In order to accelerate the development of the general aviation industry, CAAC decides to abolish the approval (filing for record) procedures on the introduction of general aviation aircraft, which means enterprises or individuals no longer have to get approved and recorded for purchasing general aviation aircraft and business jets. It would reduce the operational costs of general aviation operators (individuals), lower the pressure on enterprises, and facilitate the introduction of general aviation aircraft.

It is learned that according to relevant documents previously issued by the State Council, introducing general aviation aircraft (including business aircraft) by enterprises or individuals needed to be approved or filed for record in advance, and CAAC was responsible for the approval and record keeping. As the industry’s competent authority, CAAC issued the Interim Regulatory Measures on the Introduction of Imported General Aviation Aircraft in 2008. In response to the State’s requirement for streamlining administration and deregulation, and to accommodate the demands of general aviation market, CAAC revised the Interim Regulatory Measures on the Introduction of Imported General Aviation Aircraft twice respectively in 2010 and 2012. These documents have been developed to accommodate the development of the general aviation industry and have played an active role in standardizing management of imported general aviation aircraft and improving general aviation safety.

In recent years, the general aviation industry in China has developed rapidly. However, as it started late, the industry is still small in scale with infrastructure construction lagging behind. In order to accelerate the improvement of the service support capabilities for general aviation, promote industry transformation and upgrading, and realize sustainable and sound development of the industry, in May 2016, the General Office of the State Council issued the Guidance on Promoting General Aviation Industry Development (hereinafter referred to as the “Guidance”), which specifies the need to give full play to the principal role of enterprises in the market, reduce administrative intervention, and simplify approval (filing for record) procedures for the importing of general aviation aircraft. Based on the Guidance, relevant CAAC departments carried out studies in some enterprises, engaged in earnest deliberations, and thus decided to cancel the approval procedures.