While life has returned to a certain level of normalcy in China, the general aviation (GA) market there is still slowing, according to Asian Sky Group (ASG) CEO Jeffrey Lowe. Detailing ASG’s China GA report for 2020, Lowe said that decline is not all Covid-19 related, but a continuation of a trend that began in the 2017 to 2018 timeframe.
The country's general aviation fleet had reached 2,930 as of August. This number has expanded consistently over the past seven years, but the rate of growth has been slowing since 2017 with just a 6 percent increase, or 156 aircraft, this year. That marks the lowest number of additions since 2016. Turboprops and pistons make up half the general aviation fleet in China, with Textron and Pratt & Whitney Canada the predominant OEMs.
In tandem, general aviation operator growth also has been on the decline, with the drop off more significant each year. In 2018, a net 100 operators entered the market in China. A year later, that number was almost cut in half at 56. This year has seen a net total of 37 operations as the industry has struggled with the economic impact of Covid-19, the U.S.-China trade dispute, and a national economic slowdown in China. Meanwhile, 53 operators have gone out of business since the beginning of 2019, matching the cumulative numbers in the seven years prior.
More resilient, however, has been general aviation flight hours there, which have dipped only 3 percent thus far in 2020 as a result of the pandemic. Most of the decline occurred in February with flight hours recovering in April and May and rebounding to 2019 levels in June. July and August flight hours surpassed those a year earlier with increased use in the emergency, transportation, and consumer services sectors.
While acknowledging the challenges facing the Chinese general aviation market, Lowe said, “It is more well-positioned than most markets to get to where it wants to go.” He cited Chinese government investment in general aviation, including increasing 21 percent more airports each year. The government is also working toward replacing foreign-built aircraft with self-developed aircraft. As such, 33 general aviation OEMs in China now have production certificates.