In 2023, the global general aviation market is developing strongly, and the delivery volume of general aircraft is growing rapidly; The general aviation market in China has performed well, with the three major indicators reflecting the market's atmosphere - aircraft ownership, flight hours, and number of enterprises - all reaching new highs. Represented by unmanned aerial vehicles, electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOL), and urban air traffic (UAM), the "new aviation" has bravely taken the lead, with various highlights, presenting a beautiful "Chinese business card" to the global aviation field. However, in the future, we still need to move forward steadily and steadily in order to achieve long-term success; The traditional navigation is steady and commendable, but the market situation is somewhat lonely and the development deadlock needs to be broken. The construction of general airports is steadily advancing, and low altitude airspace resources are further released. The landmark airspace management regulations have been introduced, and the opening of low altitude airspace will achieve breakthrough development. In the development of low altitude economy, low altitude airspace is an important economic resource. Utilizing low altitude resources to develop the aviation industry and stimulate low altitude economy has become a common understanding among all levels. China's general aviation will usher in another development trend.
The global market is growing rapidly, and the Chinese market is performing well
In 2023, the global general aviation market is expected to experience strong growth. According to data from GAMA (General Aviation Manufacturers Association), as of September 2023, the global delivery of general aviation aircraft was 2656, of which 2029 were fixed wing general aviation aircraft, an increase of 10.1% compared to the same period in 2022; 627 helicopters were delivered, an increase of 8.5% compared to the same period in 2022.
As of the end of 2023, the total number of general aviation aircraft (excluding drones) in China is about 5000, an increase of 5% compared to 2022; The traditional general aviation flight volume (excluding drones) is about 1.35 million hours, an increase of 11% from 2022; 690 traditional general aviation operators (excluding drones), an increase of 4% compared to 2022; The registered number of drones is over 1.2 million, an increase of 25% compared to 2022; The drone flight volume is about 23 million hours, an increase of 10% from 2022; There are over 19000 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) general aviation enterprises, an increase of 26% compared to 2022.
According to relevant data, the three major indicators reflecting the air quality of the general aviation market, namely aircraft ownership, flight hours, and number of operating enterprises, have all reached new highs. Although the traditional aviation market has maintained steady development, its growth rate has slowed down to some extent; The new aviation industry, represented by drones, has experienced rapid market growth, with all indicators achieving double-digit growth. This undoubtedly provides us with two perspectives for observing and looking forward to the future development of China's aviation industry: first, in the new aviation track represented by drones, eVTOL, and UAM, we must bravely stand at the forefront, even if we cannot lead the world, we must keep pace with advanced countries; Secondly, in the traditional general aviation field, we should learn from the experience of developed countries and seek breakthrough development from the perspective of general aviation consumption.
The highlights of the new navigation are diverse, and we need to guard against arrogance, impatience, and move forward steadily
From early drone aerial photography and drone operations, to now the normalized operation of drone logistics and express delivery, and to eVTOL, which is becoming a "hot search" in the industry, using drones eV?TOL、 The "New Aviation" represented by flying cars and UAM is the biggest highlight of China's general aviation development, and it is also a "Chinese business card" that we present to the global aviation industry. In this emerging field, we have taken the lead in the world.
Drones have played an increasingly important role in various fields such as agricultural crop protection, line patrol, industrial hoisting, emergency rescue, emergency delivery, communication relay and other livelihood security areas, as well as the big IP in the phenomenon level "top stream" of "Harbin Ice and Snow Tourism" that has become a hot news topic - the artificial moon above the St. Sophia Cathedral in Harbin.
Nowadays, drone logistics has entered the stage of normalized operation from pilot trials. In 2023, Xunyi Technology's unmanned aerial vehicle transportation services for plasma and medical test samples have been normalized in more than 20 cities across the country; The Mount Huangshan Scenic Spot in Anhui Province has opened a UAV transportation route, which can transport 4 tons of food and garbage to and from the mountain every day, effectively solving the problem of mountain material transportation; Even Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs have been loaded onto drones and transported ashore from the center of the lake in just 5 minutes, increasing efficiency by nearly 6 times.
