Advisers call for more low-altitude airspace

Meng said that by the end of 2013, the United States, which operates more than 300,000 general aviation aircraft, had at least 24,000 airports and landing points that could handle flights made by such aircraft but that China had just 399 on the mainland.

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"Some airports don't even have aviation gasoline, which is usually used by small aircraft that employ piston engines, forcing the pilot to carry the fuel on the plane," said Wu Guanghui, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, the country's top political advisory body, and deputy general manager of Commercial Aircraft Corp of China.

Meng suggested that if the government wants to give this industry a strong push, it can start by transferring the airspace's control to the civil aviation department from the military and investing more in airport construction.

He urged the government to provide favorable policies in terms of tax, loan and project approvals for domestically developed general aviation aircraft.

Support is also needed in the training of pilots, export of domestically developed aircraft as well as ground aeronautical services, according to Wu.

China has made a succession of moves to facilitate the general aviation sector.

Since late November, flight students for private aircraft have begun to benefit from relaxed standards for theoretical exams, flight tests and the physical condition they must meet before obtaining a certificate.

The relaxation satisfied a long-voiced demand from aviation insiders who blame the rigid physical requirements for the shortage of pilots.