China to develop ab-initio
        Industry Corporation of China, or AVIC.   “Our ongoing cooperation programmes   training programmes for technicians and
        The AC313, which can carry as many as   are well-placed to tackle not only   pilots, respectively.
        27 passengers and has a maximum take-  current demands, but have the capacity   “We are also  working on developing
        off weight of just over 13 tonnes, has now   for more when demand increases,” he   type-rating training solutions, as well as
        been approved by the government for   notes. “Currently, Eurocopter is one of   setting  up  Eurocopter  flight  simulators
        commercial use. With a range of more   the major shareholders of Shenzhen-  in China, to help develop a pool of highly
        than 880 kilometres, and height limit of   based CGAMEC, the leading company for   qualified helicopter pilots and enhance
        around 8,500 metres, its maker says the   helicopter MRO activities in China.”   flight safety,” he says. “The first full flight
                                                                                simulator has now been installed within
                                                                                the Airbus China Training Centre in Beijing
           Growth restrictions                                                  and began operations after obtaining its
           Eurocopter China CEO Bruno Boulnois says the oil and gas segment is so far   qualification in late 2012.”
           the most dynamic market in China, followed by homeland security, search and   While there is obviously still much
           rescue, and utility missions. Private and corporate transportation, disaster
           relief, environment monitoring, power line survey, firefighting missions and   work to be done, a more flexible
           emergency medical services are other areas of growth.                regulatory environment in combination
              However, despite the undoubted need for its development, the emergency   with effective pilot training programmes
           medical rescue market is at a very early stage, with its growth restricted by   and maintenance activities will be key to
           a lack of landing pads at hospitals, as well as limited availability of insurance   China’s general aviation market reaching
           covering air rescues in China.
                                                                                its massive growth potential.
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