1.65-billion-yuan boost for plane base

China George Heintz Aircraft Manufacturing Co will invest 1.653 billion yuan ($272.6 million) in a light plane base in Faku, a county in Shenyang, Liaoning province.

The local government said it will be the first super STOL (short takeoff and landing) light aircraft manufacturing base in northeastern China.

The project is scheduled to produce 500 small aircraft a year, valued at 2 billion yuan. A general aviation club will be set up at the base, offering pilots training programs.

Work on Faku's general aviation industrial base, with an area of 25 square km, began in 2010. It will focus on aircraft research and development, aircraft and parts manufacturing, aircraft assembly and pilot training.