The world's largest helicopter manufacturer Eurocopter and
China's only helicopter maker jointly claimed in Zhuhai on Tuesday
they have made progress in developing an advanced helicopter, which
is expected to make maiden flight in 2009.
At a joint press conference held by Eurocopter and China
Aviation Industry Corporation II in Zhuhai, the Chinese company's
general manager Zhong Hongbiao said the Z 15 or EC 175 program was
equally funded by Harbin Aviation Industry Group, an affiliate of
the corporation, and Eurocopter based on the principle of "sharing
risk, investment, research and development, returns and
market."
The program is a breakthrough for China, which participated in
the helicopter's design from the very beginning in conjunction with
Eurocopter, instead of importing production lines as it did before,
said Zhang.
The two companies will jointly design, develop and manufacture
the six-ton helicopter with two separate production lines in France
and China, he noted.
Norbert Ducrot, vice president of Eurocopter, said it was the
first time that his company has sealed cooperation with a Chinese
company in developing new aircraft.
A design team, composed of French and Chinese engineers, was now
working in France, said Ducrot, adding that the new helicopter will
be put into production after obtaining aircraft certification in
Europe in 2011 and in China in 2012.
The helicopter, designed for short-distance transportation,
coastal patrol and search and rescue, fills the gap between
five-ton Dauphin and 10-ton Super Puma and will have great market
prospects, said Ducrot, who expects the global sales to reach 800
by 2032, including 400 in China.
The Z 15 or EC 175 program was launched in December, 2005 when
Premier Wen Jiaobao paid a visit to France.
Harbin Aviation Industry Group has seen fruitful cooperation
with Eurocopter since early 1980s when the company began to produce
Z 9 and Z 8 helicopters, after purchasing from Eurocopter the
production patents on Dauphin and Super Frelon.
China also produces light helicopter EC 120 in cooperation with
Europe and Singapore, and has sold 400 such helicopters
worldwide.
Eurocopter, an affiliate with European Aeronautic Defense and
Space Company (EADS), is the world's leading helicopter
manufacturer. It sold 401 helicopters in 2005.
Eurocopter is China's largest foreign partner in manufacturing
helicopters and grabs 50 percent of the country's civil helicopter
market.
(Xinhua News Agency November 1, 2006)
