Last November’s Airshow China in Zhuhai proved both illuminating and encouraging to those who eagerly anticipate the long-awaited emergence of business and general aviation in the People’s Republic. Because, despite all the fuss about China’s potential, the hard data paints the real picture of a sector of aviation that has just barely begun to taxi from the stand.
Business and general aviation contribute woefully little to the Chinese economy. In 2007 general aviation as a whole contributed only 0.001 percent to the country’s GDP and employed just 7,000 people. By contrast, business aviation contributes more than $150 billion to the U.S. economy every year and provides over 1.2 million high-wage, stable jobs. There are still only around 900 privately registered aircraft in this vast country, including 125 helicopters, and around 75 aircraft operators. Compare that with Australia, which has 10 times as many airplanes serving a population one-fiftieth of China’s.
