City police helicopter team to take flight

By Yang Lifei  |   2008-11-10  |     ONLINE EDITION

SHANGHAI will launch its first helicopter police team soon after it receives the three aircraft it ordered from Eurocopter next month, the company said.

One helicopter has successfully completed trial operations at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport.

The Shanghai Public Security Bureau signed a purchase contract with Eurocopter in April 2007 for two light-duty EC135s and one medium-sized EC155.

The helicopters will help to improve security during World Expo 2010 and will be used to hunt criminal suspects as well as assist in anti-terrorist operations.

They can also be used to direct ground traffic and help in disaster-relief operations, the Shanghai police authority said.

Founded in 1992, Eurocopter is a subsidiary of the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company and is the world's largest helicopter producer. The company accounts for more than 40 percent of the turbine helicopter fleet in service in Asia.

According to Eurocopter, an EC135 can accommodate one pilot and seven passengers with a maximum speed of 254 kilometers per hour while an EC155’s capacity is two pilots and 13 passengers with a maximum speed of 265 kilometers per hour.

The company estimated that China will need about 300 helicopters by 2015.