- A Chinese consortium has signed a purchasing contract with a firm order of 100 H135s to be assembled in China over the next 10 years
- This order will lead to the launch of a H135 final assembly line in Qingdao, Shandong Province
- Further relaxation of China’s low-altitude airspace regulations, upward growth in the civil and parapublic services segments as well as rapid development of offshore wind power generation will see a surge of demand for the H135
A Chinese consortium made up of China Aviation Supplies Holding Company (CAS), Qingdao United General Aviation Industrial Development Company (Qingdao United) and CITIC Offshore Helicopter Co. Ltd (COHC) has ordered 100 H135 light-twin helicopters, becoming China’s first customer to form an industrial partnership to launch a H135 final assembly line (FAL) in Qingdao, Shandong province. This is an important step forward, fulfilling the commitment of purchasing 100 H135s signed in the Letter of Intent (LOI) last year.
The contract signing ceremony was held at the Great Hall of People, in the presence of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and the visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel, marking a significant milestone in the scene of local general aviation industry with this €700 million sales contract and the industrial partnership of a final assembly line (FAL) in Qingdao. The FAL is expected to start operations by 2018, to assemble 100 H135s over the next 10 years.
“We are extremely pleased with the progress of this partnership between Airbus Helicopters and our Chinese partners. With the further opening up of the Chinese skies and the increasing growth in the civil and parapublic segments, China is gearing up to be the biggest market for helicopters in years to come,” said Norbert Ducrot, Head of Airbus Helicopters China and North Asia region. “With their inherent versatility and reliability, these 100 H135s will be best suited to meet the soaring demand in China”.
The H135 has gained popularity in China in recent years, performing various parapublic missions such as helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS), law enforcement, firefighting, patrol command, and search and rescue (SAR), as well as corporate missions such as tourism and transportation.
The rapid development of offshore wind power generation industry in China also presents a new market segment for helicopter operations. The H135 is an excellent solution for these missions thanks to its compact external dimensions, a comparatively small rotor diameter, an optimised cabin size and ideal twin-engine performance. Together with the growth of other segments, a potential demand of 600 light twin-engine helicopters is expected in the next 20 years.
To date, nearly 1200 H135s are delivered globally and in operation, having logged more than three million flight hours.
About CAS CAS is specialized in package purchase of aircraft business, aviation leasing business, distribution and pooling of aircraft material business, general aviation business. It is State-owned enterprise managed by the State-owned Asset Supervision and Administrative Commission of the State Council.
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CAS website About Qingdao United Qingdao United is a Chinese State-owned company, jointly created in May 2016 by and between Qingdao Huatong State-owned Capital Operation (Group) Co., Ltd., Qingdao Tourism Group Co.,Ltd, and Sino-German United Group Co., Ltd., and is a professional platform for creating public general aviation ecosystem, and forming industrial cluster in Qingdao.
About Airbus Helicopters Airbus Helicopters, a division of Airbus Group, provides the most efficient civil and military helicopter solutions worldwide. Its in-service fleet includes nearly 12,000 helicopters operated by more than 3,000 customers in 154 countries. Airbus Helicopters employs more than 22,000 people worldwide and in 2015 generated revenues of 6.8 billion euros.
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