Airspace restrictions have kept the reins tight on China’s general aviation industry but, as part of a pilot project, those restrictions — for one Chinese province — will be relaxed, according to China Daily. Airspace around the Shaanxi province industrial park will have relaxed military control of low altitude airspace, which means general aviation flights within the area don’t need the air force’s permission to fly. Hope is that this will stimulate growth in China’s general aviation industry, which has been stifled by severely restricted airspace access
Other than on specified commercial routes, non-military and non-airline flights over mainland China are controlled by the air force. Any civilian aircraft, including everything from rescue to aerial photography, needs air force permission to fly. For the rest of China, outside the designated area, this remains unchanged. As for the designated area, the term “pilot project” suggests the changes may not be permanent.