Putting goods before people, the greater imagination space of UAM is for unmanned aerial vehicles to carry passengers. UAM and its carrier aircraft eVTOL are a perfect combination of "traditional aircraft+artificial intelligence+new energy", which will undoubtedly bring revolutionary development to general aviation technology and products.
Chinese companies have performed outstandingly on this exciting track. In February 2023, Fengfei eVTOL Shengshilong completed a 250.3 kilometer flight on a single charge, breaking the global 2-ton eVTOL aircraft range record; In February 2023, Shide Technology announced the completion of a RMB 100 million Pre-A round of financing; In August 2023, Xiaopeng Huitian's application for airworthiness certification for tilting wing flying vehicles was accepted by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, and in December 2023, it obtained a technical verification aircraft charter flight certificate issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China; In December 2023, the Civil Aviation Administration of China issued the special conditions for the certification of the Vafei Changkong AE200-100 eVTOL model, marking the beginning of substantive airworthiness certification work for this eVTOL; In December 2023, the EH216-S eVTOL aircraft of Yihang obtained the standard airworthiness certificate issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, which is the world's first unmanned passenger eVTOL issued with a standard airworthiness certificate by the civil aviation management authority. These newly established aviation startups and their initial teams, whether they come from the aviation technology field, car companies that want to drive cars into the sky, or other aviation new forces, all embody strong creative consciousness, innovative spirit, and broad international vision.
General aviation is the most innovative field in the civil aviation industry, and at the same time, it is the field that places the most emphasis on safety and requires the most rigorous work style. On the one hand, we must uphold the spirit of daring innovation and boldly imagine; On the other hand, we must carefully verify and solve specific technical and engineering problems with a reverence for the sky, and strictly follow airworthiness technical conditions and management requirements to manufacture UAM aircraft products that meet market demand, are trusted by consumers, and trusted by the Civil Aviation Administration. Of course, relevant enterprises also need to obtain full industry chain support from materials, motors, batteries to electronic control and other fields. Batteries are the key to the success of electric aviation, and also the current weakness of electric aviation. China's electric vehicles and their vehicle batteries are leading the world, and we look forward to China's further glory in the field of electric aviation.
The current national policy encourages the development of new aviation characterized by unmanned and new energy. In October 2023, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and four other departments issued the "Outline for the Development of Green Aviation Manufacturing Industry (2023-2035)", which proposed that electric general aviation aircraft would be put into commercial use by 2025, electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL) would be piloted, and key technologies for hydrogen energy aircraft would be verified for feasibility. In July 2023, the long-awaited "Interim Regulations on the Flight Management of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles" were officially released. In order to cooperate with the implementation of the regulation and improve the legal system of unmanned aerial vehicles, a series of regulations and norms such as the Technical Requirements for the Establishment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Control Areas in Civil Airports, the Safety Management Rules for the Operation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, the Airworthiness Safety Assessment Guidelines for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, the Several Provisions on the Production Management of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, and the Interim Measures for the Radio Management of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles have been successively released or solicited for opinions, in order to focus on building a scientific, standardized, and effective management system for the operation safety of unmanned aerial vehicles in civil airports, ensuring that each node in the management chain can "land" and form a "closed loop". With the support of national heavyweight policies, it will further expand the market for new aviation applications and promote the iterative upgrading of new aviation technologies and products.
