By Ma Lie (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-10-16 07:34

XI'AN: China will focus more attention to the development of its general aviation sector to meet the growing requirements of the market.

As part of the effort, the China General Aviation Convention will be held October 26-27 at the China Aviation Industrial Base (CAIB) in Xi'an, capital of Northwest Shaanxi Province.

"The convention, jointly sponsored by China Aviation Institute and CAIB, attracts a number of foreign general aviation companies such as Michelin Aircraft Tire Company and Canadian Pratt & Whitney Engine Company and many domestic aviation companies," Li Nan, deputy secretary-general of China's Aviation Institute, said.

According to Li, the convention will focus on market expansion, including agricultural and forestry spraying, aerial surveys and geological exploration, the artificial intervention of weather, flight training and the soon-to-be-launched market of general aircraft leasing and financing.

Besides scheduled passenger and cargo flights, general aviation provides services for industry (including sea oil development), agriculture, forestry and construction, as well as medical rescues, disaster rescues, meteorological exploration, marine monitoring, scientific experiments, education and training as well as culture and sport.

Statistics show that the general aviation sector is larger than scheduled passenger and cargo services sector. At present, globally there are 336,000 general aircraft with more than 700,000 pilots working in the service, while there are only some 60,000 aircraft with 40,000 pilots for scheduled passenger and cargo services.

A forecast made by China's civil aviation sector showed that China will need up to 12,000 general aircraft by 2012.

"However, China has only some 500 aircraft for general aviation purposes at present," Jin Qiansheng, director of the management committee of CAIB, said.

Jin told China Daily that his base, established in August, 2004 was perfectly placed to help boost the sector.

"We have introduced six aircraft manufacturing companies into our base and 12 types of aircrafts, all for general aviation, which will be developed and produced by the firms," he said.