Chinese patients airlifted from their location to a nearby hospital will soon receive emergency treatment in the helicopter when China introduces its first flying ICU.

The helicopter will be designed to function as an emergency room in the air, making sure that patients are given the necessary medical treatment during the time of their air transport.

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The Beijing Red Cross Emergency Rescue Center, also known as 999, will soon have the first flying ICU in the country after it ordered two choppers from Eurocopter, a global helicopter manufacturing and support company. Eurocopter has a manufacturing plant in Tianjin.

The first helicopter will arrive in Beijing in August while the second one will arrive in the second half of next year, authorities said.

Twin-Engine EC135 Helicopters

The helicopter, a twin-engine EC135, will be equipped with an ECG monitor, a defibrillator and a ventilator. It will also have enough space to accommodate two stretchers.

The helicopter can fly up to as far as 625 kilometers, an official with the 999 said.

To better operate the flying ICU, Beijing will send medical personnel to Europe to train. Foreign experts will also be hired by the city to train local staff on giving emergency treatment in the air.

First International Air Transfer

Last year, the 999 made history by making its first international air transfer when it transported an American patient from the Miyun Airport in Beijing to Seoul.

From Seoul, the patient was transported by a waiting American emergency plane to Utah. It was China's first seamless international transfer, authorities said.

Meanwhile, experts said the Chinese civil helicopters need is expected to rise to about 1,500 helicopters in the next 10 years and could further increase in the next 20 years.