China's moves towards opening its skies could make it one of the world's largest general aviation markets, and could spur neighbours to follow suit

General aviation in eastern Asia, constrained by artificial barriers imposed by governments afraid to open up their skies to small aircraft, has always lagged well behind the rest of the world. But there are signs that change is on the way - including in the key markets of China, Japan and Taiwan - albeit painfully slowly.

China, which has the potential to become one of the largest general aviation markets in the world, seems ready to start easing rules that hamper movement of every aircraft type other than airliners and military aircraft. First is the possible introduction of regulations for low-altitude local area flying that would allow flying clubs and schools to access practice airspace without the current onerous pre-clearance requirements. China's budding flying school industry needs easy and unlimited access to local airspace to keep potential students from instead training in Australia and the USA.

China, however, must go way beyond opening up local airspace for general aviation to take off in the country. Cross-country flights, which now require several layers of approval including from the air force, need to become more feasible. For this to happen, China will either have to spend billions of dollars to equip its vast interior with communication and radar systems or give up its tenet of 100% controlled airspace. The latter is by far the better option, given that it could take decades to build the necessary infrastructure, but requires a major sea change that the Chinese unfortunately do not appear willing to make.

Aircraft ownership and operating regulations also need to be scrapped. This is especially important for China's small but promising business aircraft industry, which cannot soar unless companies are allowed to operate their own aircraft. Companies now must rely on airlines to provide business jet services and existing general aviation companies for helicopter operations. Manufacturers have high hopes for the Chinese market - as evident in the National Business Aviation Association's decision last month to hold an annual event in China, starting with a forum in July in Hong Kong and a convention in Shanghai the following year. But for the expectations to be realised China must first stop treating business aircraft like airliners.

The highly anticipated and gradual opening up of general aviation in China could spur a similar movement in rival Taiwan and Japan.

Business jet manufacturers are lobbying hard for the Japanese to lift barriers, including outrageously expensive landing fees, limited airport access and restrictions on foreign-registered aircraft. The opening next year of Nagoya's Komaki airport to business jets and the recent reduction in a notice requirement for business jet landings from 10 to three days indicate that the lobbying is starting to pay off.

But Japan has a long way to go and manufacturers expect China will open first, perhaps inducing Japan to follow suit. The conservative Japanese seem reluctant to change their view that private aircraft are purely luxury items that should be heavily taxed and regulated. The government needs to be made aware of the economic benefits small aircraft can bring to secondary cities and rural areas.

Taiwan, which has an outright ban on all private aircraft operations, has an even longer road ahead. But like China and Japan, there are some encouraging signs. Responding to demands from manufacturers and potential operators, Taiwan is studying if its airspace and airports can accommodate general aviation. Business aircraft manufacturers believe several local companies would buy aircraft if given the opportunity and could operate them without compromising Taiwan's security. Flying schools, which offer ground school courses in Taiwan but have to keep their aircraft abroad, think rural airstrips would provide a safe and profitable base for their businesses. The Taiwanese government should give its own professional pilots the opportunity to train at home, its companies the freedom to operate their own aircraft and its citizens the option of flying privately at least in rural areas. It is one of just a few democratic countries left that has not yet opened its skies at least partially to general aviation.

There are general aviation success stories within Asia. Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand all have small but thriving general aviation communities and moderately open airspace. But these countries are in the minority and for virtually all trans-border flights within Asia the restrictions are overly burdensome. Asia's general aviation and business aviation industry is much smaller than it should be and for pilots and aerospace companies in this region change cannot come fast enough.

Source: Flight International