U.S. Delegation Included Representatives From Pan Am Academy
The U.S. Department of Commerce declared their recent Aviation Trade Mission with the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC), held the first two weeks of November, to be "successful on all fronts." The group met in five major Chinese cities including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Beijing, and Hong Kong.
U.S. delegation members, including Pan Am International Flight Academy, held prescreened one-on-one meetings and networking sessions with Chinese partners and key aviation decision-makers from the Chinese government and industry with a common goal to promote business between U.S. commercial aviation and Chinese airlines and manufacturers struggling to keep pace with China's rapid growth. China is the world's fastest growing civil aviation sector and is expected to add 5,000 new aircraft valued at $600 billion over the next 20 years.
The Chinese delegation consisted of the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC); Air China, China's largest private airline; China Eastern Airlines; China Southern Airlines; OK Airlines; Aviation Industry Corporation of China, a state-owned aerospace and defense company employing over a half million people; COMAC, a Chinese aircraft manufacturer; and maintenance and repair companies AMECO and GAMECO.
China's commercial aviation opportunities exist in multiple sectors, including tier-one suppliers, niche-parts manufacturing, airport design/construction, pilot and mechanic training and general aviation.
"We've been in this business a long time and been involved in a lot of global business, starting with Pan Am's contributions in bringing international travel to the world in the early days...but to be asked by the U.S. Department of Commerce to represent the best in American aviation training and safety procedures was a real honor," said Gregory Darrow, Senior Director of Sales and Marketing of Pan Am International Flight Academy. "This opportunity, has in effect, solidified our relationship with many of the key decision-makers and airlines there. We see China as a tremendous opportunity for us and we were thrilled to have participated."
A scheduled stop during the 12-day mission included the China Air Show in Zhuhai China, endorsed by the Chinese central government, with 600 companies from 35 countries worldwide and more than 100,000 visitors. Delegates were honored to attend a special reception held at the show for the trade mission by U.S. Ambassador to China, Gary Locke and U.S. Minister for Commercial Affairs to China, Mr. William Zarit.
Pan Am was one of only ten U.S. companies invited to participate. The next scheduled cooperative aviation trade mission between the two countries is expected to be held sometime during the next year.
(Pictured: Pan Am and US Aviation Trade Delegation meeting with the CEO of Air China as part of recent trade mission to China.)
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