Shanghai Public Security Bureau on Saturday agreed to buy its
first helicopters from a European aviation firm.
Police officials said the three aircraft will play a significant
role in ensuring security during the 2008 Olympic Games as some
soccer matches will be held in the city. They will also be used
during the 2010 World Expo.
The two light twin-engined EC135 helicopters and one medium-lift
twin-engined EC155 helicopter are a major step forward in the
establishment of a Shanghai Police Aviation Squad, police said.
An EC155 helicopter. --
Courtesy of Shanghai Police
Aviation police are expected to conduct various missions
including air patrol, medical aid, rescue operations, traffic
control and suspect pursuit.
It remained unclear how much the purchase contract was worth or
when the helicopters will go on duty.
In December city police authorities advertised for 10 helicopter
pilots specially for the new police air squad. Though no
development on the staff was available, the bureau said all the
recruits were expert in piloting and aircraft maintenance.
The helicopters were ordered from the French-German-Spanish
Eurocopter Group, the world's No. 1 helicopter manufacturer.
"We decided Eurocopter was our partner as the function safety is
the priority," said Wu Zhiming, the bureau's director. "Flying over
Shanghai, a densely populated city with about 20 million residents,
demands absolute security insurance."
More than 9,500 Eurocopter helicopters are in service in 139
countries.
"The first contract with the Shanghai Public Security Bureau is
a significant milestone in our market development in Shanghai and
in China," said Norbert Ducrot, senior vice president of
Eurocopter.
The EC135 helicopter can carry eight people and can cruise at up
to 254 kilometers an hour with a range of 635 kilometers. The EC155
helicopter can carry 14 people. It has a maximum speed of 265
kilometers an hour and a range of 909 kilometers.
There are 13 aviation squads in the country. Another 13 regions
are setting up their own.
(Shanghai Daily April 30, 2007)
