Sky's the limit for booming general aviation sector (3)

Meanwhile, some local governments are also starting to gear up in anticipation of a booming aviation market.

Eight cities, including Chongqing, Xi'an in Shaanxi province and Zhuhai in Guangdong province, have already established State or provincial industrial parks, specially designed to attract interest from the general aviation industry.

However, for the industry to genuinely flourish and reach its full potential, it still has to clear various regulatory hurdles in China.

The most crucial, say industry experts, is reform starting in 2013, to open up the country's low-altitude airspace.

Talking recently during the Zhuhai exhibition, Ma Xin, deputy secretary of the National Air Management Traffic Committee, said: "Traffic guidance and air surveillance facilities will be promoted nationally from next year."

Some 502,700 hours of flight were recorded in China's general aviation in 2011. That number is expected to rise to 2 million hours by 2020, with the help of the new low-altitude regulations, and other opening-up reforms.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China is also reported to be working on various subsidies for the general industry, including grants for airport building and pilot training.

According to a recent CAAC report, there were 70 airports and 216 landing points for general aviation at the end of 2011.

We recommend:
World's highest-altitude civilian airport to start operations	Global sales of Samsung's Galaxy Note 2 tops 5 mln mark	China to open Beijing-Guangzhou high-speed rail route slows
China Telecom starts iPhone 5 pre-orders	China's MA700 to take flight in 2016	13th Int'l Automobile Industry Exhibition
Rural grid upgrades to ensure electricity	Staff members of bus company sort notes, coins	Galaxy Soho building in Beijing