The China Civil Helicopter Market Forecast Annual Report (2025-2034) released at the 2025 China Helicopter Development Forum predicts that the flight hours of China’s civil helicopters will show an overall growth trend in the next 10 years, at the backdrop of China’s continuous economic restructuring and upgrading and the rapid development of the low-altitude economy. The total flight hours are expected to exceed 300,000 by 2029 and 370,000 by 2034.

Aviation emergency rescue is one of the important application scenarios for helicopters. With outstanding performance advantages, helicopters can quickly reach complex operation sites that are difficult to access by water or land.

Wang Lei, Director of China Rescue and Salvage of Ministry of Transport of the People’s Republic of China, introduced that, taking marine rescue as an example, the bureau has established 11 rescue flight bases in China’s coastal areas, equipped with a total of 32 helicopters. Since helicopters were put into emergency rescue, more than 7,500 lives have been saved from the brink of death.