Guidelines to Open More Low-altitude Airspace in China

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) February 14, 2011 -- Chinese government aviation officials are planning to ease restrictions on low-altitude aircraft in an effort to encourage more private flights and boost the development of the country's general-purpose aircraft industry. Aircraft flying up to 4,000 meters will be able to make takeoffs as long as their pilots register in advance, instead of waiting for approval from aviation authorities, according to guidelines recently issued by the State Council and the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China.

The development of general-purpose aircraft -- private planes and those serving purposes other than security, military and public transportation with a flying altitude of less than 2,000 meters -- is expected to create a market worth more than one trillion yuan (US$150 billion) and benefit related sectors such as airport construction, pilot training and aircraft maintenance.

China now has about 1,000 general-purpose aircraft. The State Civil Aviation Administration estimates the number will exceed 10,000 by 2012.

Data from an unnamed aircraft seller in Asia predicts China's private airplane market will grow by more than 20 percent annually in the coming years and that the country will overtake the United States in the number of private planes in 10 years given the rapid wealth accumulation by Chinese tycoons.

The program soon will begin trial operations in several areas under a government-supervised management and service system expected to take form before 2015. It is slated to begin normal operations in 2020.