Traditional navigation steps steadily need to break through difficulties and achieve faster development
The development pace of traditional aviation is steady. In 2023, from flood relief in the Beijing Tianjin Hebei region, firefighting and disaster relief in the Greater Khingan Range, to search and rescue of missing persons in uninhabited areas in Xinjiang, as well as the normalization of aviation medical rescue in various regions that is no longer news, aviation emergency rescue has become a standard for building people's livelihood security capabilities. At the same time, China's civil aviation has achieved significant results in the construction of its "trunk and branch connections, full network connectivity" air transport network. In 2023, multiple short haul transportation routes such as Huolinguole Tongliao, Kuche Alar, and Jiande Hengdian will be opened successively, with more than 130 general aviation short haul transportation routes operating nationwide. From January to November 2023, the national general aviation short distance transportation enterprises transported a total of 53000 passengers, effectively meeting the air travel needs of people in areas with inconvenient transportation. In December 2023, the Civil Aviation Administration of China issued the "Management Measures for General Aviation Short Distance Transport Operation Services", which will further regulate the development of general aviation short distance transport business.
In May 2023, the first civilian version of the Chujiao 6 aircraft was awarded the standard airworthiness certificate, marking the official entry of this Chinese made historic aircraft, which represents the development history of Chinese aviation and is loved by international flight enthusiasts, into the civil aviation market. In November 2023, four validation aircraft of China's independently developed large amphibious general aircraft AG600M gathered at the Pucheng National Civil Aircraft Flight Test Base in Weinan, Shaanxi to conduct high-intensity airworthiness test flights. In 2023, the Shanhe Yarola General Aircraft delivered 60 aircraft. As the first domestically produced general aircraft to reach mass production in China, it has delivered more than 260 aircraft and obtained Australian airworthiness certification in 2023, starting international sales work. At the same time, the Shanhe SA160 five seater aircraft's airworthiness certification work has begun. In December 2023, the AS700 civilian manned airship developed by China Aviation Industry Special Flight Institute was awarded the Civil Aviation Administration's model certificate. The manned airship once carried the early dream of human flight and is expected to be reborn in China.
The development of traditional aviation is commendable, but we also need to see that compared with the booming new aviation, traditional aviation is somewhat lonely, and the situation of large-scale losses in general aviation operating enterprises has not been fundamentally changed. But 'loneliness' does not mean' desolation '. Traditional aviation cannot and should not be content with loneliness, but should seek new breakthroughs in the market.
Traditional general aviation operations will be largely replaced by drones, which is an unavoidable reality, but it does not mean that traditional general aviation will be replaced by drones. In fact, drones cannot replace traditional aviation because since the beginning of its development, general aviation has carried a strong human emotion. It is related to human flight dreams and aviation passion. Flying a plane freely like a bird has been a human flight dream since ancient times, and this is the origin of general aviation's ability to attract public participation and sustain its development for a hundred years. Building one's own airplane and letting it fly into the blue sky "is undoubtedly the highest level of aviation spirit. The American Experimental Aircraft Association has as many as 200000 members, which is the true main body of the general aviation consumer market. So, we need to draw on international development experience and break the development deadlock by starting with general aviation consumption, focusing on the development of the general aviation personal consumption market represented by business jets, private jets, entertainment flights, experimental planes, and homemade planes. Of course, this requires breaking through the circle, stepping out of the circle, attracting more "outsiders" to enter the aviation industry, and becoming the consumer and professional army of aviation.
Star Club is an aviation club that is widely active in cross-border finance, the Internet, cars, locomotives, yachts and high-end tourism. As of the end of 2023, the Starry Sky Club has accumulated over 200 flight trainees and received more than 5000 visitors from the public throughout the year, of which 95% come from outside the aviation industry. So, I believe that China has a mass foundation for developing personal consumption of general aviation, and the key is not to become a self performer and singer within the aviation industry. We must break through the circle and emerge from it. In addition, whether it is new or traditional navigation, policy support is indispensable. At the current stage of China's aviation development, the marginal effect of policies is obvious, and it is a business that can shine brightly with a little sunshine. The Civil Aviation Administration of China's reform of aviation management and restructuring of aviation policies and regulations based on the principle of "streamlining administration, delegating powers, and improving services" has brought vitality and development momentum to aviation enterprises. However, it cannot be denied that various problems will inevitably arise during the process of streamlining administration. It does not matter if problems arise, we can take targeted measures to solve them. If necessary, we can also make appropriate policy adjustments, but we should avoid overcorrection and instead relax appropriately to find a better new balance between safety and efficiency. Caring for the hard won market foundation and safeguarding the aviation enterprises that adhere to the industry is the shared responsibility of policy makers, policy implementers, market participants, and consumers.
