Representatives of leading helicopter manufacturers attend the launch ceremony of the Third Tianjin International Helicopter Exposition. [Photo by Yang Chen/People.com.cn]

Tianjin deputy mayor Yin Hailin attended the ceremony, as well as Lin Zuoming, president of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China and Yuan Jichang from the PLA. [Photo by Yang Chen/People.com.cn]

Helicopters perform aerobatic flight shows at the launching ceremony. [Photo by Yang Chen/People.com.cn]

The Third Tianjin International Helicopter Exposition attracted top global aircraft manufacturers to Tianjin’s Binhai New Area. Visitors can find exhibits from big name companies such as Airbus, Boeing, Russian Helicopter, Bell Helicopter Textron, Sikorsky, and Agusta Westland.

Domestic leaders also showed their passion to the expo. Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) put great emphasis on preparing its exhibition area and presented its newest results in helicopter research and manufacturing.

Apart from AVIC, other domestic leaders such as Tianjin Aviation Electromechanical Corporation, Shanghai Zhengyang Aviation, Shenzhen Dajiang Aviation, Beijing Aviation, and Beijing Xinya Aviation also brought new aircraft to the expo.

Seven aircraft teams including the “Fenglei” Aerobatic Flight Performance Team of the PLA and AVIC performed at the launching ceremony.

Apart from the exhibitions, the expo will launch more than 200 business events including a professional forum, technology panel discussion, product launches, and business conferences. Innovation, cooperation, and communication are the focus of the business events.

During the expo, the Fifth China Helicopter Development Forum will be held with the theme “helicopter drives the Belt and Road initiative”. Manufacturers, operators, and research institutions from around the world will talk about helicopter’s role in national development strategies.

In addition, helicopters such as the AC352 and AC311A will be launched and welcome their first buyers. Enstrom’s TH180 helicopters will be released in China, and Airbus will introduce its newest results to Chinese partners and launch its development plan in China. Professional forums on topics such as “helicopters and low altitude tourism” will explore helicopters’ roles in economic development and daily lives. A business event called “Night with Helicopters” will be held to for domestic and international professionals to communicate. The expo will effectively promote cooperation in the international helicopter industry and push the aviation industry forward.

The helicopter industry is led by cutting-edge technology and is a major battlefield for global aviation industry leaders to compete. Recent years have witnessed the industry’s growth in Tianjin. The city has accumulated a huge number of leading corporations and has formed a complete industry and value chain.

Aviation manufacturing and financial leasing have stayed in the leading position in the city. With annual capability of 51 billion yuan ($8 billion) in 2014, the city has also become an important aviation industrial base. The annual capacity will exceed 100 billion yuan ($15.7 billion) by the end of the second five year plan in 2015.