First VIP EC135 helicopter arrives in Beijing
EC135 helicopter seats
Recently morning, this reporter learned from the delivery ceremony of the first VIP-type EC135 helicopter by Capital Helicopter and the press conference for the maiden flight of the helicopter 'private license' training that the city is about to launch helicopter routes from downtown and Badaling to Mount Wutai. This is also the first regular helicopter route in the Beijing area. At the same time, the first VIP-type EC135 helicopter in North China arrived in Beijing today, filling the gap in the North China region’s general aviation market for EC135 helicopters. The first batch of 'private license' students from North China’s first helicopter private pilot license training institution also made their debut.
What does a VIP helicopter look like?
Equipped with a small tea table, can carry 5 passengers
This reporter saw at the press conference this morning that the light twin-engine multi-purpose helicopter EC135, manufactured by France’s Airbus Helicopters, landed at Hongxiu Hall on the southeast side of the Olympic Center. The helicopter is standardly equipped to seat two pilots and six passengers, but after refurbishment by Capital Helicopter, it now accommodates two pilots and five passengers, with a small tea table set between passenger seats. The interior uses solid wood and leather materials and is very lightweight, ensuring maximum flight range. According to reports, it is the quietest helicopter in its class, with a length of 12.16 meters, a height of 3.51 meters, a self-weight of 1.5 tons, a payload of 1.4 tons, a maximum speed of 254 km/h, and a maximum range of 948 kilometers.
Where can you go by helicopter?
Can fly from areas around the Third Ring Road to anywhere in the country
The EC135 is suitable for various purposes such as medical rescue, search and rescue, aerial law enforcement, offshore oil support, and VIP business flights. It is recognized as a benchmark in its class in the fields of emergency medical services and aerial law enforcement. Currently, the demand for business and leisure flights among the Chinese population is mainly focused on short-distance transportation, business travel, reception and public relations, short-distance chartered tourism, and marketing event charters. Capital Helicopter’s VIP EC135 will be mainly used for VIP business charter services. Capital Helicopter is the first company in the Beijing area capable of providing chartered flight services from around the Third Ring Road in Beijing to any destination nationwide. Currently, it has top-notch takeoff and landing points at Jianyi Mansion in the CBD area, Hongxiu Hall at the Olympic Sports Center, Runze Club in the Wangjing area, and Jianyi Jingyuan near the Summer Palace. It can also set up temporary boarding and landing points according to customer needs.
Capital Helicopter has officially signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with Beijing’s 999 Emergency Medical Center. The two parties will engage in long-term cooperation in areas such as medical emergency transport, emergency rescue for unexpected events, and emergency material delivery, striving to make helicopter rescue a normalized emergency service model. Therefore, the EC135 will also be used for rescue flights.
How much does it cost to ride a helicopter?
Minimum 40,000 yuan per hour for chartered flights to Mount Wutai
"The choice of the Mount Wutai route is mainly due to market reasons. Transportation to Mount Wutai is inconvenient, and roads are prone to congestion during holidays. The advantage of a helicopter is point-to-point flight within 500 kilometers. We often have corporate clients asking us if we would open this route," said He Chi, Vice President of Capital Helicopter Co., Ltd. "We decided to launch this route first. The charge is about 40,000 to 45,000 yuan per hour. You can book a full day, where we fly there and wait for the client to tour before returning, or we can do an aerial tour and then fly back directly. Booking is required at least one day in advance." The reporter also learned that the EC135 will operate the upcoming Beijing downtown to Mount Wutai scenic cultural journey route. This route is the first regular helicopter route in the Beijing area, planned to open before the Spring Festival, and bookings are now available.
When can you fly?
One flight per day during the Spring Festival and on Saturdays and Sundays
Capital Helicopter will offer one round-trip flight per day between Beijing and Mount Wutai during the Spring Festival this year and subsequently every Saturday, Sunday, Lunar New Year’s Day, and the fifteenth day of the lunar month. Badaling Airport to Mount Wutai route: Departs from Badaling Airport, flies via Laiyuan in Hebei, and arrives at Mount Wutai, with a flight time of about 70 minutes; Beijing downtown to Mount Wutai route: Departs from within the Fourth Ring Road in Beijing, passes through the Summer Palace and Fragrant Hills, and arrives at Mount Wutai, with a flight time of 90 minutes.
