Leonardo to supply two helicopters for Hunan province

Xiangjiang General Aviation Development Company (Xiangjiang GA) a provider of aerial emergency medical and firefighting services in China’s Hunan province, has ordered two new helicopters from Leonardo.

The orders include an AW139 medium twin-engine helicopter scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2023, and an AW109Trekker light twin-engine helicopter, for delivery in the fourth quarter.

The aircraft will be used in Hunan province to provide helicopter emergency medical (HEMS), firefighting and ‘public security’ operations, and are being acquired as part of plans to establish a nationwide HEMS and firefighting network in China.

Hunan, which has a population of 66 million and a GDP of US$700 billion, was the first province to reform its low altitude airspace regulations and establish Xiangjiang GA as its new public HEMS service.

Leonardo has already delivered more than 40 AW139 and 13 AW109 Trekker helicopters to serve various Chinese operators.

The state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China also recently completed its first test flight using the new firefighting configuration of its AG600 amphibious fixed-wing aircraft – which is also expected to play a role in the country’s new aerial disaster response program.

Airbus/AVIC-produced AC352 certified for civilian use by CAAC

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has certified the AC352 – also known as the Z-15 – a variant of the Airbus H-175 produced by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), for sale on the civilian market.

The medium-sized, twin-engine, multipurpose helicopter is equipped with a WZ-16 engine – the product of a partnership between the state-owned Aero Engine Corporation of China and Safran Helicopters. It has a maximum take-off weight of 7.5 tons and a maximum range of 850km, and is capable of carrying up to 16 passengers in regular transport configuration.

The aircraft is suitable for a wide range of tasks, including search and rescue, emergency medical services (EMS), maritime drilling operations, personnel transport and corporate transport. A dedicated emergency rescue variant is reportedly in development.