Qingdao, Apr. 25, 2019 — Airbus Helicopter (Qingdao) Co., Ltd. (Airbus Helicopter Qingdao) held its opening ceremony in Qingdao on April 17. Airbus Helicopter Qingdao is a joint venture between Airbus Helicopters and Qingdao United General Aviation Company Limited (UGAC).

Heads of Qingdao local government, Airbus Helicopter Industrial President Alain Flourens, Airbus Helicopter (Germany) CEO Wolfgang Schoder and guests from all walks of life witnessed this milestone of China-Europe cooperation in general aviation. It marks that Airbus Helicopter’s first final assembly line (FAL) out of Europe started operations.

The 6,840m² Qingdao H135 FAL is comprised of four working stations, a paint booth, ground and flight test areas, and a delivery center. The first H135 roll-off from Qingdao is expected to come off the line in the second half of 2019. The operation will ramp up to an annual capacity of 18 helicopters. H135 Helicopter is mainly operated in helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS), search and rescue, law enforcement, firefighting, and tourism, etc.

UGAC is a joint venture between China Aviation Supplies Holding Company (CAS) and Qingdao United General Aviation Industrial Development Company Limited (UGA).

By LI Xi, Translated by DING Hang