This year we could finally find out whether China will fully realize its potential as the world’s most dynamic new market for business aviation. For all the high-octane speculation about growth in China, 2011 closed with fewer than 200 business aircraft registered in the country and continuing difficulties in getting them imported and flying for the new jet-set in the People’s Republic.
At the same time, it is increasingly clear that some Western bizav operators and service providers are finding it harder than anticipated to advance their plans for joint ventures in China. This, in and of itself, is slowing the rate at which aircraft can be delivered to the country and operated there in any sort of a flexible way, because there are still insufficient numbers of air operators certificate holders to provide the legally required management for new aircraft owners.
Charles Alcock is managing editor of the AIN Media Group, having rejoined the company in 2019. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. His main focus is on covering new aviation technology and business models, as well as international news.
Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at the University of Manchester in the UK and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.
