It can carry up to 18 passengers, has a maximum takeoff weight of 7.5 tons and a maximum speed of 315 kilometers per hour.

The helicopter is capable of performing multiple civilian and public operations, including supportive tasks for oilfields, maritime search and rescue missions, as well as police patrols.

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China seeks to fill gap in civil aviation sector

Avicopter expects about 19 of the choppers will be needed in China on an annual basis through 2022, which means the Z-15 has a large potential market.

Its WZ-16 turboshaft engine, a joint effort by French helicopter engine giant Turbomeca and Aviation Industry Corp of China, completed its first test run in November and will be installed on the Z-15, aviation observers said, suggesting the move will help the country lose its heavy dependence on imported engines.

Wang Ya'nan, deputy editor-in-chief of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, said close cooperation between China and other nations is possible because China has made tremendous progress in the helicopter industry.

"Among all the aircraft developed by China, our helicopter series has the most competitive technologies with those of foreign countries."

Avicopter has received purchase intentions for more than 130 Z-15s, according to Lu Weijian, chief designer of the aircraft.

There are about 30,000 helicopters in use around the world, mostly in the civil sector, said Xiao Zhiyuan, publisher of World Flight magazine.

"But the number of civil helicopters registered in China is only about 200, even fewer than in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo," he said. "By contrast, the United States has more than 10,000 civil helicopters and Russia boasts 3,000."

This situation has spurred China's aircraft companies to speed up their development of helicopters, he added.

Shining models at 15th Aviation Expo China	Private jet dealer exhibits aircraft models