What AVICOPTER PLC does

AVICOPTER PLC (中航直升机股份有限公司, SSE: 600038) is the dedicated civilian and military helicopter industrialization platform of state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), headquartered in Beijing and operating through three core manufacturing subsidiaries — AVIC Hafei (Harbin), AVIC Changfei (Jingdezhen), and AVIC Tianzhi (Tianjin). Established in 1999 and listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange since 2000, the company completed a major asset restructuring in July 2024 that consolidated its position as AVIC's specialized listed helicopter arm. It designs, develops, manufactures, and supports a full spectrum of rotorcraft and fixed-wing aircraft, including the Z-8, Z-9, Z-10, Z-11, Z-19E military helicopter families; the AC311, AC311A, AC312E, AC313, AC313A, AC332, AC352 civil helicopter families (marketed under the "Auspicious Bird" / 吉祥鸟 sub-brand); and the Y-12E and Y-12F general aviation fixed-wing platforms, the latter EASA type-certified in July 2023.

The company's underlying technology spans conventional single-rotor helicopters, unmanned helicopter systems, and new-energy aircraft, supported by vertically integrated propeller systems, composite materials, and MRO capabilities that also supply COMAC C919 components. Notable engineering capabilities include industry-first variable-section skid landing gear design, high-plateau (4,450m) verified operational performance on the AC311A, multi-parameter integrated aerial geophysical survey integration on the AC312E, and CCAR-29-compliant AC332 design with first flight completed in April 2023. The company holds CAAC type certificates on multiple platforms and an EASA type certificate on the Y-12F, and is positioned to capture China's low-altitude economy growth, where the civil helicopter fleet is forecast to expand from 1,037 units in 2022 to over 2,000 by 2032.

AVICOPTER generates revenue primarily through one-time hardware sales of military and civil helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to military end users and state-owned aviation investment groups, supplemented by long-term MRO and after-sales support services, a financial-leasing channel co-built with AVIC Leasing, training services to aviation colleges, and C919 component supply. Pricing is negotiated bilaterally per contract and is not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market is a hybrid enterprise field-sales model combining direct sales to provincial SOE aviation investment groups (Henan, Tibet, Shanxi, Yunnan), partnerships with financial lessors (AVIC International Leasing, Poly Aviation, Xiamen Aircraft Leasing), and a co-built civil helicopter industrial base with Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone. Customer base is concentrated in Chinese central and provincial government-related entities, with operational deployments demonstrated in plateau emergency rescue (Tibet), forest firefighting (Shanxi Qinyuan 2025), geological survey, public security patrol, and air medical rescue.

Name

AVICOPTER PLC

Legal name

中航直升机股份有限公司

Website

https://avicopter.avic.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

AVICOPTER PLC (SSE: 600038) is AVIC's specialized listed helicopter and general aviation platform, designing and manufacturing full-spectrum military (Z-series) and civil (AC-series) helicopters, Y-12 fixed-wing aircraft, and aviation components, serving Chinese military, government, and provincial state-owned aviation operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Helicopter and Aircraft Manufacturing

NAICS

Aircraft Manufacturing (336411), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413)

SIC

Aircraft & Parts (3720), Aircraft (3721)

akta.pro primary industry

Military/Defense Helicopter Manufacturing (IMABABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Business & General Aviation Aircraft Manufacturing (IMABAAAC), Military Aircraft Structures, Airframes & Composites (IMABAMAH)

Keywords

• Civil helicopter manufacturing
• Military helicopter systems
• General aviation aircraft
• Aviation components supply
• Helicopter MRO services

Headquarters

HQ city

Harbin

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Helicopter hardware sales (military & civil): One-time / per-unit sales of military helicopters (Z-8, Z-9, Z-10, Z-11, Z-19E) and civil helicopters (AC311, AC311A, AC312E, AC313, AC313A, AC332, AC352, AC310) and Y-12E/Y-12F general aviation aircraft. Confirmed by 24-aircraft purchase + intent agreement at AC332 first flight (April 2023) and 5+2 firm orders + 15 non-revocable orders at 2023 直博会.
2. Maintenance, repair, overhaul and after-sales support (MRO): Long-term helicopter maintenance and support services business, including customized retrofit and equipment integration (e.g., AC311A electro-optical pod, medical stretcher installation). Mentioned as a dedicated business line '维修与保障' under aviation components & services. 航大雄英米-171 helicopter heavy maintenance project signed at 直博会.
3. Aircraft operating leasing / financing services: Co-establishment of an operating-lease joint venture (AVICOPTER哈飞, AVICOPTER昌飞 + AVIC Leasing) to provide financing and operating lease solutions for general aviation operators, reducing customer-side capital pressure and accelerating AC-series market penetration. Also partnerships with 中航国际融资租赁, 保利航空科技, 厦门飞机租赁.
4. Aviation training and pilot services: Pilot training, training-market cooperation, and operational services. AVICOPTER 昌飞 signed 2 ultralight helicopter sales contracts with Jiangxi Aviation Vocational and Technical College and Huaxia Jiuzhou General Aviation, jointly exploring the helicopter training market.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels7 records

