Airbus Helicopters delivers first fully-equipped air ambulance to China
first flight of Beijing 999 EC135 air ambulance
Airbus Helicopters presented the first fully-equipped EC135 air ambulance to the 999 Emergency Rescue Center (999 Center) at a ceremony held at the Donauwörth, Germany engineering and production facility where the aircraft was assembled.
The 999 Emergency Rescue Center is a Beijing Red Cross Foundation subsidiary.
Ma Runhai, executive vice president of Beijing Red Cross Society of China, says: “In addition to benefitting from the EC135’s excellence as an EMS helicopter, we also appreciate the added value of Airbus Helicopters’ experience and relationships with HEMS operators. It enables us to help achieve the national strategic goal of comprehensively deepening the reforms and propelling the modernization of the governance system and capacities. It will also help Beijing Red Cross Society of China to achieve the goal of becoming a leader in China and a first-class organization in the world.”
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The helicopter delivered is the Airbus Helicopters EC135 P2e lightweight twin-engine aircraft.
Wolfgang Schoder, CEO of Airbus Helicopters Germany, adds: “The EC135 is a benchmark for HEMS operators worldwide, as it has been designed with the expertise of doctors for medical transportation and services. It is the perfect platform to kick-start China’s efforts in ramping up its airborne emergency medical services.”
A delegation of doctors from the 999 Center currently is undergoing familiarisation courses in Augsbourg on the Bucher-supplied equipment, which follows a one-week introduction to HEMS in the ADAC HEMS Academy near Cologne.
Norbert Ducrot, president of Airbus Helicopters China, says: “The relaxation of China’s low-altitude airspace augurs well for the development of HEMS which is very much needed in a country of such geographical and population size. 999 Center’s initiative to launch this public service is highly commendable and will be well-appreciated by the people of China.”
In addition to this EC135 P2e delivered to the 999 Center, a second helicopter will be delivered in the first quarter 2015, and a letter of intent for two EC145 T2 helicopters has also been signed.
