Flying club for the rich in suburban Beijing

A trainee is seen practicing with a 120 helicopters at the flying club's training site in Miyun county of Beijing. [Photo: Beijing Youth Daily]

A rescue team is sent to the crash site where one pilot died and another was injured in Miyun County in suburban Beijing on April 10, 2014. [Photo: Beijing Evening News]

A flying club in suburban Beijing has gained attention after dispatching a helicopter to rescue the pilot of a helicopter that crashed at the club last week. Charging high annual tuition fees, the exclusive club is reserved to its wealthy members, including a number of celebrities.

The aircraft crashed last Thursday at the club in Miyun county of Beijing, causing the death of one pilot whilst leaving another injured. Cao Wei, a chief pilot and also a training instructor at the Miyun Airport Flying Club, flew the helicopter that transported the injured pilot to a nearby hospital. "The whole rescue effort took only four minutes from take-off to arriving at the hospital", Cao said.

The flying club has recruited 40 members since it was established last year, and charges up to 300,000 yuan (50,000 US dollars) for fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter navigation courses.

Yu Xiaoli, a teacher at the club, said that most of the trainees are middle-aged entrepreneurs or second-generation wealthy Chinese people in their twenties. Li Yapeng was confirmed as one of the celebrities who is training there.

Some of these trainees have developed personal airplane garages and private landing tracks. The club also provides a trusteeship service for airplanes belonging to its members, charged at an annual rate of at least 400, 000 to 500,000 yuan.