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China signs chopper deal with Agusta
Zhuhai (China), Nov 06: Italian helicopter-maker Agusta today signed an agreement to assemble the a109 power model in China.
Zhuhai (China), Nov 06: Italian helicopter-maker Agusta today signed an agreement to assemble the a109 power model in China.
Agusta's partner in China is Change Aircraft Industries Group (CAIC), a subsidiary of state-owned China Aviation Industry Corp. II (AVIC II).
A spokeswoman for Agusta, part of the anglo-Italian Agusta Westland Group, told a news agency that it was hoped production of the 8-seater helicopter would begin early next year. The aircraft would initially be assembled from imported kits, but it was hoped later to source components from China, she said.
She was unable to give a value to the deal or a production estimate.
She said around 350 helicopters of the model to be assembled in China are in service around the world, including with the United States coast guard. The A109 power weighs three tonnes and has a cruising speed of 154 knots (285 kilometres an hour). It has a maximum range of 521 nautical miles (965 kilometres) and a maximum endurance of five hours.
In a naval application, it is able to operate from small ships in high seas. In its civilian configuration, the a109 power's functions include VIP transportation, medical evacuation and surveillance.
Bureau Report
A spokeswoman for Agusta, part of the anglo-Italian Agusta Westland Group, told a news agency that it was hoped production of the 8-seater helicopter would begin early next year. The aircraft would initially be assembled from imported kits, but it was hoped later to source components from China, she said.
She was unable to give a value to the deal or a production estimate.
She said around 350 helicopters of the model to be assembled in China are in service around the world, including with the United States coast guard. The A109 power weighs three tonnes and has a cruising speed of 154 knots (285 kilometres an hour). It has a maximum range of 521 nautical miles (965 kilometres) and a maximum endurance of five hours.
In a naval application, it is able to operate from small ships in high seas. In its civilian configuration, the a109 power's functions include VIP transportation, medical evacuation and surveillance.
Bureau Report