General Aviation in China

While the rest of the world has been enjoying the benefits of General aviation for years now, GA is the one thing that China is behind everyone else on. There are many reasons that the GA industry has not grown in China including restrictive regulations, limited airspace, and heavy taxes on GA, but, according to the Wall Street Journal, one of the biggest reasons is that the airspace in China is controlled mainly by the military. In the last few decades, however, China has been working to bring their GA sector up to par with the US and have seen considerable growth in the last several years, and several US manufacturers have joined forces with Chinese businesses to make this happen.

According to Booz & Co. some of the companies that have created joint ventures in China include Harbin, Embraer, and Cessna, who is working with Shenyang Aircraft Corporation in developing a 162 Skycatcher for the Chinese market. American manufacturers have made growth easier in China, joint ventures between companies make funding easier and help young Chinese companies access to experience. But it's not just US manufacturers that are helping the industry grow, the Friends of China GeneralAviation say that China has become aware of the potential for GA benefits, including emergency transportation, and business aviation, many of the benefits that General Aviation can provide are needs that the Chinese are in need of due to their booming economy, not only are there more business needs because of growing companies but more and more people are able to afford to fly as a hobby in China. According to Friends of Chinese General Aviation China has been adopting many US policies and regulations for their GA program but are still working out issues with their airspace which might continue to slow down their growth if they are unable to come to an agreement with the Chinese military. While GA is growing in China is creates many opportunities for them it does benefit us as well, for one, manufactures are able to tap into a new market and generate sales, and consequently those companies opening shop across seas creates jobs. According to Airbus, Airbus China is the only Airbus training facility in Asia Pacific and creates jobs for trainers, and engineers alike. Because the facility is the only one in the area every company is the area that flies Airbus sends their, Maintenance, Flight, and Cabin crews to Airbus China for training which not only creates revenue for the American manufacturer but creates good training opportunities for American pilots going to China looking for work in their growing commercial industry. While China is booming and their GA sector is growing, it is American companies that are helping them along and benefitting from their need for good aircraft and training.

Airbus. (n.d.). Opportunities in china. Retrieved from http://www.airbus.com/work/experienced-candidates/opportunities-in-china/

FCGA. (n.d.). General aviation in china —an overview. Retrieved from http://www.gochinaga.com/GAInChina.htm

Jackson, C. (2012, May 09). China's general-aviation flight of fancy. Retrieved from http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304451104577391650977428024

MacCorkle, J., & Wong, T. (2009). General aviation in china seizing growth opportunities. Retrieved from http://www.booz.com/media/file/General_Aviation_in_China.pdf