The country’s flying schools, for example, have been importing a significant number of trainer aircraft but currently Aviation Industry Corporation 1 makes no general aviation aircraft and, in terms of general aviation aircraft for flying schools, AVIC 2 only has the LE-500 Little Eagle.
AVIC 1 executive vice-president Hu Wenming says AVIC 1 has just established a general aviation aircraft department. “We are currently in the study and research phase,” he says. “Actually we think the biggest market for general aviation aircraft is the
But Hu says AVIC 1 anticipates longer-term Chinese regulators will open up more airspace for general aviation so AVIC 1 thinks China will be an important part of its longer-term general aviation sales strategy. “We have to start making general aviation aircraft to prepare for this bigger future,” Hu says.
Even though AVIC 1 currently makes no general aviation aircraft, it has the capability to and Hu adds it was AVIC 1’s First Aircraft Design unit that designed the LE-500 Little Eagle that is today manufactured by AVIC 2’s Shijiazhuang Aircraft Industries.
AVIC 2 is also planning to make a major push into general aviation. Its president, Zhang Hongbiao, says AVIC 2 plans to bring together its subsidiaries Harbin Aircraft and Shijiazhuang Aircraft Industries. Zhang says these two will have the lead role in AVIC 2 for development of regional and general aviation aircraft.
“In the proper time we will unite Shijiazhuang Aircraft with Harbin Aircraft.
Harbin Aircraft has the capability to design general aviation aircraft because it designed the Harbin Y-12, a 19-seat turboprop that has received EASA and US FAA certification and been exported overseas, he adds.
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Source: Flight Daily News
