News
Helicopter market in China ready for lift off
April 19, 2013 By Carey Fredericks
April 19, 2013, Shanghai, China - In the next five years, the number of civilian helicopters in China is expected to triple to 600, with as many as 2,000 needed by 2032, according to sources.
"The Chinese helicopter industry is in its infancy. It is still
growing, so I think we are going to see huge growth in the aviation
sector over the next two decades," said Rishiraj Singh, Honeywell
(China) Co Ltd's director and business leader of business and general
aviation, aerospace for Asia Pacific and China, on Tuesday.
Singh, who attended the annual Asian Business Aviation Conference and
Exhibition in Shanghai, said there are about 200 civilian helicopters
in China, and the number may grow to 600 in five years.
"In the next two decades, there could be about 2,000 helicopters in China. You can see the huge growth potential."
The central government has promised to gradually open parts of
China's low-altitude airspace – altitudes lower than 1,000 meters – for
private flights to promote the general aviation sector.
During the nation's 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-2015), the
government said general aviation will be one of the pillars of economic
development.
Du Qiang, deputy director-general of the National Air Traffic Control
Commission Bureau, was quoted as saying by the Shanghai Securities News
that China expects to have 2,640 general aviation aircraft and more
than 12,000 people working in this industry by 2015.
Experts say China has 155,800 potential civilian helicopter clients,
and the market is worth as much as 150 billion yuan ($24.2 billion).
