First Chinese Bizav Airfield To Be Built This Year

China’s first business aviation airfield should be under construction east of Beijing by year’s end.  The planned airfield at Sanhe is a project associated with Minsheng International Jet, which has broad ambitions in business aviation. It has been designed for Gulfstream, Bombardier, Dassault and Embraer aircraft, says Minsheng Jet Chairman Mo Lijun. This suggests that users of Boeing and Airbus business jets will have to go to Beijing Capital International Airport, where congestion is demanding an alternative for private flying.

The Sanhe facility will also provide aircraft sales and display, as well as overhaul and maintenance. Since manufacturers cannot now get space at Beijing Capital for such facilities, there seem to be good prospects for busy hangars at Sanhe.

“The project has received support from the local government and various investors,” says Mo. “We expect that the approvals process will be completed and work will begin this year.” The investors include the local government, as is common in China. According to a well-informed industry official unrelated to Minsheng Jet, the company has progressed very well with the project, and it seems quite likely to go ahead.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China said two years ago that it backed building business aviation fields for Beijing and Shanghai. But industry managers and consultants generally doubt that even Shanghai justifies such a facility. For the moment, the Sanhe facility for Beijing looks like the only business airport that China needs.  

Business aircraft users can easily enough get into and out of downtown Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, a heavily used airport with only two runways, providing they do not expect to get slots at peak times, says Carey Matthews, general manager of the busy Shanghai Hawker Pacific FBO there.  

And when Hongqiao eventually becomes too busy for more business aviation, vast Shanghai Pudong airport, which will eventually have six runways, will offer the capacity that will be needed. Pudong is 40 km (25 mi.) from Shanghai city center, but Matthews doubts that anyone could find an airfield location much closer.