The CGAMEC Joint Venture of Eurocopter, COHC and Samwell Aviation Expands its Helicopter Maintenance Capabilities in China

China’s CGAMEC (COHC General Aviation Maintenance & Engineering Company) joint venture has broadened its helicopter support and services with rotor blade repair approval by Eurocopter, further developing this company’s capabilities as the rotorcraft sector continues to develop and mature in China.

The blade repair builds on CGAMEC’s previous qualification as a Eurocopter-approved center for a variety of helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services on helicopter types that range from the light single-engine EC120 to heavy twin-engine helicopters such as the Super Puma AS332 and EC225.

CGAMEC’s new capability was formalized with Eurocopter’s presentation of the rotor blade repair approval certificate, which was provided by Dominique Maudet, Eurocopter’s Executive Vice President of Global Business and Services, to CGAMEC General Manager Zhou Jian at the 2012 Airshow China in Zhuhai.

Created in 2001, the Shenzhen-based CGAMEC is a joint venture of CITIC Offshore Helicopter Company (COHC), Eurocopter and Samwell Aviation Limited Company. It is the first Sino-foreign joint venture in the general aviation MRO field, and is approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), as well as the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). In addition to being the only Eurocopter-approved maintenance center in China, CGAMEC also is the engine service center in China approved by Turbomeca – the main manufacturer of powerplants for Eurocopter’s product line.

According to Bruno Boulnois, the CEO of Eurocopter China, CGAMEC’s capabilities expansion marks a new step in Eurocopter’s Chinese presence strategy, which includes its in-country subsidiary that he oversees, along with a range of cooperative programs for spare parts, logistics, MRO and training — all tailored to offer turn-key solutions for customers and their operational needs.