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(Yicai) Feb. 5 -- Guanyi Aviation has set its sights on getting airworthiness certification in Europe and the US for its GA20 plane, the first general-purpose aircraft developed by a privately owned Chinese company, after the aircraft maker recently received the greenlight from Chinese regulators, the company’s founder told Yicai in a recent interview.
The single-engine four-seat fixed-wing general-purpose aircraft was the first privately developed airplane to receive CCAR-23 type certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration at the end of last year, said Zhu Songhua. A general-purpose aircraft refers to all flight activities except military and cargo.
The GA20 meets the airworthiness standards of China, the US and Europe, Zhu said. It can be used in a number of different scenarios, such as pilot training and short-distance commutes and Nanchang-based Guanyi Aviation's targets are the private jet and pilot training markets, he added.
Excerpts from the interview are given below:
Yicai: Now that the EU and US airworthiness certification applications are on the agenda, can you give us an update on how close the GA20 is to starting mass production and how the plane series will be expanded?
Zhu Songhua: We had more than 300 orders for the GA20 two years ago, mainly from customers in the pilot training market. Once the GA20 starts production, in addition to pilot training, we are keen to explore ways to enter the global private aviation market. Aviation clubs and private users will be our future targets.
We have met the conditions needed to apply for a license to manufacture the GA20 airplane. We are now actively promoting the production and serialized research and development of the GA20. We will tailor the power configurations, interiors, avionics equipment and other specifications according to our clients’ requirements, to provide them with the best purchase and flight experience possible.
Yicai: Tell us more about the application for EU and US airworthiness certificates.
ZS: China has penned separate bilateral airworthiness agreements with the US and the EU to realize the mutual recognition of civil aviation planes with the two regions. Twenty-three aircraft have been accorded a specific mutual recognition review, which makes it much easier for the GA20 to get its international airworthiness certification. EU and US authorities no longer need to conduct a comprehensive review of the aircraft, but only need to go through a simple review process that takes about 5 percent of the time of the previous one.
Yicai: The low-altitude economy has been gaining steam in recent years. Recently, the National Development and Reform Commission set up a low-altitude economic development department. How does this open up new doors for a company like Guanyi Aviation?
ZS: The nation’s support will usher in a golden period for the low-altitude economy. But there is still a long way to go in terms of the construction and improvement of the industrial chain. All parties should be patient and supportive of scientific and technological innovation, which is the cornerstone for high-tech innovation.
We have already started developing our second aircraft, GAX, with independent intellectual property rights and have completed the first phase of pre-research work.
Editor: Kim Taylor