Flying in China

[[email protected]]

An opportunity came up for me to spend some time in China as a
consultant. I have a meeting tomorrow to learn more, but this is
supposed to be a 6 to 12 month project. I know that that really means
12-24, but if I can gat all the details worked out, it might be a good
deal.

What is the status of general aviation over there? Can I rent a plane,
a twin, maybe get some turbine or jet time. I am getting closer to ATP
and need more ME, TP and TJ time.

Bob
A-36 Bonanza

[George Patterson]

wrote:
>
> What is the status of general aviation over there?

From what I've read, there isn't any. I would contact AOPA. They are an
international organization and can at least give you stats on how many privately
owned aircraft there are over there.

George Patterson
Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a person to
use the Internet and he won't bother you for weeks.

[Roy Page]

Well George is on the money, no GA aircraft fleet to speak of.
You should also get some advice about doing business in China before
committing yourself.
They operate commercially quite different from the Western world.
Good luck !

Roy

"George Patterson" > wrote in message
news:0bLHe.2266$va1.1544@trndny09...
> wrote:
>>
>> What is the status of general aviation over there?
>
> From what I've read, there isn't any. I would contact AOPA. They are an
> international organization and can at least give you stats on how many
> privately owned aircraft there are over there.
>
> George Patterson
> Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a person to
> use the Internet and he won't bother you for weeks.

[[email protected]]

Although I have no personal experience flying in China, I was told by
my borther-in-law, who is a nonpilot living in Shanghai, that GA is now
available in both Shanghai and Beijin. However, only very limited
airspaces have been authorized for GA flight. Cross country flight
requires government approval in advance. Here are some resources:
http://www.camptour.com/aviation/index.htm
http://www.flying-man.com/ennew/microlight%20school.htm

BTW, I will be happy to babysit your A36 for free while you are in
China :-)

[[email protected]]

Thanks for the Info. George, Roy, and Robin. I'll follow up on your
leads. Now about taking care of the Bonanza.......might have to think
about that one...lol!

Bob

[[email protected]]

There is definitely GA in Hong Kong if you will be getting down there
at all. I was able to fly a 172 out of Shek Kong airfield earlier this
year on a trip over there. They have 152s, 172s, a 182, a Slignsby T67,
and several R-22 helicopters. There are no XC flights except for the
couple of times a year when they get cross border authorization with
China, but the club is very active in training (particularly in
helicopters).

http://www.hkaviationclub.com.hk/

Eric

[[email protected]]

Thanks Eric. Interesting site. I had a talk with the president of the
company yesterday. The plant is near Shanghai. Negotiations still
under way, so I have some time to do some more research.

Bob

[[email protected]]

If you do decide to fly with the Hong Kong club, make sure you contact
them more than a week in advance. They are based out of a PLA Military
airfield and you will need to get a base pass issued to enter the
facility. The club will take care of all of that if you fax them a copy
of your passport far enough in advance to get on the "approved" list
for the weekend. They only fly the fixed wing aircraft on weekends
because that is all that the military will allow. However, they have a
great facility down at the site of the old Kai Tak international
airport in Kowloon where some of the helicopters are based, and flown 7
days a week. Also, their "officers club" type facility is there
complete with restaurant, bar, shop, etc...

I have heard that there is GA somewhere near Shanghai, but I haven't
yet found it on any of my trips there. If you find out where it is
possible to fly, I'd be interested in hearing about it.

Thanks,
Eric

[Hamilton Flyer]

If you are going to the Hong Kong / Shenzen area or Shanghai, you can
expect that the pollution will be so thick as to rarely have VFR conditions.

Not GA friendly place by a longshot - I'm afraid.

Steve

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> An opportunity came up for me to spend some time in China as a
> consultant. I have a meeting tomorrow to learn more, but this is
> supposed to be a 6 to 12 month project. I know that that really means
> 12-24, but if I can gat all the details worked out, it might be a good
> deal.
>
> What is the status of general aviation over there? Can I rent a plane,
> a twin, maybe get some turbine or jet time. I am getting closer to ATP
> and need more ME, TP and TJ time.
>
> Bob
> A-36 Bonanza
>

[M]

I can definitely attest to that. I travel to China yearly in the last
five years visiting many cities along its coast. The haze caused by
pollution renders any low altitude flying IFR even on cloudless days,
and that's everywhere along its coast. I very rarely see blue sky
there. The sky is almost always brown-ish white on a clear day.

It'll take them probably 50 years to clean up their air. The haze in
China even affects Japan due to prevailing wind.

I feel thankful for the environmental laws in US every time I return
home to Seattle.

-M

Hamilton Flyer wrote:
> If you are going to the Hong Kong / Shenzen area or Shanghai, you can
> expect that the pollution will be so thick as to rarely have VFR conditions.
>
> Not GA friendly place by a longshot - I'm afraid.
>
> Steve
>

[Guy Byars]

Kind of off topic, but I read China recently placed an order for 30+ nuclear
power plants. Hopefully that will let them retire some of their dirty coal
plants, though the new plants might only keep up with the projected increase
in demand.

I wish the US would get back on track with safe clean Nuclear energy and
stop killing the enviornment by burning coal.

GB



"M" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>
> I can definitely attest to that. I travel to China yearly in the last
> five years visiting many cities along its coast. The haze caused by
> pollution renders any low altitude flying IFR even on cloudless days,
> and that's everywhere along its coast. I very rarely see blue sky
> there. The sky is almost always brown-ish white on a clear day.
>
> It'll take them probably 50 years to clean up their air. The haze in
> China even affects Japan due to prevailing wind.
>
> I feel thankful for the environmental laws in US every time I return
> home to Seattle.
>
> -M
>
> Hamilton Flyer wrote:
> > If you are going to the Hong Kong / Shenzen area or Shanghai, you can
> > expect that the pollution will be so thick as to rarely have VFR
conditions.
> >
> > Not GA friendly place by a longshot - I'm afraid.
> >
> > Steve
> >
>

[xyzzy]

Guy Byars wrote:

>
> I wish the US would get back on track with safe clean Nuclear energy and
> stop killing the enviornment by burning coal.

The latest energy bill has about $2billion in subsidies for each of the
first few nuke plants built, and the utilities around here are rushing
to cash in. So I think you'll get your wish.

I live near both a nuke plant and a coal plant. I'd much rather see the
coal plant closed than the nuke plant (though, to bring this back on
topic, the coal plant has never caused a national security TFR that
grounded all traffic at home airport).