Over the last few years China has seen a marked increase in based turbine business aircraft operations. In fact, there are now more than 40 turbine business aircraft registered in the country. One of the most recent such endeavors is a contract by the China Bureau of General Aviation for two Citation XLS business jets to be used for flight-inspection missions. Cessna said the twinjets, to be registered in China, are slated for delivery next year.

Late last month civil and government organizations in China hosted a forum to encourage general aviation investment and operations in the country. The forum was sponsored by Uniworld, a California-based company specializing in promoting civil aviation in China. Participants included in-country representatives of the FAA, Raytheon Aircraft, Ibis Aerospace, several international charter operators and other suppliers of private aviation products and services.