China builds national emergency air rescue system

China has announced that it is accelerating the building of a national emergency air rescue system.

To speed up this modernization, the country is facilitating the manufacturing of homegrown aircraft, which was announced at the sixth China Helicopter Exposition recently held in the Tianjin municipality.

The emergency rescue sector is transitioning from a focus on fighting forest fires to meeting the challenges of natural disasters.

Guo Zhiwu, a senior official with the Ministry of Emergency Management, explained at the expo: “The situation of natural disasters in China is tough and complex. The building of emergency air rescue is a systematic work with great significance, and it is also of importance in promoting the modernization of the national emergency management system and capabilities.”

He added: “Moving forward, we are building a system of emergency air rescue equipment that can meet the demands of the country’s practical emergency rescue work.”

At the expo, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) displayed a series of homegrown helicopters and equipment for emergency rescue, in particular the AC series civil helicopters including the four-tonne-level AC332, seven-tonne-level AC352 and various other major models.

“AVIC is pioneering the development of Chinese aeronautical equipment for emergency rescue operations.,” said Zhou Guoqiang, spokesperson for AVIC. “It is our mission to sustain the building of the national emergency air rescue system.”

Another aircraft used by the Chinese is the 13-tonne-level AC313 large civil helicopter. It has a maximum take-off weight of 13.8 tonnes with external sling loads. It can carry up to 28 people and can load up to five tonnes of water in combating fires.