[180813.EN.AIR] Chinese Investment In Western Aviation Industry Growing At Rapid Pace

CHINA, in its preparation to meet the pent-up demand of a dammed-up domestic market, is buying up general aviation in the West at an ever-increasing rate, reports US-based Aviation Week.

"Cirrus. Continental aircraft engines. Epic Aircraft. Superior AirParts. Thielert diesel engines. Brantly, and Enstrom Helicopters. All are now Chinese-owned. Count China is a major investor in the ICON light sport aircraft, whose airframes will now be made by Chinese-owned Cirrus, albeit in the US And Chinese money is also bringing the single-engine Cirrus Vision jet to market, said the report.

Cirrus CEO Dale Clammier said that owner China Aviation Industry General Aircraft (CAIGA) is committed to supporting the company's development, and that the Vision is among several products on the drawing table.

Mr Klapmeier would not specify details, but said: "We do have plans. We know what we want next. We know what the airframes are. We have a growth path."

Chinese companies build the Cessna Skycatcher, and will soon be sending Cessna business jets out of their doors. They are already turning out Cessna Caravans.

In Shandong province, Bin Ao Aircraft Industry Co has built 96 complete Diamond DA40D four-place single-engine diesel-powered light aircraft out of orders for 235, and is now supplying composite airframes to Austria-Diamond, and components to the European company's Canadian operation, said the report.

All Chinese-built, completed and ordered Diamonds are for Chinese flight schools; all are powered by Centurion diesel engines made by Thielert. That company was acquired recently by Chinese AVIC's Continental engines subsidiary.

"We have 66 per cent of the Chinese four-seat market between 2008-13 with the Diamond DA-40D aircraft, compared with 34 per cent for Cessna and Cirrus together," said Li Long, assistant to the general manager and head of sales for Bin Ao, at the recent AirVenture airshow at Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Sales campaigns are now underway for the first exports, to Vietnam, Thailand and South Korea, he said.

"GE Aviation will use AirVenture to announce with its Chinese partners the first, and maybe only service centre in China for the new H80 turboprop engine that will power aircraft in that country, including the Thrush 501G crop duster and the single-engine Primus 150 executive aircraft built by AVIC's CAIGA. GE is well ahead on anticipated demand: the third Thrush 501G out of on an initial order of six is currently en-route to China, and the Primus 150 should make its first flight this year," said the report.

Source : HKSG.