New standards' to boost nation's aviation exports'

China should improve its airworthiness standards to boost the export of civilian aircraft, national legislators have suggested.

"The current airworthiness standards of China were made based on those used [at the time] by the United States Federal Aviation Administration, but our authorities have neglected to revise and update them in a timely manner," said Yu Feng, deputy to the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature.

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Yu, an executive of China's leading helicopter manufacturer Avicopter, said the nation's airworthiness standards don't reflect the latest developments in aviation technology or manufacturing techniques. They also exclude aircraft made by individuals and unmanned aircraft.

"For instance, the China Civil Aviation Regulations part 25, which governs the airworthiness of transport aircraft, falls nearly 10 years behind the US Federal Aviation Regulation part 25 in its content because the US administration periodically revises its standards, but we don't," he said.

Airworthiness reflects an aircraft's suitability for safe operations. An airworthiness certificate is initially conferred by a national aviation authority and maintained by performing the required maintenance actions.

Tang Jun, another deputy and chairman of Xi'an Aircraft Industry, the leading maker of the nation's large aircraft such as the H-6 bomber and MA regional airliner series, said the current standards aren't suitable for certifying domestically developed, large airliners and their engines.

That situation will pose obstacles to China's efforts to build a commercial aircraft industry.

"I suggest the government should establish a project and allocate funds to draw up new airworthiness standards and regulations that fit our civil aircraft development levels," Tang said.

"The standards of the US and Europe are widely recognized and adopted. If ours are as good as theirs, then it will be easier for us to remove many difficulties related to market access."

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