Rescuers boarded at an airport in Chongqing municipality (Photo : Reuters)
The Chinese government has outlined preparations to build general aviation airports in some counties as authorities anticipate an increased demand for air transport.
A senior official of China's civil aviation authorities told the Global Times that the plan to build county airports will help bring about large-scale investment in manufacturing and investment.
Li Jiaxiang, head of the Civil Aviation Administration, said that the government is expecting a vast market potential in linking some 2,800 counties through an air transport system as part of the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020).
Li said that the massive infrastructure project will push the country's economic growth, as every county that has its own airport is expected to generate about 280 billion yuan or roughly $44.7 billion.
There are currently 78 counties with airports available to use for general aviation, the official added.
Li Xiaojin, a professor at the Economics and Management College of Civil Aviation University of China, told the Global Times that the plan aims to anticipate the potential growth and demand for faster, more personalized air transport for use by some affluent people, as well as in transport of agriculture products, rescue operations, and emergency medical services,.
"Thus, the development of general aviation will not only greatly enhance China's infrastructure, but also provide an impetus for emerging industries like private jet manufacturing and air ambulances," Li said.
The professor added that the plan for the project is right in time for the government's gradual easing on the ban on low-altitude aircraft and the handing over of approval rights for general aviation airports to the responsibility of the country's local governments.
Authorities are now thinking of raising the limit for which general aircraft are allowed to fly; currently, they can only fly at an altitude below 1,000 meters.
