Shortage of pilots grounds general aviation

Although demand for general aviation pilots is huge, their incomes are much lower than those of civilian jet pilots who fly for major domestic and international carriers.

The basic salaries and hourly rates are about the same, Li Jian said, but there is a huge difference in flying hours.

"It would be a good month if we had 10 flying hours, but the ceiling for pilots flying regular routes is 100 hours each month," Li said.

Actually, the lack of working hours is a problem across China's general aviation industry, not just Li's company.

The whole industry, with 1,519 aircraft, recorded 591,000 flight hours in 2013, compared with about 25 million hours in the United States, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.

However, Li can expect more flying time in the future, as low-altitude airspace reform will serve as a catalyst for the general aviation sector.

A national meeting on low-altitude airspace management reform was held on Nov 21-22 to discuss draft regulations.

Wang Zhiqing, deputy head of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, said China's general aviation flying hours will reach 2 million annually, with more than 5,000 aircraft, by 2020.

"Demand for general aviation is huge and it is a rising industry with great potential," Wang said.

The reform should aim at promoting rapid, safe development of the general aviation sector and maximizing the use of low-altitude airspace, Vice-Premier Ma Kai, who is also director of the National Airspace Management Committee, said at the conference.

Contact the writer at wangwen@chinadaily.com.cn

FACTBOX

General aviation: Civil aviation operations other than scheduled air service. Its missions range from business flights and emergency medical services to training and recreational activity.

Low-altitude airspace: The airspace below 1,000 meters has already been opened in 10 flight management zones in China. The definition of low-altitude airspace could be raised to 3,000 meters eventually.

Pilots: About 1,600 general aviation pilots as of end-2013. The sector faces a shortage of about 3,000 experienced pilots every year and demand is predicted to rise to 15,000 pilots in the next 10 years.

Flying schools: All flying schools in China together train only about 1,000 general aviation pilots annually.