NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen has welcomed China’s commitment to adding a steady stream of new airports. Speaking to reporters at ABACE 2017 this week, he stressed that this is critical to the development of business aviation in the nation. Bolen noted that the development of airports in the nation has followed a similar path as the development of business aviation itself, starting with the largest facilities and scaling down slowly.
This is opposite of how airports evolved in in the U.S., he added, citing as an example Chicago O’Hare International Airport. That facility is now one of the largest and busiest in the U.S., but grew out a small airfield that once was an orchard (thus the designator ORD).
In China, the focus initially had been on large commercial facilities, but now officials are expanding the number of facilities throughout the nation, giving hopes that more facilities will open up for business and general aviation operations. “I am encouraged by the rapid pace of airport [development in China,” Bolen said, noting that China has been adding airports at a rate of 10 to 20 a year for the past two decades. That number is expected to pick up to 25 to 30 airports annually for some time to come, he stated.
“The U.S. has a very old and established airport infrastructure,” which includes 5,000 facilities, he said. China has less than 400 airports “so there is room to grow,” Bolen noted. “Our hope is as the country focuses on developing airports, China will develop general aviation airports.”
Along with China’s focus on new airports, Bolen has also been encouraged that the regulatory approach to business and general aviation. He pointed to the gradual liberalization of the airspace and the inclusion of the industry in the recent five-year plans.
The Civil Aviation Authority of China has taken a strong interest, Bolen added, as evidenced by the participation of Jiang Huaiyu, director general of the eastern regional headquarters for the Civil Aviation Authority of China, not only in the ABACE opening general session, but by the hosting of a CAAC forum. The forum provides a dialog that can serve to educate people about the unique role that business aviation plays.