The number of aircraft in China's general aviation market remains far lower than the world average.
The country's economic and social development will require 6,200 private helicopters in the future, reports the Beijing-based Caixin Online.
As of the end of 2013, the number of helicopters in China was only 323 but local aviation industry predicted that the figure's annual compound growth will reach 41% over the next few years.
The country's demand for helicopters is huge due to its vast lands and population but its current number of helicopters available as well their types and applications are limited.
During the Airshow China in Zhuhai, US rotocraft maker Bell Helicopter signed a letter of intent with China's Reignwood Group. The Chinese company will purchase 50 of Bell Helicopter's 505 Jet Ranger X helicopters to carry out tourism-related functions. The letter brings the number of helicopter Reignwood Group purchased from the US company's 505 helicopters to 60. The Chinese firm has already purchased the company's 206, 407GX and 429 models, which carried out rescue missions, corporate transport and pilot training.
Four other Chinese businesses also placed orders for Bell Helicopter's 407GX on the same day. The US company has delivered one of the two 407GX models that YaLong General Aviation in Sanya, Hainan province purchased in August this year and is set to deliver another one in March next year.
An industrial source said the slow growth of the general aviation industry in China is caused by tight government control of airspace, insufficient tax exemptions, insufficient aviation infrastructure and tremendous market competition. A commercial airline predicted that the Chinese helicopter market will be boosted next year as Beijing may relax its control of lower airspace and the Chinese civil aviation agency has relaxed regulations for citizens to obtain helicopter pilot licenses.
Source: Want China Times
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