Plan underway to develop aviation industry in Qingdao

An overall plan to boost general aviation industry in the Qingdao West Coast New Area was released on Tuesday, as part of efforts to develop strategic new industries and push forward industrial restructuring and upgrading of the zone.

In June, the State Council, China's Cabinet, approved the establishment of the Qingdao West Coast New Area in the Huangdao district of Qingdao. The zone acts as a base for offshore exploration and will promote innovation in China's maritime sector.

Featuring aviation service and marine aviation industry, the zone will build a research base, two industrial parks and five service centers to develop general aviation industry, said the plan.

The five centers include general aviation service operating center, marine aviation service center, aviation training service center, trial flight inspection service center and logistical support service center.

"The superb geographic advantage of the New Area will bring many opportunities to the general aviation industry, said Sun Dagui, deputy head of Qingdao Huangdao District.

The New Area is sandwiched the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei cluster and the Yangtze River Delta Economic Zone. Facing Japan and South Korea across the Yellow Sea, the New Area is at the estuary of the Yellow River and at the eastern end of the Eurasian Land Bridge.

"Most importantly, the New Area is very close to a new planning airport in Jiaozhou, less than 30 kilometers," Sun said.

In 2013, the New Area's GDP hit 226.6 billion yuan ($36.71 billion), accounting 28.3 percent of the whole city of Qingdao, a key economic hub in Shandong province.

"The New Area has become an important growth engine in Qingdao and even in the province," Sun said. "The industries above designated size such as petroleum and chemicals, ship building and electronic appliances, and the emerging industries like information, high-end equipment manufacturing, and new material will give sound economic condition to develop the general aviation industry."

Besides, the New Area also has superiorities in talent training, favorite policies and wide market, Sun added.

With these advantages, the New Area aims to introduce and cultivate ten general aviation companies above designated size with the total output value amounting to 10 billion yuan by the end of the year 2020. The universities and colleges within the New Area are expected to train 1000 professionals.