Sichuan Xilin Fengteng General Aviation will buy two Eurocopter helicopters, an EC120 B and an EC135.
The aircraft will be used for photography, transporting passengers, fighting forest fires, emergency medical services, charters and training, said Eurocopter. The two helicopters will be delivered by the middle of 2012.
"Based in Deyang, Sichuan province, Xilin Fengteng became Eurocopter China's first customer in Southwest China," said Eurocopter. "This success is a result of Eurocopter China's expansion efforts that included the opening of the Chengdu liaison office for the Southwestern region in early 2011 - one of its seven offices around the country."
Eurocopter added that it is cooperating with the Civil Aviation Flight University of China (CAFUC) in Guanghan to develop a series of helicopter training programmes.
"This acquisition contract will further reinforce Eurocopter's presence in Sichuan province and the Southwest of China."
The EC120 B is a light helicopter powered by a single Turbomeca Arrius 2F engine. It can carry one pilot and four passengers, and has a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 1,715kg.
The EC135 is powered by two Turbomeca Arrius 2b2 engines. It has an MTOW of 2,950kg and can carry one pilot and six to seven passengers.
Source: Flight International
