China has seen constant progress in the civil helicopter manufacturing sector, which will greatly sustain the country's demands in emergency rescue and other fields.

The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has recently achieved multiple advances in major civil helicopter models, such as the AC352 medium civil helicopter and AC313A large civil helicopter, according to the AVIC, the country's leading aircraft maker.

China has built a complete helicopter family. The AVIC has become one of the world's seven leading helicopter manufacturers, with more than 60 models in 12 series of helicopters. New helicopter models and technological progress are underway, said the AVIC.

Multi-purpose

Helicopters are modern aerial vehicles that highlight capabilities in flexible movement and conducting diverse fields of missions.

They are playing more important roles in China's burgeoning general aviation industry, which serves diverse missions such as emergency rescue, agriculture operations, and aerial tourism, among others.

The AC352 medium multi-purpose civil helicopter is close to getting certification from the civil aviation authorities, said the AVIC.

AC352 is a medium twin-engine multi-purpose civil helicopter jointly developed by AVIC and Airbus Helicopters. It can carry up to 16 passengers with a 7.5-tonne maximum take-off weight.

This new helicopter model enriches the pedigree of China's civil helicopter family in the 7-tonne class and is of great importance for China in enhancing the capabilities of its helicopter industry sector, AVIC said.

It also highlights China's openness to global cooperation, and is of importance to the sector's capacity upgrading, said the AVIC.

Missions ahead

China has complex topographic conditions and great variations across its vast territory. Meanwhile, the country faces particularly tough challenges from frequent natural disasters.

The country is in demand for different types of helicopters which can respond to various missions in an efficient and effective manner, said the AVIC.

China's independently-developed AC313A large utility civil helicopter made a successful maiden flight this May, marking a major step forward in the development of China's air emergency rescue system, said the AVIC.

AC313A is specially developed to meet the country's needs for air rescue missions. It can operate in various complex terrains and weather conditions such as high plateaus, and high and low temperatures.

It can carry up to 28 people on board, with a maximum take-off weight of 13.8 tonnes and external sling loads. It can load up to five tonnes of water for firefighting missions.

AC313A can be installed with multiple facilities for different missions. This feature allows it to serve various rescue missions such as medical rescue, forest and urban fire fighting, offshore rescue, and search.

The 13-tonne-class large helicopter is now in the flight test phase. It is expected to receive the airworthiness certification before 2025, and thereafter enter the market.

China's general aviation market is maintaining growth with the general aircraft fleet forecast to reach 45,000 by 2040. Among them, 10,000 will be civil helicopters, said an AVIC market outlook released in 2021. 

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