The foundation is gradually consolidated, and the development environment needs further improvement
The construction of general airports is steadily advancing, and the general airport network is gradually taking shape. In 2023, newly built general airports such as Majiadu in Zhushan, Hubei, Suwu in Minqin, Gansu, Yongchang in Beichuan, Sichuan, Jimo in Qingdao, Shandong, Fuyu Taha in Heilongjiang, Fengqing in Beitun, Xinjiang, Bailong in Feidong, Anhui, Nanhu in Gongqing, Jiangxi, Nanliang in Huachi, Gansu, Xinnanzhang in Ruicheng, Shanxi, Zhonghe in Fengqing, Yunnan, Anju in Suining, Sichuan, Galutu in Wushen, Inner Mongolia, and Ulan in Etuoke were awarded airport use permits. According to the GAAIP General Airport Information Platform, as of the end of December 2023, the number of registered general airports in China has reached 449, an increase of 50 from 2022, including 105 certified general airports and 344 registered general airports. Integrating general airports into the construction of comprehensive transportation infrastructure and relying on them to develop the general aviation industry has become a conscious and proactive action of local governments. The next 5-10 years will be the peak period of China's general airport construction.
In June 2023, the Civil Aviation Administration of China issued the "Technical Guidelines for Site Selection of General Airports", providing work and technical specifications for the site selection of runway type general airports, helicopter airports, and seaplanes. However, in the planning and construction of general airports, in addition to complying with civil aviation regulations and norms, attention should also be paid to reflecting the functionality and industrial carrying capacity of general airports, and avoiding building them into scaled down regional airports. Not only traditional general airports, but with the development of urban air traffic (UAM), we also need to build VertiPort, a vertical takeoff and landing airport in cities that can ensure the takeoff, landing, parking, charging, maintenance, and disembarkation of eVTOL aircraft and seamlessly connect with ground transportation. In December 2023, the Shenzhen Bao'an Urban Air Traffic Operation Demonstration Center was officially put into use, providing guarantees for the normal operation of urban air traffic services.
In 2023, the reform of low altitude airspace management will deepen, and low altitude airspace resources will be further released. In 2023, the pilot airspace for collaborative management of low altitude airspace in Sichuan Province will be expanded from 6600 square kilometers to over 7800 square kilometers. Hunan Province has established 171 airspace and 97 regular low altitude visual routes, Anhui Province has established 22 temporary airspace and 15 temporary routes, and Hainan Province has released a map of the airspace suitable for unmanned aerial vehicles. The pilot reform of low altitude airspace management has achieved results and gained experience. The "Sichuan model" led by the provincial government to establish a military civilian tripartite low altitude airspace collaborative management organization and operation management center has been promoted; Hunan Province adheres to the low altitude airspace management concept of "harmony between heaven, earth, and man", and has achieved "one-stop acceptance, one-stop service, and comprehensive service" for general aviation flights; Jiangxi Province has established channels for information sharing and interconnectivity among military, civilian, and civilian sectors, providing fully connected, fully functional, and end-to-end services for aviation. As an aviation flight activity characterized by maneuverability and convenience, only partial airspace opening and limited fixed routes are far from enough. The next step of low altitude airspace opening needs to be connected by "point line surface" cross regional lines, comprehensively promoted nationwide, and committed to improving the convenience of general aviation flight, building a unified national airspace management and navigation service platform, so that users of low altitude airspace can obtain "one-stop" services such as airspace setting and dynamic control information, flight declaration, flight intelligence, meteorological information, safety warnings, etc. through a website or app nationwide. In November 2023, the milestone draft of the "Regulations on the Management of the Airspace of the People's Republic of China" was released, which means that China's low altitude airspace opening will make breakthrough progress.
