THE Qingdao Western Coastal Export Processing Area has been busy working on construction of the Shandong General Aviation Industrial Park recently.

    The general aviation industry is an important part of the advanced manufacturing industry, which will have more boosting effect on the economy than the automobile industry. The area has started planning the park since 2007 and the first B-2B light helicopter, developed and produced by Qingdao Haili Helicopter Co. Ltd. in the area, finished its trial operation successfully May 25, 2009, which meant the Brantly helicopter project from the United States with a total investment of US$23.5 million had started operations officially.

    A Russian helicopter assembling and repairing project with a total investment of US$75 million will start production in 2011. This project will be the Russian Helicopter Company’s sixth repairing and customer service center in the world.

    An aerotire repairing project by the Bridgestone Aerotire (China) Co. Ltd. from Japan with a total investment of US$14 million has already started production in Qingdao.

    Other related projects, such as a helicopter engine project with Ukraine, a seaplane part project with the United States and a logistics project with Bridgestone from Japan, are now under discussion with the city’s government.

    (Wang Yuanyuan, Ma Zhiguang)