Hong Kong business aviation consulting company Asian Sky Group (ASG) has released the fourth edition of its China GA Report, showcasing the country’s growing general aviation (GA) industry, including an overview of the GA fleet, infrastructure, and training schools & pilots and an update on the latest GA Government policies.
“In a year unlike any other for China and where everyday life has now returned to a certain level of normalcy, when it comes to General Aviation (GA) there’s a much dimmer story still to tell,” says ASG CEO, Jeffrey Lowe. “And frankly it’s a continuing story, and not all COVID-19 related as the GA market in China has been on the decline since 2017/2018.”
Lowe continues: “As of August 2020, the GA fleet stood at 2,930 GA aircraft* in Mainland China. While the fleet size has increased consistently over the past seven years, the growth rate has been on the decline since 2017, with 2020 registering a growth of just 6% (+156 aircraft), the lowest since 2016.
Highlights of the Report include:
- As of August 2020, the total number of GA aircraft in operation in China reached 2,930, an increase of 6% compared to the end of 2019. There are 443 GA companies in operation, an increase of 17 from the end of 2019. The growth rate has declined in recent years.
- There are 1,472 turboprop and piston fixed-wing aircraft, accounting for 50% of the total GA fleet; 1,070 helicopters, accounting for 37%; 326 business jets, accounting for 11%; and other types account for the remaining 2%.
- In 2019, GA flight hours increased by 14% compared to the previous year, reaching over 1.06 million hours and breaking the one million mark for the first time. In 2020, GA flight hours were affected by the COVID-19 epidemic. As such, there was a significant decrease in hours in February and March, compared with the same period of 2019. However, in April and May flight hours quickly recovered as the epidemic came under control. In June, flight hours exceeded during the same period in 2019. It is expected that overall GA flight hours in 2020 will slightly decrease by 3% compared with 2019.
- COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the GA industry. The vast majority of operators suffered negative effects of varying degrees during this period. Still, companies have taken appropriate measures and played an active role in the fight against the epidemic. The government has also adopted corresponding support measures. The role of emergency services is perhaps the most notable, a positive reflection of the GA industry.
- In 2020, the government will continue to issue and implement relevant policies to support the development of GA, particularly for points such as GA airport and infrastructure construction, low-altitude airspace opening, and cross-border helicopter operations within the Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau region.
- GA aircraft in China are powered by 3,751 engines. Pratt & Whitney has the highest market share among manufacturers, reaching 22%; other notable companies are Lycoming, Rolls-Royce, Continental Engines and Safran. Among the various types of engines, pistons (used in helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft) account for the highest proportion, making up 44% of the GA engine market. The others are turboshafts (helicopters), turbofans (business jets) and turboprops (fixed-wing aircraft).
- There are currently 32 GA aircraft manufacturers in China that have obtained domestic production licenses (PC). Among those, 18 companies produce their own aircraft; most falling into the very-light sport aircraft category. Most manufacturers with a higher market have such due to joint ventures or acquisitions. Notably, Liaoning Province – north of Shanghai – is home to the most GA manufacturers in China.
- By the end of 2019, the total number of certified GA airports in China reached 246, exceeding the number of public transport airports for the first time. By August 2019, this number reached 299, in addition to the 189 take-off and landing platforms that have not been certified. Most of the certified GA airports are runway airports – with a runway length of around 400 to 800 meters. Heilongjiang, the country’s northernmost province, is home to the largest number of certified GA airports. Hunan, Guangdong and Hebei provinces have seen the fastest growth of certified GA airports.
- In terms of infrastructure, there are 13 FBOs in Mainland China that provide ground support services for business jets. There are approximately 7 self-operated MROs by aircraft manufacturers, as well as 30 manufacturer-authorized MRO facilities.
- By the end of 2019, there were 38 CCAR-141 flight schools in China, an increase of 12 compared with the 26 at the end of 2018. Since the start of 2020, there have been only 3 new flight schools added to the total number.
- The 2020 China GA Report, in addition to providing an overview of the GA fleet, infrastructure, and training schools & pilots, also delves into more details on the impact of Covid-19 on the market and showcases the latest regulatory developments from the Central Government and aviation regulatory bodies.
*Note: GA aircraft is defined as turboprops / pistons, business jets, helicopters, balloons, gyroplanes, and electric fixed-wing aircraft.
