China has suspended private light fixed-wing aircraft operations and flight training nationwide following the crash of a light sport aircraft into Beijing’s CITIC Tower, Reuters reported.
The accident occurred Friday evening when a two-seat Sunward SA60L Aurora struck the 1,732-foot tower, also known as China Zun, in the city’s central business district. The pilot, who was the only person on board, was killed. Thirteen people who were not aboard the aircraft were injured, according to local government officials. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
According to the South China Morning Post, flight schools in several parts of China said they have been told to stop training operations and undergo safety inspections.
A private flight school manager in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, told the South China Morning Post that operators were waiting for further direction from authorities.
“There’s no telling when we’ll be able to fly again – we have to wait for a directive from the higher-ups,” said the manager, who was identified by the newspaper only by the surname Yang. “Every flight school must now undergo a reinspection by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, which could take at least a month.”
Beijing’s airspace is among the most restricted in China. The city includes permanent restricted airspace over its political and ceremonial core, covering Tiananmen Square and Zhongnanhai. CITIC Tower is located about 3.7 miles from Zhongnanhai.
Earlier this year, Beijing also instituted tighter rules for drones across the city, as Chinese authorities continued developing regulations for low-altitude operations.
Based on the limited information available, I suspect this event was intentional. In other words, suicide.
China’s government overreacted by shutting down all flight training nationwide.
China says it wants a big general aviation industry, but its onerous airspace restrictions sure do work against that.
US Airspace is more highly regulated with airspace classes A through E plus non regulated airspace. All metro areas in the US have a hub airport with class B airspace and a mode C transponder veil; meaning anyone trained knows they can not enter the mode C veil without their transponder on squawking 1200; or should know this. If an unauthorized incursion does occur into mode C transponder veil airspace; ATC usually knows right away and is forced to pay close attention to the incursion and run through the emergency and common traffic frequencies to get in touch with the errant pilot to fly out of the mode C veil. So the US system is set up to prevent this kind of accident that happened in China. And since 9/11/2001; any aircraft flying near skyscrapers without clearance will usually be met by jet fighters and escorted out of the area or shot down. I can only assume these procedures are world wide and the Chinese aviation authority and their Air Force did not follow through to stop this suicide before it hit the skyscraper. Damn shame. But it is on the Chinese government and not the small aircraft community; and the Chinese government and Chinese Air Force should recognize this.
With all due respect, there is a lot inaccurate about what you stated about USA airspace. Either you’re not a pilot or you really need to brush up on regulations. Your comments about class B, about the veil, about non-existing skyscraper restrictions and jet fighters on the ready are inaccurate. Many metro areas in the US don’t in fact have class B, and your implication about the mode C veil requiring clearance is inaccurate. I especially like your statement that the US is “highly regulated… (including) non regulated airspace”
There is no amount of practical regulation that can prevent someone from doing something really stupid, including driving a car, a van or an airplane into a crowd or a building, short of outlawing cars, vans, and airplanes. That’s a really good thing in a country celebrating 250 years of freedom; freedom which naturally comes with reasonable risks. You can never have freedom and absolute safety simultaneously. Hoorah, U.S.A!