Superior Aviation Group – the Chinese firm that unsuccessfully tried to buy Hawker Beechcraft in 2012 – is preparing to build an 8km² town on the outskirts of Beijing, dedicated to the country's expanding business and general aviation industry.
Speaking at NBAA, Tim Archer, Superior Aviation Group chief executive says the project is a response to the frustration felt by many western manufacturers and businesses about the slow pace of investment in the country’s infrastructure to support business aviation.
“When completed, this will be the only town in China to be centred around a modern executive airport – with a 2,400m runway - and designed to meet the needs of general and business aviation aircraft manufacturers, maintenance providers, owners, sellers, and pilots,” Archer says.
Superior is currently in negotiations with three undisclosed manufacturing companies to locate their new facilities the the town. The community – situated 20km east of the Chinese capital - will also have a training school, completion centre as well as a hospital, housing development and hotels, says Archer.
Superior says it is vital that China creates a modern aviation infrastructure to support the industry which has so much pent-up demand.
The project is being funded by a Superior and other unnamed private investors and is expected to cost around $3.2 billion. Construction is scheduled to begin next year “once all the [government] approvals have been received” and should be completed around two years later.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
