Getting an AOC in Hong Kong

[ATPMBA]

How big of a task would it be to start a helicopter air taxi operation in Hong Kong?
From what I have seen there are not many AOC issued in Honk Kong. Are there limits of foreign ownership?

I look forward to your responses.

[md 600 driver]

isnt hong kong in china now

[Bravo73]

Only for the last, oooh, 14 years or so... ;)

[snotcicles]

For some reason you still go through a border stop/check when you go between HK and China...

[helicopter-redeye]

Hong Kong is a special autonomous region (SAR) - see, nothing to do with sick chickens in Stanley market :rolleyes:

[misterbonkers]

12 years me thinks. Mr Patton left in 1999. In any event, GA in china will become massive in the next decade so make all the noises you can to establish something. I suggest somewhere other than HK though as its a sewn shop.

[Joker's Wild]

ATPMBA,

Check your PM's.

JW

[Andy Brandt]

ATPMBA

I am in HK at the moment, and the only AOC helicopter flying is HeliServices based out of Kadoorie Farm near Shek Kong. Kai Tak is used by the HK Aviation Club, however it isnt a licenced heliport due to its location and approach/ departure downwind. Chep Lap Kok is used by the Gooverment Flying Service, and isnt open for GA traffic. The only other runway, and Shek Kong is a PLA military base, open on weekends only.
It is for these reasons, that the number of aoc operators is limited.
Hope it helps and dont hesitate to ask!

Oh and I forgot Sky Shuttle, operating AW139's out of the macau terminals in central , its an elivated heli deck (so twins only) and suffers from some noise abaitment.
s

[Bravo73]

12 years me thinks. Mr Patton left in 1999.

Hong Kong handover ceremony - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_handover_ceremony)


:rolleyes:

[Cabe LeCutter]

The big question is, "where would you want to taxi to?"

There is another heliport operated by the government and soon to move to the Exhibition Centre on Hong Kong Island at the end of the year but only open to companies that sign a contract with the government.

I suspect that once the mainland airspace is completely open and not restricted by the PLA then cross border operations may become a real option. There are plenty of local guys watching the signs.

Heads Down, Look out for the flack

[ReverseFlight]

heliport operated by the government and soon to move to the Exhibition Centre on Hong Kong IslandFat chance. HKCAD has already refused issuing AoCs which are seeking to use that as a helipad for commuting to Mainland China.

[Runway101]

Somewhere in an old thread a pilot flying for a local operator or the owner (Heli Services if my memory is not wrong) posted that flying to China is not the problem, but the price for customs handling and paper work _per person_ is as a multiple of their hourly rate on the helicopter. I vaguely remember an example of HKD 56,000 for a person, but this is info that has been sitting somewhere on the back of my head for a couple of years. There are not so many HK threads on pprune, so I am sure if you look for it you will find it.

And I say it again: what Hong Kong needs is a Zeppelin NT !! :E

[Cabe LeCutter]

Reverse Flight

I think that you may find that it is not that straightforward. I do know of one idea to use a Robinson R44, I can understand that one being turned down.:D

Heads Down Loook out for the flack

[leopold bloom]

then cross border operations
Cabe, surely you mean "The boundary"? Border is such a divisive word.:)

[Lewycasino]

isnt hong kong in china now

Nope, last time I checked it hadn't moved.

[misterbonkers]

B73 - my apologies.

[Cabe LeCutter]

Loepold old chap,

A Boundary is where you keep Cads and Bounders. It is definately a border as it has flowers along it.:p

Heads Down, Look out for the flack

[leopold bloom]

I think the black-hair dye brigade up in Zhongnanhai would disagree, border is not on their approved list of words.:=

[Chris Pochari]

Sounds like a good idea to me, heli traffic is booming in Hong Kong, only issue is the Chinese government is very anti foreigner, although you could marry a Chinese woman!.
"Over the last decade, the cross-boundary helicopter shuttle
service between Hong Kong and Macau has exhibited continued
growth since its commencement towards the end of 1990. The
number of passenger trips have increased from around 14,000
in 1991 to some 108,000 passenger trips in 2001, with growth
averaging some 23% per annum over the period".
http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr02-03/english/panels/es/papers/es0623cb1-1959-4e.pdf