The Civil Aviation Flight University of China (CAFUC) has begun its first helicopter ab-initio technician training class with 15 students, signaling the start of a long-term plan devised by Eurocopter and CAFUC to develop a pool of qualified helicopter technicians to meet China’s future needs in the expanding general aviation sector. A memorandum of understanding was signed between Eurocopter and CAFUC in July 2010, with the aim of training 120 helicopter technicians annually by 2015. In the “train the trainer” scheme, Eurocopter provides training to CAFUC instructors both in China (one month) and its training academy in Germany (three months), to certify them to the highest international standards as qualified instructors to provide ab-initio technician training to students in CAFUC. The course will last for four months, during which each trainee will receive 350 h of theoretical and 300 h of practical training in the technical aspects and functions of a helicopter. Upon completion and passing a CAAC-approved test, the trainee will receive a basic helicopter maintenance technician license. Thereafter, he or she will be able to seek employment with helicopter companies and operators, during which he or she can then further obtain type-rating certification.