Shanghai will buy three helicopters to form its first-ever
helicopter police team, which will serve the security of the World
Expo in 2010.
The municipal public security bureau signed a contract with the
Eurocopter for the purchase on Saturday, including two light-duty
EC135s and one medium-sized EC155.
These helicopters are expected to be put into use in 2008. They
will also be used in hunting criminal suspects, anti-terrorist
operations, directing ground traffic, disaster-relief operations
and dealing with other emergencies, said Wu Zhiming, head of the
public security bureau.
Founded in 1992, Eurocopter, a 100 percent subsidiary of the
European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company, is world's largest
helicopter producer, accounting for more than 40 percent of the
turbine helicopter fleet in service in Asia.
According to Eurocopter, an EC135 can accommodate one pilot and
seven passengers and an EC155 for two pilots and 13 passengers.
(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2007)