A special air police unit for emergency events and serious criminal cases was put into operation Wednesday in Zhengzhou, capital city of Henan Province, central China.
The team is composed of four skilled pilots, who have completed a three-month special training for the new mission.
A gunship, purchased from the United States and equipped with night vision equipment, small-bore pistols, portable machine guns and sniper weapons, will help the crew to fulfill their tasks in the sky.
Another US-made gunship is scheduled to be put into use in August this year.
It is the first time that domestic police troop has armed itself with such advanced helicopters, which cost the local public security bureau some 7.1 million yuan (US$855,000).
The unit will devote to hunting criminal suspects, providing relief for victims of floods, fire and other disasters and alleviating traffic jams.
( People's Daily August 1, 2002)
