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Aviation History
1985
1985 - 0021.PDF
British Aerospace, Westlands, Boeing and (out of sight on the left) Airbus Industrie were located just inside the entrance to the Agricultural Hall from an extremely advanced communications network, to be built by Cable & Wireless. This will mean that most important business will be conducted over the ether rather than by time- consuming, and not always productive, air travel. Tourism is already increasing at an almost exponential rate, and accounts for most of the short-term demand for aircraft. The corollary to this is the need for airports, both new and modernised. At least 30 new airports are now on the cards, most of which will be built with local know-how. Western companies are, however, involved in sales of support equipment and mana gerial skills. It was in the latter capacity that various airlines (British Airways, Air France, KLM, SAS) were present at Aviation Expo/China '84, promoting advisory and other consultancy services, computerisation, maintenance expertise, and training. Transport aircraft will be needed to help open up China's vast potential for exporting food and other perishable pro ducts. While the country remains totally committed to Communism, Government policy is to encourage autonomy and profit making to increase efficiency. New trans port aircraft will probably be purchased from outside to begin with, but China is certain to manufacture its own at the earliest opportunity. Resource development, which has been CAAC's responsibility almost since the airline was founded, now encompasses various agricultural duties, including forestry, crop spraying, mapping, and remote sensing. CAAC operates 13 differ ent aircraft types in 18 provinces, but will shortly devolve its duties in this role to regional administrations who may want to i, update older aircraft types as well as expand operations. Another opportunity lies in the exploitation of the so-called offshore oil bonanza, although this has yet to be proven to exist. All civil-aviation requirements in China are decided by the Civil Aviation Leading Group of China, established in July of this FLIGHT International, 5 January 1985 Product ntbdels were a feature of many exhibits. Boeing displayed its full product range, many of which bore CAAC colours year by the State Council. The group is led by aviation minister Mo Wenxiang, with CAAC director general Shen Tu as deputy leader. Its job is to co-ordinate procurement and domestic production and, under State Council supervision, to determine China's civil aircraft policies and priorities. The principal end user of civil aircraft and airport equipment at present is CAAC, which, until it is broken up, retains complete control over what it buys. It has already bought well over a $1,000 million-worth of US aviation equipment. The actual purchasing nego tiations for airframes and spare engines are conducted and controlled by the China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (Machimpex), which is the commerical operating arm of the ministry of foreign economic trade and relations. Because of its negotiating experience, Machimpex also takes part in the nego tiation and purchase of military aircraft. The future of this organisation will change dramatically next year, when Machimpex will become an independent corporation responsible for its own profits and losses. How the group will be involved in new equipment purchases after that is still unclear. Another important organisation repre sented at the show was the China National Aero Technology Import and Export Corporation (Catic), which is the commercial arm of the ministry of aviation. Founded in 1979, Catic is responsible for importing foreign tech nology and equipment, and also has a significant manu facturing capability of its own. Over the last five years, Catic has been steadily devel oping its foreign trade. It has established technical co operation agreements with over 40 countries and regions, and in its first year of exis tence signed around 100 contracts worth "several hundred million dollars". The corporation has manu factured parts for McDonnell Douglas (MD-80 under carriage doors), Boeing (737-300 fins), Lockheed, Pratt & Whitney (Canada), Canadair, and Rolls-Royce, and has received favourable comments on quality and punctuality. Catic has recently purchased about 100,000km2 of land in the new economic zone at Shenzen. The centre will specialise in foreign trade, and in setting up joint ventures. Military-related purchases in China are supervised by the procurement division of the People's Liberation Army, under the leadership of General Li Guang. Contracts with Western manufacturers have so far been limited to relatively minor items, but one deal (of many) now being discussed involves the sale and licence manufacture of the Tow-armed Hughes 500 Defender. Both items have received US State Department approval for sale to China, which is said to need many such machines for protection of its long borders. • 9 The next important show for aerospace exhibitors is the International Defence Industries Expo/China '86, to be held in Beijing on January 10-14, 1986. The event is sponsored by China North Industries Corporation and hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT). Organisers China Promotion Ltd are at Room 2503, International Building, 141 Des Voeux Road, Central, Hong Kong. Tel 5-412268, Telex 76270 CHOCH HX. 19
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