China Debuts Homegrown Ultra-Light Helicopter

Light Fantastic: A small, efficient helicopter is expected to be a hit with China's wealthy.

 

The first ultra-light helicopter manufactured in China was unveiled Thursday at the China Helicopter Exposition in Tianjin. At a cost of only 3.5 million yuan ($541,000), the chopper is expected to enjoy sales to the wealthy and to flying clubs.

The AC310 is built by Avicopter Corporation, a state-owned joint venture between AVIC and the Tianjin municipal government. It is designed for use in emergency rescue, environmental monitoring, flight training, and private aviation. It made its maiden flight less than three weeks ago.

“Aimed at China’s expanding private aircraft market, the ultra-light helicopter is designed for the public — the middle-class and helicopter lovers,” said Avicopter president Wang Bin.

The AC310 will receive an aircraft-type certificate from China’s civil aviation authorities next May.

Avicopter produces civil helicopters weighing from one to 13 tons. Its two-ton AC311 made its maiden flight last November, and its 13-ton AC313 attained an altitude of 8,000 meters (5 miles) during a test 10 days ago. After the AC310’s debut Avicopter signed deals to sell three AC310s, three AC311 and two AC313s, respectively, to Beidahuang General Aviation Co., Erdos General Aviation Co. Ltd. and HK Seasons General Merchandise Group.

The Expo attracted over 200 companies from over 20 nations, including American and European helicopter giants like Sikorsky and Bell Helicopter, France’s Eurocopterand Italy’s AgustaWestland.

The growth of Chian’s civil aviation sector has been restricted by tight regulations on low-altitude airspace which prevents private pilots from having their flight plans approved, said Li Ruiyi, general manager of China Flying-Dragon General Aviation Company. But airspace regulations are expected to ease nationwide by 2015.

Another bottleneck is the scarcity of helipads and regional airports that can provide maintenance for aircraft, said Yu Feng, general manager of AVIC Changhe Aircraft Industries Group in east China’s Jiangxi Province.

A shortage of pilots is also slowing the growth of China’s private aviation sector despite the continuing surge in the ranks of the wealthy who can afford private aircraft and would like to own them. Only 20,000 are licensed as pilots in China, compared with over 600,000 in the U.S.

Private aircraft ownership is also crimped by a shortage of maintenance technicians, said Christophe Nurit, vice president of Sikorsky Asia.