The Shanghai Daily News Looks at 5000% Growth

The growth figures, assuming the paper has all its facts and rumors straight, are indeed astounding: the largest newspaper in Shanghai, along with facts supplied by the government's own Xinhua news agency, predicts possible growth of 5000% in private, small-plane ownership.

That's possible, if regulations are relaxed; and it says the rumors are that the communist government may soon allow private, point-to-point flights without onerous restrictions, like having the pilot receive permission to take off and to land, before every flight.

Of course, the paper also says there are fewer than a dozen small, private planes in the hands of China's two+ billion people, so the growth rate could be that high, if just 500 new airplanes join the mix.

The story is woven around leaks that the fighter-plane maker, Shenyang Aircraft Industry Group of China, is planning on building a tiny plane that would sell in the $60,000 to low $70,000 range. The paper adds, "Shenyang is not alone. Aircraft manufacturers in Nanjing, Shijiazhuang and Chengdu are all busy working on their own small planes mainly designed for corporate and private owners."

The Nanjing Light Aircraft Company, for instance, is working on a five-seat machine dubbed the AC-500, which should go on sale in a year or so.

The whole dream hinges on a relaxation of the TSA-like regulations under which Chinese private pilots would fly. The rumor, getting stronger with every retelling, is that the Air Traffic Management Bureau will, indeed, let go of some airspace, and lessen the restrictive paperwork. With each denial of any such possibility from the Bureau, the rumors expand.

FMI: http://english.eastday.com