GA Flying in China

[Benedict Raikes]

Hi all,

apologies if this is in the wrong place or recently discussed but I was wondering if anybody knew much about general aviation in China. I’ll be moving to Shanghai in a few months for work. Will probably be out there for a year and will miss flying. I know there has been some talk about them opening up their airspace to GA recently but does anyone know about this in more detail or is it still pretty much impossible?

thanks in advance!

[JP73]

As far as I know it doesn’t exist...

[Jan Olieslagers]

Perhaps not totally inexistent, though:
Shek Kong Airfield & Aeroclub (http://www.scmp.com/article/718191/high-flyers-have-licence-thrill)
But the article dates from 2010, many things have changed since.

[[edit]] Or take a look at wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Aviation_Club)

[anxiao]

There are flight schools in Mainland China, I have seen one of them advertise at Friedrichshaven, but they are necessarily more restrictive than in most other countries. One of the barriers to entry is language, as finding a school and airport that works in English will be difficult.

A large area of Guandong province (next to Hong Kong) moved a few years ago to release all airspace below 3,000 feet (yes, not metres) to general aviation, in the hope of encouraging things. You can imagine with the massive expansion of Chinese airlines in the last few years the need for trained pilots has gone ballistic, so the PLA were leaned on to allow flight schools. Perhaps ask a Chinese speaking friend to have a look in Baidu (the Chinese Goggle) to see what they find. I do remember a light aircraft manufacturer outside of Shanghai who was trying to set up a flight school to promote his aircraft.

The Sek Kong Aeroclub in Hong Kong was grounded some months ago, and it may take a while to restore. It is not viable for a Shanghai commute.

FWIW