Core offering

AVICOPTER PLC designs, develops, manufactures, and sells a full spectrum of military and civil helicopters (Z-series and AC-series platforms), the Y-12E/Y-12F fixed-wing general aviation aircraft, and aviation components including propeller systems, composite materials, C919 components, and maintenance/repair/overhaul (MRO) services. The company operates as the dedicated helicopter industrialization platform of AVIC and is expanding into unmanned helicopters and new-energy aircraft platforms.

Product overview

AVICOPTER PLC operates as a single unified aviation manufacturer offering three integrated pillars: civil and military rotorcraft (helicopters), fixed-wing general aviation aircraft, and vertically integrated aviation parts plus maintenance/support services, with extensions into unmanned helicopters and new-energy aircraft. The helicopter pillar spans light civil platforms (AC310, AC311 Series, AC312E), medium civil platforms (AC313 Series, AC332, AC352/Z-15) and military platforms (Z-8, Z-9, Z-10, Z-11 Series, Z-19E). The general aviation pillar is led by the Y-12E and Y-12F (the latter EASA type-certified in 2023). The parts and services pillar supplies propeller systems, composite materials, C919 components and maintenance/support, which both feed AVICOPTER's own platforms and external aviation customers. Recent product activity has centered on the AC332 program (first flight and parallel-flight milestones in 2023–2025, 24-unit purchase agreements signed at first flight), AC352/Z-15 type certification and AC312E production certification, with new-energy and unmanned helicopter lines representing forward-looking portfolio extensions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 吉祥鸟 (Jixiangniao / "Auspicious Bird"): Marketing name used across the company's civil AC-series helicopters, including AC311A, AC312E, AC313, AC332, AC352, and Z15/AC352.

Products and services

• Z-8 Series (直-8系列) Family of Chinese military and utility helicopters derived from the Aérospatiale Super Frelon, used for transport, maritime, search-and-rescue (SAR) and firefighting missions; Z-8 variants were deployed in the 2025 Shanxi forest firefighting operations where Z-8 dropped 315 tons of water across 105 buckets in 24h38m flight time and 2,385 km range.
• Z-9 Series (直-9系列) Light helicopter family based on the Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin, produced under license and further developed in China for both military and civil roles.
• Z-10 Series (直-10系列) Dedicated Chinese military attack helicopter, part of AVICOPTER's military rotorcraft lineup.
• Z-11 Series (直-11系列) Light utility helicopter family developed in China based on the Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil design.
• Z-19E (直-19E) Military reconnaissance/attack helicopter offered for export markets.
• AC311 Series (AC311系列) Civil light helicopter family used for low-altitude tourism, plateau operations and emergency response; AC311A variants were deployed in Tibet (2022) for medical rescue, cargo sling, and police law enforcement, and in Shanxi firefighting (2025).
• AC312E Civil light helicopter that received the CAAC Production Certificate and was demonstrated in an aerial remote sensing verification flight in March 2023; customized AC312E 'Aerial Geology No. 2' delivered to China Aero Geophysical Survey Center carrying LiDAR, gravity, magnetics, EM, radioactivity and aerial photography equipment.
• AC313 Series (AC313系列) Civil medium-lift helicopter family; the AC313 project was awarded the 2022 Jiangxi Province Science and Technology Progress Award Special Prize and selected as one of Jiangxi Province's Top 10 Innovation Achievements of 2022.
• AC332 (Auspicious Bird / 吉祥鸟) 4-ton class civil advanced twin-engine multi-purpose helicopter 'Auspicious Bird' developed on demand-side innovation concept, compliant with CCAR-29 latest airworthiness requirements. Single-rotor with high-mounted ducted tail rotor, skid landing gear, and clamshell rear door. Carries 10 passengers, max takeoff weight 3,850 kg, max cruise speed 260 km/h, max range 693 km. Features industry-first variable-section skid landing gear and new airfoil main rotor blade design.
• AC352 (Z-15) (Auspicious Bird / 吉祥鸟) 7-ton class advanced medium multi-purpose civil helicopter 'Auspicious Bird' co-developed with Airbus Helicopters, received CAAC Type Certificate in July 2022. Civil Aviation Production License obtained in early 2023 with mass production begun and 8 aircraft delivered as of 2023.
• AC310 Civil light helicopter offering in AVICOPTER's portfolio.
• Y-12E (运12E) Twin-engine utility fixed-wing aircraft used for general aviation, regional transport and special missions.
• Y-12F (运12F) Twin-engine utility fixed-wing aircraft; received the EASA Type Certificate in July 2023, certifying the platform for European civil aviation markets and marking a key milestone for Chinese-manufactured aircraft into international markets.
• Aviation Components and Aftermarket Services (航空零部件与服务) Vertically integrated capabilities in propeller systems (螺旋桨系统), composite materials (复合材料), maintenance/repair/overhaul (维修与保障), and C919 components supply, leveraging helicopter platform engineering to supply into the COMAC C919 narrow-body commercial aircraft program.
• Unmanned Helicopter Series (无人直升机系列) Dedicated unmanned helicopter product line, part of the company's expanded business scope covering new-energy aircraft and unmanned systems, supporting the broader 'low-altitude economy' strategy.
• New Energy Aircraft (新能源飞行器) New-energy (electric/hybrid) aircraft product line positioned around emerging low-altitude and sustainable aviation use cases, added to the corporate business scope in March 2024.

