Foreign jet companies turn to promising Chinese market

Beijing (CNS) – The number of planes in China's general aviation fleet will soar to 10,000 units over the next decade to ten times its current size, according to industry experts. The great market potential is stimulating the interest of foreign civil aviation companies, some of whom are already scrambling to invest or exhibit in China.

Embraer released its estimates on March 21, indicating that China's demand for the business jet, an important variety of general aviation products, will grow to 635 units with a total value of US$21 billion.

Embraer said it will participate in the 2012 Asia Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition scheduled from March 27 to 29 in Shanghai, and has invited Chinese star Jackie Chan to show up with his Legacy 650, a hefty business jet made by the company.

Besides Embraer's flagship model the very large Hereditary -1000 business jet will also debut at the show.

In the meantime, the U.S. civil helicopter companies are exploring the Chinese market. US-China Capital Inc, China Helicopter Industry Development Association, and the U.S. Van Nevel helicopter company inked an agreement days ago to transfer all the latter's industrial property and technology patents related to the FH1100 helicopter series to the Chinese market.