Developing Low altitude Economy and Embracing New Business Opportunities in Aviation
The Central Economic Work Conference held in December 2023 proposed the development of several strategic emerging industries such as biomanufacturing, commercial aerospace, and low altitude economy. The concept of "low altitude economy" is an invention of our Chinese people, and I am impressed that the first public discussion of low altitude economy in China was held at the AOPA World Assembly in Beijing in 2014. Low altitude economy is the conceptual development of the general aviation industry economy, which fully utilizes low altitude airspace resources to develop general aviation and drive the development of related industries, creating a unique economic form that has a synergistic development effect on related economic fields. Like land resources and ocean resources, low altitude is also an economic resource and productivity. In China, where land and ocean resources are nearing their limits and low altitude airspace resources have not been fully utilized, there is great room for imagination in the development of low altitude economy.
Various regions are planning and laying out the development of low altitude economy. According to incomplete statistics, in 2023, 16 provinces will include "low altitude economy" in their government work reports, and conferences and forums on the development of low altitude economy will be held in Shenzhen, Hainan, Guangdong, Anhui, Jiangxi and other places. Especially in Shenzhen, following the release of the "Implementation Plan for Innovative Development of Low altitude Economy Industry in Shenzhen (2022-2025)" in 2022, the "Government Work Report" of Shenzhen in February 2023 proposed the construction of a low altitude economy center, and in December, the "Several Measures to Support High quality Development of Low altitude Economy in Shenzhen" and the "Regulations on Promoting Low altitude Economy Industry in Shenzhen Special Economic Zone" were successively released. The policy guidance is precise, and each district actively follows up. Bao'an District has released the "Several Measures for Promoting the Development of Low altitude Economy Industry in Bao'an District, Shenzhen", introducing 10 related measures with a maximum funding support of 30 million yuan; Longhua District has released the "Several Measures to Promote High Quality Development of Low altitude Economy Industry in Longhua District, Shenzhen", introducing 13 measures. It is expected that a total of about 200 million yuan of "real gold and silver" will be provided within 3 years to support the innovative development of low altitude economy industry. In December, the Longhua District Low altitude Economy Industrial Park will be officially unveiled; Longgang, Nanshan, Futian, Yantian and other districts have also successively released relevant support policies to accelerate the development of low altitude economic industries. At present, there are more than 1500 low altitude economy related enterprises active in Shenzhen, and Shenzhen's urban air transportation flight volume ranks first in the country. The application has scenarios, the development has foundations, and the implementation has methods. We believe that Shenzhen can create a demonstrative new path for the development of the national low altitude economy that can be used for reference.
Looking back at the development history of general aviation in China over the past 10 years, despite the twists and turns of the road, our original intention remains unchanged, always forging ahead with steady steps. In 2010, the State Council and the Central Military Commission issued the "Opinions on Deepening the Reform of Low altitude Airspace Management in China", which sent a policy signal for China to open up low altitude and develop general aviation. This was the first policy trend in China's aviation development. In 2016, the General Office of the State Council issued the Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Development of the General Aviation Industry, which put forward clear requirements and specific deployments for the development of the general aviation industry. This is the second policy trend for the development of China's general aviation industry. In 2023, the low altitude economy with general aviation as its connotation will be identified as a strategic emerging industry. The milestone "Draft Regulations on the Management of Airspace of the People's Republic of China" and the "Interim Regulations on the Management of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Flights" will be issued, indicating that we will usher in the third policy trend of general aviation development. This will inevitably bring a new round of rapid development for China's general aviation, and China's general aviation will face another historical opportunity period. With government support, social attention, and industry response, with the substantial opening of China's low altitude airspace, the low altitude economic effects are expected to be concentrated in China.
【 Note: The relevant research in this article has been supported by a major project of the National Social Science Fund (Project No. 21ZDA012) 】 (Author Gao Yuanyang, Director of the General Aviation Industry Research Center at Beihang University)
