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| A prototype of the Primus 150 is exhibited at the Zhuhai airshow in Guangdong province on Nov 12. The demand for business jets is expected to surge in China in the coming years. (China Daily Photo) |
Domestic and foreign business jet builders have been expanding their operations in China to prepare for what is expected to become a boom market in years to come.
One of the highest profile developments has been by China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Aviation Industry Corporation of China, which used last month's airshow in Zhuhai, Guangdong, to introduce the prototype of its Primus 150, which will become China's first locally built business aircraft.
The six-seat business aircraft, with a carbon fiber composite airframe, will take its maiden flight in October 2013 and is expected to be put on the market in 2015.
According to CAIGA, the aircraft will be one of the fastest turboprops in the world and already has attracted eight orders from domestic buyers.
Earlier this year, another leading Chinese builder, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd, also introduced a version of its ARJ21 regional aircraft aimed at the Chinese business market, which will be delivered in one or two years.
Among the foreign companies preparing for expansion, meanwhile, Dassault Falcon Jet Corp, the French business aircraft manufacture, has announced plans to establish a Beijing branch specializing in business jets which will be run by John Rosanvallon, its president.
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