Eurocopter: Player in China helo biz

When China opens its general aviation airspace in 2020, part of a 5-year plan, the sky will be the limit for commercial aviation; and the Asian nation will become the world's biggest market for helicopters. In the interim, some 250 potential customers will display their products at the China Helicopter Exposition from Sept. 5-8 in Tianjin. EADS’ Eurocopter, the world's largest helicopter manufacturer with manufacturing facilities from Europe to Mississippi, has anticipated the market and established an office in China in 2006. Ninety-eight of China’s 300 general aviation copters were made by Eurocopter – 14 of which are the Eurocopter EC 135 luxury model estimated to cost an average of $4.5 million apiece. Bell Helicopter and Sikorsky also have offices in China. Source: China Daily USA, Aug. 9, 2013. (Waldwick, NJ-based Kallman Worldwide Inc. is organizing its first U.S. international pavilion at the China helicopter expo.)