Quantifiable outcome

• Z-8 dropped 315 tons of water across 105 buckets in 24h38m flight time and 2,385 km range to suppress 2025 Shanxi Qinyuan forest fire
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Henan Civil Aviation Development Investment Group (河南民航发展投资集团)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2023Signed firm orders for 5 AC312E + 2 AC352 helicopters and 15 AC-series non-revocable orders at the 6th Tianjin 直博会. Signed cooperation memorandum with AVICOPTER Hafei. The AC-series helicopters will be used for Henan aviation emergency rescue and other applications, supporting scaled development of Henan's general aviation industry.
• Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone Management Committee (天津港保税区管委会)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2023Strategic partnership to build the 'AVIC Civil Helicopter Industry Base' and 'Hafei Tianjin Civil Helicopter R&D Center' — establishing Tianjin as China's R&D, manufacturing, MRO, and service center for civil helicopters. AVICOPTER Helicopter Institute (直升机所) signed a separate framework agreement on helicopter innovation development, focusing on new configurations and new-energy rotorcraft research. Ten projects signed in total.
• Safran (法国赛峰)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2023Signed Safran engine nacelle integration center project (法国赛峰发动机短舱集成中心项目) with Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone at the 2023 直博会. International industrial partnership for engine nacelle integration in China.
• Shanxi General Aviation Group (山西通用航空集团有限公司)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 14 September 2023Signed intent agreement with AVICOPTER Changfei for 10 AC311A helicopters and industrial cooperation — first attempt to expand civil aircraft market through industrial cooperation model.
• China Pacific Property Insurance (中国太平洋财产保险股份有限公司)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 September 2023Co-signed aviation medical rescue cooperation agreement with AVICOPTER Tianzhi and Shanghai Lianhe Aviation Services. Three-way partnership to promote large-scale application of AC-series helicopters in air medical rescue, improving commercial value of air medical operations.
• Jiaolong General Aviation (蛟龙通用航空有限公司)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 14 September 2023Signed 2 AC313A helicopter purchase agreement with AVICOPTER Changfei and AVIC Leasing at 2023 直博会, opening a new sales channel for AC313A helicopters.
• Jiangxi Aviation Vocational and Technical College (江西航空职业技术学院)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2023Co-signed 2 ultralight helicopter sales contract with AVICOPTER Changfei and Huaxia Jiuzhou GA to explore new cooperation model in the helicopter training market.
• Huaxia Jiuzhou General Aviation (华夏九州通用航空有限公司)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2023Co-signed 2 ultralight helicopter sales contract with AVICOPTER Changfei and Jiangxi Aviation Vocational and Technical College to jointly explore the helicopter training market.
• China Aero Geophysical Survey and Remote Sensing Center for Land and Resources (中国自然资源航空物探遥感中心)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2023Signed technical cooperation and service agreement with China Feilong General Aviation at 2023 直博会, fully outsourcing the AC312E (Aerial Geology No. 2) helicopter's survey operations. AVICOPTER Hafei customized the AC312E with multi-parameter survey equipment for this end customer.
• China Feilong General Aviation (中国飞龙通航)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 14 September 2023Signed AC312E operation and management agreement with China Aero Geophysical Survey Center; signed 1 AC311A purchase contract with AVICOPTER Changfei for emergency rescue, medical, and forest firefighting markets. Partner in AC311A high-plateau verification flights (March 2023).
• Airbus (海特空客) A321 Passenger-to-Freighter Conversion ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2023A321 passenger-to-freighter (客改货) conversion project signed between Hitech (Haite) and Airbus at 2023 直博会. Adjacent aviation industry partnership contributing to aviation MRO and freighter conversion capabilities in the Tianjin base.
• Shanghai Lianhe Aviation Services (上海联赫航空服务有限公司)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 September 2023Co-signed aviation medical rescue cooperation agreement with AVICOPTER Tianzhi and China Pacific Property Insurance to promote large-scale application of AC-series helicopters in air medical rescue.
• Poly Aviation Technology (保利航空科技有限公司)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 7 April 2023Signed AC332 purchase agreement at April 2023 first flight ceremony for general aviation transport, emergency rescue, and emergency patrol.
• Yunnan Fengxiang General Aviation (云南凤翔通用航空股份有限公司)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2023Signed 6 AC332 purchase agreement at April 2023 first flight; signed strategic cooperation agreement with AVICOPTER Hafei in September 2023 for AC-series helicopter sales, operations, aviation emergency rescue, and aviation culture research.
• Yunnan Xingkong General Aviation (云南星空通用航空有限公司)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 7 April 2023Signed AC332 purchase agreement at April 2023 first flight ceremony.
• Jiangsu Ningxiang General Aviation (江苏宁翔通用航空有限公司)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 7 April 2023Signed AC332 purchase agreement at April 2023 first flight ceremony.
• Tibet Civil Aviation Development Investment Co. (西藏民航发展投资有限公司)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2022Signed 1 AC313A + 3 AC311A purchase contract in February 2022; signed comprehensive cooperation framework with AVICOPTER Hafei in September 2023 covering AC312E sales, training, and operations in Tibet. Operates Tibet aviation emergency rescue base.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Airbus Helicopters: Global helicopter OEM and AVICOPTER's most direct competitor; co-developed the AC352/Z15 medium helicopter with AVIC. Competes head-to-head in the 4-7 ton class and is the dominant Western supplier into China's high-end civil rotorcraft market.
• Leonardo Helicopters (formerly AgustaWestland): Western helicopter manufacturer competing with AVICOPTER in the medium-class segment (AW139, AW189), particularly for emergency medical services, offshore, and VIP transport — the same missions AVICOPTER's AC332 and AC313 target.
• Bell Textron: Major Western rotorcraft OEM with overlapping product range in light (Bell 407) and medium (Bell 525) classes; competes for the same emergency rescue, law enforcement, and corporate transport customers that AVICOPTER's AC311/AC313 family serves.
• Sikorsky (Lockheed Martin): US helicopter manufacturer (S-70 Black Hawk, S-92) competing with AVICOPTER's military Z-8/Z-10/Z-19 in heavy-lift, naval, and special-mission segments globally and within Asia-Pacific defense markets.
• Russian Helicopters (Rostec): State-owned Russian helicopter OEM (Mi-8/17, Ka-32, Ansat); historically a major supplier to China and a direct comparable as a state-driven full-spectrum helicopter industrialization platform. Provides direct competitive overlap with AVICOPTER's Z-8 family.

