Using Social Media To Attract Buyers But Not Authorized By The Government

Among the entrepreneurs using Kuaishou, a popular web-streaming app in China, are some who are attempting to attract buyers for gyrocopter kits that can be assembled by the purchaser.

But what they neglect to mention is that they are not authorized by the government to sell the aircraft.

The website Sixth Tone relays a report from the Beijing News indicating that multiple videos have been posted using the app showing the aircraft being built and flown. Liu Zhiqing, a representative from German gyrocopter manufacturer AutoGyro, told Sixth Tone that the market for such aircraft in China is large and growing, but the procedure for legally obtaining a gyrocopter in China is lengthy and complicated. Buyers are required to prove to China's Civil Aviation Authority that their aircraft meet strict national airworthiness standards.

Kuaishou placed a notice on its Weibo microblog account that says while the streaming service encourages "creativity and the ‘Made in China’ spirit, building these kinds of crafts will only be permitted if done in accordance with the law.”

One seller who goes by "Flying Major General" has had his account blocked by the streaming service, which reportedly has some 500 million registered users. A representative of the company told Sixth Tone that it has opened an investigation into certain users.

(Image from file. Not Chinese kit aircraft)

FMI: Original Report