Helicopter market propelled upward

Rising demand as air space opens up for private use across the nation

Foreign helicopter manufacturers are confident of benefiting from the continuous growth of China's aviation market and their Chinese counterparts' development of production lines.

A model standing in front of a helicopter during an airsports equipment exhibition in Laiwu, in East China's Shandong province. Eyeing the huge market potential, Chinese helicopter manufacturers are increasing their production capacity. Ju Chuanjiang and Wang Qian / China Daily

"China has around 300 civil helicopters now and it is estimated that by 2015 it will have 500," said Bruno Boulnois, chief executive officer of Eurocopter China, which has almost 50 percent of the market share in China.

That figure should rise to 1,000 in 2020, he added.

Eurocopter received orders valued at 300 million euros ($385 million) in China in 2011, which was more than double the number in 2010. Its revenues were 200 million euros in China last year.

"China's helicopter market is expected to see double-digit growth over the next several years," said Ed Beyer, vice-president of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp, one of the main helicopter manufacturers in the United States.

Sikorsky sold four helicopters to Chinese companies during the Ninth China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in South China's Zhuhai last month.

Beyer said the offshore oil industry is a catalyst for China's helicopter market now.

In addition, helicopters have many other functions, such as rescuing, touring and firefighting, but they have been very rarely used in China. Chinese operators searching for multiple uses for their helicopters will need more helicopters, he said.

"The helicopter market has big potential, especially for rescues, charter flights and so on," said Jian Zhuodong, deputy general manager of the Zhuhai Helicopter Branch of China Southern Airlines Co.

Eyeing the huge market potential, Chinese helicopter manufacturers are increasing their production capacity.

The first Chinese-made large civil helicopter will be put into the market this year, according to Aviation Industry Corp of China, which is the producer.

The AC313, a 13-ton helicopter which took its first flight in March 2010, received its production certificate in November, which means the Chinese manufacturer already has the capability to produce the large helicopter, AVIC announced during November's air show in Zhuhai.

The helicopter has three engines and can fly for 900 kilometers and perform multiple tasks, such as passenger transporting, rescuing, offshore oil exploring and touring.

The two-ton AC311 also received a production certificate on the same day.

This kind of helicopter with a single engine now makes up about 50 percent of the entire helicopter fleet worldwide. The Chinese-made AC311 will also be targeted at users globally.