The 2012 AOPA-China Fly-in event has kicked off in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province on August 25. Organized by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of China, the show is aimed at finding a way at opening up China's low-altitude airspace.

The AOPA Fly-in event, a gathering of aircraft, pilots and fans from all over the world, is being held in China for the first time.

Originally created in the United States, America's Fly-in conventions ask planes involved to fly directly into the event's host city. But because China's airspace below 1,000 meters is off limits to non-governmental or commercial aircraft, 16 aircraft have to be detached and transported on the ground.

Liu Liancheng, flight director, said, "We won't have a real Fly-in until the low-altitude airspace is open. If that happens, I could fly anywhere, I wouldn't have to fill out complicated applications and I could take responsibility for my own safety. But now we are not there yet."

China's low-altitude airspace is controlled by the Air Force and the Civil Aviation Administration of China. Private flights, a major part of general aviation, currently need to go through intricate and time-consuming procedures to fly in low-altitude airspace.

Shen Haiqing, general director, said, "People will get a better understanding of general aviation after this Fly-in, see what the event requires and what regulations the pilots should abide by. It will help to accelerate the opening up of low-altitude airspace."

China's general aviation, especially private planes, has a huge market potential. The opening up of the low-altitude airspace could bring about a boom in China's general aviation industry, which could in turn fuel the country's economic growth.

(CNTV.cn August 26, 2012)