Sky's limit for choppers in China market

Airbus Helicopters, a division of European aircraft manufacturer Airbus and the largest helicopter manufacturer worldwide, launched its new China headquarters in the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Guangdong province, on Tuesday, indicating the company's strong commitment to the country's general aviation market.

Airbus Helicopters said the new headquarters, which faces Macao across the sea, demonstrates the company's willingness to boost the evolution of the general aviation industry in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and contribute to the growth of China's low-altitude economy.

The company held an opening ceremony for the new headquarters during the ongoing 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as the Zhuhai Airshow, which opened on Tuesday and will run through Sunday.

Meanwhile, Airbus Helicopters and China Southern Airlines General Aviation signed a contract for two H175 helicopters to be used for offshore energy missions. CSAGA currently operates three Airbus helicopters. The two new H175 helicopters are expected to be delivered in 2025 and 2026.

In addition, CSAGA signed a letter of intention with SKYCO International Financial Leasing Co Ltd, a State-owned enterprise specializing in aircraft financing and leasing business, to lease six Airbus H175 helicopters, to help serve the offshore energy sector. SKYCO will purchase six additional H175s from Airbus Helicopters following the leasing contract.

CSAGA, a subsidiary of China Southern Airlines Group Co Ltd, stands as one of the largest operation service providers in the country's offshore oil and gas fields. It has high operational capabilities in China's offshore oil and gas and emergency rescue fields, and maintains the longest safety hour-record in the general aviation industry nationwide.

The agreements between CSAGA, SKYCO and Airbus Helicopters represent a milestone in the Chinese aviation industry. For the first time, a helicopter developed in China and completed in Europe will enter the Chinese energy market, said Colin James, managing director of Airbus Helicopters in China.

"Now more than ever, it is of critical importance for the development of the low-altitude economy, and all stakeholders to work together on pro-Chinese solutions to promote the low-altitude economy," James said.

By the end of 2023, the total number of registered general aviation aircraft in China reached 5,016 — 160 more than the end of 2022 — according to a recent report by the China Air Transport Association.

"General aviation refers to all civil aviation activities other than commercial air transport, and it includes agricultural and forestry protection, industrial patrols, emergency rescue and unmanned aerial vehicle operations," said Sun Weiguo, general manager of the general aviation department of CATA.

Last year, the flight time of general aviation aircraft, the number of general aircraft operated in China, and the number of operating companies in the country all reached new highs. Traditional general aviation aircraft flew a total of 1.37 million hours, up 12.4 percent year-on-year, the report said.

As of July, there were 465 general aviation airports in China, with Heilongjiang, Guangdong and Jiangsu provinces operating a large number of general aviation airports. In the same period, there were 712 general aviation enterprises operating in China, data from the report showed.

Currently, Airbus has a fleet size of more than 340 helicopters operating in China, accounting for 34 percent of the civil helicopter market share in China, according to the company.

Entering the China market in 2006, Airbus Helicopters has established a long-term partnership in the country, with branches in Beijing; Shanghai; Hong Kong; Shenzhen, Guangdong; Chengdu, Sichuan province; Wuhan, Hubei province; Harbin, Heilongjiang; and Qingdao, Shandong province.

Other major industry players in the country include US manufacturer Bell Helicopter Textron Inc, Italy's Leonardo SpA and Russian Helicopters.