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Low-altitude airspace to open for private
www.chinanews.cn 2005-09-24 16:20:08
(Source: China Daily)
BEIJING, Sep. 24 - China is likely to open "most or even all of its
low-altitude airspace" around 2010, according to a top official at one of
the country's leading helicopter manufacturers.
Speaking in Beijing on Friday, Zhang Hongbiao, president of China
Aviation Industry Corp II (AVIC II), said China's huge potential demand
for helicopters and light planes, which lies both with government
agencies and the growing billionaires' club, would become a reality in
the next five years when the country will probably lift its long-standing
restriction on the use of airspace below 3,000 metres.
However, the Air Traffic Control Committee (ATCC) of the Central Military
Commission declined to comment on Zhang's statement.
The strict control of low-altitude airspace has long been regarded as a
bottleneck in the country's aviation development, which is predicted to
witness explosive growth in the next decade.
"China's monitoring equipment for low-altitude air traffic management has
now reached the average level of those of developed countries," Zhang
said. "So, opening low-altitude airspace to the public is feasible for
China."
He said the ATCC has been considering relaxing restrictions for some time.
China's huge potential market for helicopters, which could be used for
law enforcement, medical aid, news reporting and other businesses, has
already lured the world's leading manufacturers to take action even
before the airspace opens up.
Italian helicopter maker Agusta set up a 40-60 joint venture with
Jiangxi-based Changhe Aircraft Industries Group, a subsidiary of
State-owned AVIC II, earlier this week.
With an annual production capability of 40 aircraft, the joint venture,
the first of its kind in China, will at first produce six units annually
and then 20 units a year in the near future, company President Wang Bin
said.
Wang said the new company would mainly produce Agusta's A109E Power
model, an eight-seat light helicopter with twin engines.
Wang said the first China-made A109E, named the CA109 in China, will roll
off the production line by next June. It will be China's first self-made
double-engine light helicopter.
"Several domestic clients have showed great interest in the CA109, and we
are having talks with them," Wang said, adding that the major market for
the CA109 will be within China, with demand from government agencies,
businesses and the military.
Renzo Lunardi, deputy director of the Anglo-Italian Agusta Westland
group, said the A109E Power retails at around US$4 million. So far, 600
units have been sold worldwide.
Lunardi said the CA109, weighing 3 tons with a cruising speed of 285
kilometres per hour, would initially be assembled from imported kits, but
it was hoped to later source components from China.
Insiders say China's demand for helicopters is expected to peak in the
coming decade with potential orders likely to amount to 1,800 units.
Statistics from the General Administration of the Civil Aviation of China
(CAAC) show that more than 270 Chinese have qualified to fly helicopters
and light planes since the CAAC allowed the issuing of private licences
in August 1996.
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