China set for low-altitude airspace management conference

Good Jet Challenger 605 B-3561 waits for its next passengers at Beijing (Photo: Alud Davies)

October 2014 will see China hold a national low-altitude airspace management reform work conference.

Good Jet Challenger 605 B-3561 waits for its next passengers at Beijing (Photo: Alud Davies)

Discussions on how to move forward with the opening up of China’s airspace will take place in October 2014.

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China’s national low-altitude airspace management reform work conference will be held next month, looking at the next stages in opening up the country’s airspace.

China’s airspace is heavily controlled by the country’s air force, who impose strict rules on operations.

While China’s grip on its airspace affects all types of aircraft operations in the country, it’s the airspace below 1,000 meters that has had the biggest effect on business and general aviation development.

Although small scale trials have been continuing since they were first announced in 2010, the pace of change has been frustratingly small, with many operators complaining that they aren’t able to compete effectively due to the heavy restrictions that they face.

The October conference will look at launching targeted plans to help promote the reform of low-altitude airspace within the country.