Signs Several GA Deals In The First Quarter Of 2019

Jiande Aviation Town inked seven general aviation deals in the first quarter of 2019, attracting some 2.5 billion yuan (approx. $360 million) of investment, according to an official with the town management committee.

The aviation town currently has 17 more projects in talks with total investment amounting to 45.85 billion yuan (approx. $6.6 billion), the official said.

Built on industrial remains left from the old Hengshan ferroalloy factory, the once industrial town in Hangzhou has transformed itself into a new growth engine with general aviation fueling transformation.

The aviation town now hosts settlement of 773 enterprises with main business revenue amounting to 7.133 billion yuan (approx. $1 billion).

In terms of transformation, Hangzhou based XIZI UHC brought its name forward when China's first self-developed trunk jetliner, the C919, conducted its successful maiden flight in 2017. As the only private enterprise on C919's supplier list, the once boiler and elevator making company now holds contracts with Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, AVIC and COMAC.

Upgrading manufacturing to connect with aviation is a good fit for traditional sectors' modern transformation, said an official with Zhejiang Province Economic and Information Commission, noting that Hangzhou is deploying all resources for a spot in the strategic emerging industry.

The city's Qiantang New District, a development area for aviation manufacturing, saw School of Aeronautics and Astronautics under Zhejiang University settle in to develop high-end aircraft technology. Its main team, led by professor Ke Yinglin, had previously developed 17 sets of aircraft automated assembly systems and two assembly pulsation production lines, providing strong technical support for the country's key military aircraft models.

Hangzhou is mapping a full-chain plan towards an "aviation city" future that integrates learning, R&D, manufacturing, tourism as well as other aviation services.

(Source: Jiande Aviation Town management committee)

FMI: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiande (No website available)