Wuxi general aviation takes off

Asian Express Aviation Co received its business certificate on April 27, allowing the company to commence flying operations. The certification approval marks the first time for a general aviation company to operate from Wuxi.

The company will begin operating in June and provide special services, including aerial trips, charted airplane travel, skydiving, aerial weddings, crop-dusting and aerial photographs.

Asian Express has a current fleet of four airplanes, which it plans to increase to 10 by the end of 2015 and to 20 in 2016. The current plane models are PC-6 and PC-12, manufactured by Switzerland Pilatus Aircraft Co, a world-class manufacturer for turbo-prop aircraft and the investor of Asian Express.

Services will include an aerial trip above Taihu Lake, priced at less than one thousand yuan ($161), and charted flights at a rate of 25,000 to 30,000 yuan per hour of flight time. The company will be the first in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, to provide a skydiving service. According to the current market price, the cost of skydiving per person will be roughly 5,000 yuan per person.

Pilot training will also be offered by the company, with a pilot’s license costing around 150,000 to 200,000 yuan. Asian Express can also help take care and maintain private planes.

Asian Express started its market evaluation in Wuxi three years ago, according to Xue Wenyou, the company’s manager.

According to statistics in the US, the most developed country in general aviation, a city with a GDP of over $10,000 is suitable for a private aviation industry. Wuxi’s GDP surpassed $20,000 three years ago, paving the way for Asian Express’ application for establishment in 2013 and its approval this April.

General aviation (GA) covers all civil aviation operations, other than scheduled air services and non-scheduled air transport operations for remuneration or hire. GA flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to corporate business jet flights. It also covers a large range of activities, both commercial and non-commercial, including flying clubs, flight training, agricultural aviation, light aircraft manufacturing and maintenance.

A PC-12 airplane made by Switzerland Pilatus Aircraft lands in Wuxi, Jiangsu province [Photo/wxrb.com]

A PC-6 airplane made by the Switzerland Pilatus Aircraft [Photo/asian-express.cn]