Mostly Will Go To Infrastructure Improvements

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) will be investing nearly $12 billion in domestic aviation, primarily in infrastructure, according to the agency's leader.

The Diplomat reports that CAAC head Feng Zhenglin told a State Council Executive Meeting last week that the county will spend the equivalent of $11.9 billion in a multi-pronged strategy with a focus on building more airports in remote parts of China, particularly those that are prone to natural disasters.

In addition, there will be more emphasis placed on aviation projects related to agriculture and forestry.

The country's GA sector will also benefit. “The general aviation sector, especially aircraft research and manufacturing, has became (sic) a hot spot of both industrial upgrading and social concern,” Feng said.

The aviation industry will be key in the country's plans to improve transportation, fuel economic growth, and expand employment. The plan also signals a shift of resources from the military to the private sector for resource exploration, environmental monitoring, and transportation services, according to the report.

China's plan to revitalize its aviation industry has been public since 2013. China has also acknowledged the need to reform its air traffic control system, saying that civil aviation is a potential catalyst to spur growth in the country's slowing economy.

FMI: www.caac.gov.cn/en/SY