(ShanghaiDaily, Sept 27, 2006) A SHANXI mine operator sponsored the local police 8 million yuan (US$1 million) to buy a helicopter, a Taiyuan-based newspaper reported today.

The Bell 212 helicopter, which cost the Shanxi police 30 million yuan in total, will be called "Xingwang"¡ª named after the mine.

Following Guangdong, Shanxi is now China's second province to own a police helicopter.

A new flight team was established today, according to the newspaper.

Yang Anhe, the director of the Shangxi Public Security Department, expressed his appreciation to Liu Mei, the chairman of Xingwang Mining Co Ltd at the unveiling ceremony this morning.

Yang said that they will buy another two police helicopters to serve the province by the end of 2007.

With the price of fuel, mechanical maintenance and the cost of the crew, each flight costs about 20,000 yuan, said Wang Jiahang, pilot of the flight team.

The two-engine helicopter is capable of holding 15 people¡ªone pilot and 14 passengers. With a range of 640 kilometers, its maximum speed can reach 270 kilometers an hour, according to the newspaper.

Shanxi, which has 260 billion metric tons of known coal deposits¡ªone third of China's total, is a leading producer of coal in the country. The abundant coal deposits bring big fortunes to the local mine operators but at the same time cause hundreds of accidents and deaths.
source:ShanghaiDaily