Eurocopter Starting Another Facility in China

Eurocopter is planning to start another helicopter production facility in China. The European company wants to partner with either government agencies or the private sector. Currently, Eurocopter produces the EC120 in a joint venture with the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corp., domestic manufacturer Harbin Aviation and Singapore Technologies Aerospace. Two weeks ago, Eurocopter predicted that the upcoming 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing would spur the demand for more helicopters and that the country would require as many as 300 more aircraft before 2015. A decision on the new venture will be made within the first quarter of 2008, according to Eurocopter. Plans by China to relax rules on low-altitude flying, which has prevented the growth of the helicopter market, will also give the industry a boost. China’s military tightly controls the country’s airspace. For related news