"In the future, we will also consider other routes, such as Beijing to Weichang, to the grasslands of Inner Mongolia, to Chengde and Datong, and so on," revealed He, head of Capital Helicopter.
How to book helicopter services?
Call the 24-hour Capital Helicopter hotline
1. To take a helicopter, you can first call the 24-hour Capital Helicopter sales hotline at 010-56152000 for consultation and booking.
2. Once the date for your helicopter tour is confirmed, changes are very difficult to make, so you should finalize your schedule before making a booking.
3. Children must be between 3 and 12 years old.
4. Flights may sometimes not operate as planned due to weather conditions. Passengers should stay in contact with Capital Helicopter before the flight.
5. Passengers should arrive at the airport or designated location 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time and complete check-in procedures promptly.
Who can learn to fly a helicopter?
Individuals applying to learn to fly a helicopter must be ordinary Chinese citizens aged 17 or older; able to correctly read, listen, speak, and write Chinese, without accents or stuttering that affect two-way radio communication; have an educational level of junior college or above; and meet the current valid Class II or Class I medical examination standards issued by the civil aviation authorities. The minimum physical standard for 'private license' students is to meet Class II standards and obtain a Class II medical certificate issued by the civil aviation health authority (see the Civil Aviation Administration of China website http://www.caac.gov.cn). Hold a background investigation and no criminal record certificate for civil aviation personnel issued by the police station of their registered residence.
After studying flight theory and passing the unified exam, you can apply for a student pilot license (theoretical exam full score is 100, 80 is passing); undergo flight operation technical training and take a practical exam, which consists of an oral exam on aviation knowledge and a practical exam demonstrating flight skills or flight proficiency; if these exams are passed and the flight experience meets the relevant regulations, the training institution can apply for a 'private pilot license' issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China on behalf of the student.
Tuition fee: 280,000 yuan
Mr. Zhang, who is learning to earn a private helicopter pilot license, is from Tianjin and works in the finance industry. He is only 31 years old this year. “Seven of my classmates were mostly based in Beijing for work and life, making me the one who has to travel the farthest. Each time I come to the training sessions at Badaling in Beijing, it takes me at least four hours to get there,” said Mr. Zhang. He noted that his classmates come from sectors such as finance and real estate, include business owners, and even employees of airlines who are not pilots. Half of the students are not what you’d call “wealthy individuals”—they simply have a passion for flying and different spending priorities. “Some people spend money on travel or buying property, but we’ve saved up a certain amount and are willing to invest in our own flying hobby. My spouse is very supportive. The tuition fee is around 280,000 yuan, and we are currently in the theoretical course phase.”
The reporter also learned that as the only general aviation company in North China qualified to provide private helicopter pilot license training, Shouhang Helicopter’s flight club has officially commenced operations and successfully completed the enrollment for its first cohort of private license students. At the launch event, certificates were awarded to the first group of students. Shouhang Helicopter will also soon undergo operational approval for commercial pilot license training qualifications, aiming to offer both types of training programs. The company plans to further develop a comprehensive service system that includes flight experiences, themed activities, high-end entertainment, and more.
A total of 85 class hours
The private pilot license course consists of “40 hours of theoretical instruction + 45 hours of flight training,” and includes full-service support from a private license study advisor. Upon passing the theoretical and practical flight exams organized by the Civil Aviation Administration, students can obtain a private helicopter pilot license issued by the administration. The training uses the R22 aircraft, a two-seat, single-engine, light multi-purpose helicopter designed and manufactured by Robinson Helicopter Company of the United States. It holds performance records in speed, altitude, and distance within its weight class. Compared to other light helicopters, the R22 has fewer accidents caused by aircraft or engine failures, making it a long-standing choice for flight training, radio traffic surveillance, power line patrols, and other applications.