Sky's the limit for booming general aviation sector (2)

But it's not just this type of operational service that is attracting huge attention from companies in China and overseas.

Plenty of companies are also eyeing the other related services surrounding the sector, including manufacturing, maintenance and training.

Zhuhai Hanxing General Aviation Co Ltd, for instance, a privately owned company based in Zhuhai, is China's first fixed base operator for private aircraft. Its business covers general aircraft sales, maintenance and pilot training.

Earlier this month it became the first private Chinese company to buy a US aircraft builder, after completing the 100 percent takeover of Washington-based Glasair Aviation LLC.

Hanxing plans to introduce some of Glasair's technology to its aircraft manufacturing operations in China.

Its new US subsidiary produces five types of aircraft and is expected to launch another one soon, which will be powered with ordinary gasoline rather than jet fuel, which it claims will be more efficient and cheaper to run than competitor aircraft.

Fang Tieji, president of the group, said Hanxing is now planning to build 40 fixed base operations around China in the next five to 10 years.

Gao Yuanyang, director of the General Aviation Industry Research Center of Beihang University, said that privately owned companies such as Hanxing, and private capital, will be vital for China to develop its general aviation sector.

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