2021 China General Aviation Report

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
• As of June 2021, the total number of General Aviation
aircraft operating in China reached 3,066, an increase
of 4% compared to the end of 2020. There were 454
general aviation companies - a deduction of two
compared to 2020. Despite seeing a continuous
increase in the number of general aviation aircraft,
it is the first time general aviation companies have
decreased since 2014.
• There were 1,583 turboprops and piston fixed-wing
aircraft, accounting for 52% of the total general
aviation fleet. 1,049 helicopters and 360 business jets
made up 34% and 12% of the total fleet respectively,
whilst other types of aircraft accounted for the
remaining 2%.
• In 2020, general aviation aircraft flew around 980,000
hours, equivalent to a decline of 8% compared to 2019.
In 2021, as the COVID-19 pandemic has been slowly
coming under control, and general aviation operators
have slowly resumed operations. Flight hours from
January to May 2021 saw a dramatic rise from the
same period in 2020. It is expected that flight hours for
the whole of 2021 will rise by 12% compared to 2020.
• The breakdown of flight hours by category is as follows:
pilot training (65%), utility and air tourism (26%) as well
as transportation and charter (9%).
• Mainland China has entered the important period of its
14th Five-Year Plan. The State Council of the People’s
Republic of China and local governments have set new
policies to promote the development of the general
aviation industry from multiple perspectives such
as finance and industry standards. Under the active
guidance of policies, mainland China will cultivate
low-altitude economic development to realize the
quantitative to qualitative changes in the general
aviation industry.
• There are currently 33 general aviation aircraft
manufacturers in mainland China that have obtained
domestic Production Certificate (PC). Amongst these
companies, 19 manufacture their own aircraft. China’s
self-manufactured AG600, GA20, and JH-2 have all
made significant progress. Although the Chinese
aviation manufacturing industry has developed rapidly
in recent years, there is still a gap in technology and sales
when compared to GA aircraft manufactured elsewhere
compared with American or European countries.
• The end of 2020 saw a total of 339 certified GA airports
in mainland China. As of June 2021, there are 346
certified, and 195 uncertified GA airports in China.
Most of the certified GA airports have runway lengths
between 400 and 800 meters. Heilongjiang Province still
has the most certified GA airports, whilst Guangdong
and Jiangsu provinces saw the most growth.
• In terms of infrastructure, there are 14 FBOs in mainland
China that provide ground support services.
• As of June 2021, there were a total of 43 CCAR-141
aviation schools in China, two more than at the end
of 2020. However, compared to 2019, there was an
increase of three schools in 2020.
• At the end of 2020, the total number of Chinese civil
aviation pilot licenses was 69,817. From 2017 to
2019, the annual growth rate of the number of pilot
licenses stayed at around 10%. However, the growth
rate dropped to 2% in 2020. Civil aviation companies
are still the first choice for a pilot’s career, accounting
for 91% of the market share. On the other hand, the
number of general aviation pilots increased the most
in 2020 – by 5%.
• There are a total of 3,936 general aviation engines
operating in China. Pratt & Whitney has the highest
market share with 20%. Next comes Lycoming, Rolls-
Royce, Continental, and Safran. In terms of engine
type, pistons (used in helicopters and some fixedwing
aircraft) made up 46% of the market share
and ranked the highest. Next were turboshafts
(helicopters), turbofans (business jets), and turboprops
(fixed-wing aircraft).