CITY officials are planning to build an airport for general aviation, rather than a second airport for commercial flights, in a central or eastern part of the city, Shenzhen Economic Daily clarified this week, quoting a transportation official.

    General aviation refers to civil aviation operations other than scheduled air services, and to nonscheduled air transport operations for remuneration or hire. It covers a large range of activities including flight training, agricultural aviation, medical rescues, light aircraft manufacturing and maintenance.

    “The airport for general aviation is quite different from what expert Deng Yaoqing has suggested about building a new airport in Pingshan,” said Yang Xing, deputy director of the transportation commission’s airport department.

    Deng, president of the Pan-Pearl River Delta Innovation and Development Research Institute, suggested that the city build another airport to meet the needs of the aviation industry.

    Yang said it isn’t imperative to build a second airport for public, commercial air services because the new Terminal C at Shenzhen International Airport hasn’t even opened yet.

    A new, general aviation airport in Shenzhen could offer some chartered flight services among Pearl River Delta cities.

    (Han Ximin)