Offshore Helicopter under China International Trust and Investment Corporation says it will buy four helicopters from Eurocopter for 432 million yuan or 52 million US dollars to better service oil companies prospecting for oil and gas in China's offshore areas. CITIC Offshore said in a statement over the weekend that it has placed orders for two EC155B1 and two AS332L1 helicopters, with deliveries scheduled before Jan 31, 2006.

Once in service, the four new helicopters are expected to generate about 105 million yuan or 12 million US dollars in revenue for CITIC Offshore each year.

Eurocopter, controlled by European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co NV, has sold over 10,000 helicopters to 2,349 clients worldwide to date, the statement added.

Source: CRI News