June 23, 2015
At a U.S.-China Aviation Summit in Washington, DC on June 20, NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen led a discussion with senior government and industry leaders on the future growth of China’s rapidly diversifying aviation market.
Hosted by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, the panel brought together senior officials from the Civil Aviation Administration of China and FAA, as well as the Shanghai Airport Authority (SAA), with industry leaders from the U.S. and Asia.
Bolen invited the panelists to consider the progress and challenges involved in fostering a favorable policy landscape for the growth of general aviation in China.
“Tremendous progress and clear goals in China are important for the development of general aviation,” said Bolen, noting that general aviation is not only helping Chinese businesses connect to government and financial centers, but is creating jobs, spurring economic investment and helping in times of humanitarian response.
The industry leaders on the panel, “General Aviation Development: Government Policies and Bilateral Cooperation,” represented GE Aviation, Gulfstream, ICF International, CITIC Offshore Helicopter Co., Ltd. and Universal Weather & Aviation.
The potential growth of business aviation in China has been an industry hot topic for over a decade, and in recent years, Chinese authorities have demonstrated a commitment to capitalizing on that potential. Ambitious goals for general aviation manufacturing and infrastructure were included in the country’s latest five-year plan.
As moderator, Bolen also highlighted the importance of the Sino-American aviation industry relationship, as it promotes greater diplomatic goals of fostering trade, commerce and bringing the countries closer together.
Bolen concluded by applauding China’s commitment to safety in the continued development of its general aviation sector. “Safety is a hallmark of business aviation in the U.S., China and around the world,” he said.
NBAA has been working to promote the growth of the business aviation sector in Asia for a number of years, most prominently in co-hosting, with the SAA, the annual Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE), which takes place at the Shanghai Hawker Pacific Business Aviation Centre, and at the at the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. The next ABACE event is scheduled for April 11-13, 2017. Learn more about ABACE2017.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.