China Helicopter Industry Development Association has approved the establishment of Preparatory Office of Hummingbird (Fujian) International Aviation Club Company Limited recently. The move marks the preparatory work for Fuzhou Hummingbird helicopter manufacturing base enters a substantial stage, Fuzhou Daily reported, citing sources from the Office.

The program is jointly developed by US-China Capital Inc., Hummingbird (Asia) Helicopter Co., Ltd., Schiller (China) Aircraft Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and China Helicopter Development Association Company Limited. The base is expected to manufacture about 200 light helicopters annually in its initial stage, introducing an international aviation club and other support facilities in the near future. Fuzhou citizens will be able to join the helicopter flight training just in the capital of Fujian Province upon completion of the program.

Xu Changdong, Head of the China Helicopter Industry Development Association and Chairman of Board of the US-China Capital Inc., explained the base will offer air police, air ambulances and air rescue services after completion.

Huang Jiangcheng, who is in charge of the Preparatory Office, introduced that helicopter service plays an irreplaceable role in the development of the national economy and emergency rescue. Currently, they are speeding up the preparatory work for the program and are expected to complete site selection and planning in the first half of 2012, and then complete the design, civil engineering construction, and site formation by the end of next year.