Regional players

• COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China): Sister AVIC-group company developing the C919 narrow-body and C929 wide-body commercial aircraft. AVICOPTER supplies C919 components, and COMAC represents both an adjacent aviation manufacturing peer and the lead customer for AVICOPTER's components business.

Broad incumbents

• Embraer: Brazilian aerospace group producing commercial, executive, defense, and agricultural aircraft; comparable as a state-affiliated emerging-market aerospace champion with a broad fixed-wing portfolio analogous to AVICOPTER's Y-12 general aviation line.
• Textron Aviation (Cessna/Beechcraft): Major Western general aviation manufacturer producing the Cessna Caravan/Grand Caravan and Beechcraft King Air — directly comparable to AVICOPTER's Y-12E/Y-12F twin-engine utility fixed-wing aircraft serving similar regional transport and special-mission roles.

Emerging players

• Pilatus Aircraft: Swiss manufacturer of the PC-12 and PC-21 family — a niche player in single-engine turboprop utility aircraft overlapping with AVICOPTER's Y-12 mission space (regional transport, surveillance, training). Comparable as a profitable, export-oriented specialized airframe manufacturer.

Others

• AviChina Industry & Technology: Hong Kong-listed investment vehicle of AVIC that holds strategic stakes across the group's aviation assets; AVICOPTER's chairman concurrently chairs AviChina, making it both a major shareholder and the natural comparison as another listed AVIC aviation platform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors14 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AVICOPTER PLC