Aviation-related industries ready for takeoff in Hunan

Pilot program

Hunan is the first province to pilot the reform of low-altitude airspace management. In Zhuzhou, the city where China's first aircraft engine was made, development of the low-altitude economy has accelerated in recent years.

Zhuzhou has more than 120 enterprises involved in the aviation industry. The city is home to Zhuzhou Lusong Airport, the only A1, or highest-level general aviation airport, in the province.

Dong Rui, a marketing manager for the airport, said it has opened two sightseeing routes flying to Zhangjiajie in Hunan and Jinggangshan in Jiangxi province.

About 30 to 50 aspiring pilots train at the airport every year. The airport also tests and licenses operators of large-scale drones. Hundreds of people take such tests every month, Dong said.

Wang Jingyi, general manager of the airport, said they are planning to add a new runway to meet the burgeoning demands of the general aviation industry.

More people are eager to do pilot or drone-operator training, while aircraft manufacturers need more space to test their products, she said. "Although it is still a niche market, we are optimistic about its prospects," Wang said.