Shenzhen strives to develop low-altitude aviation

Travelling from downtown Shenzhen to the city's renowned Dameisha Coastal Park by helicopter may become a reality as the southern Chinese city is working hard to promote its low-altitude aviation industry.

On April 12, a special session was held in the Shenzhen Dongbu General Aviation Company (Dongbu Aviation) base. The session was attended by Li Jian, deputy head of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and Liu Qingsheng, vice mayor of Shenzhen.

Shenzhen holds a special session on "General Aviation Survey in the Central and Southern China" on April 12. [Photo/dutenews.com]

Li noted at the session that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is a great region in which to promote low-altitude airspace aviation and taking a helicopter from downtown Shenzhen to the city's east region could cost less than 200 yuan ($32) when all is said and done.

According to insiders, the demand for low-altitude air transportation in a country or a region will surge when its GDP per capita reaches $8,000. With a total population exceeding 100 million, the Greater Bay Area has many core cities whose GDP per capita surpass this number. In the next three to five years, it is expected that more than 1,000 helicopters will be required to satisfy demand in the Greater Bay Area.

Li Jian, deputy head of CAAC, speaks at the session. [Photo/dutenews.com]

Over the past few years, China has been striving to boost the general aviation industry and launched a series of policies to develop the low-altitude airspace aviation industry. Shenzhen, at the frontline of China's Reform and Opening-up, is working particularly hard to boost the industry, making it a key component of its 13th Five-Year (2016-2020) Plan for Transportation and going to great efforts to develop parking aprons, landing pads and low-altitude airspace tourism in the Pearl River Delta region.

Shenzhen's low-altitude airspace aviation industry has taken the lead in China and the city's Dongbu Aviation is the first and only of its kind to be granted a business permit and operation qualification certificate by the CAAC.

Government officials pose for a photo in front of a helicopter in Shenzhen. [Photo/dutenews.com]

"Low altitude flights can greatly reduce traffic congestion and we will be committed to providing better services for people needing faster and more convenient transportation," said Zhao Qi, chairman of the board of Dongbu Aviation.

Currently the price for a ten-minute helicopter ride in Shenzhen is about 1,200 yuan and the cost can possibly go as low as 199 yuan in the future, Zhao added.