SHENZHEN Eastern General Aviation Co. (Shenzhen Eastern GAC), the first certified general aviation company in China, has targeted building a strategic platform of 1,000 helicopters in the next five years, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported.

Cui Xiaofeng, deputy head of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, led a delegation to Shenzhen on Saturday to research the city’s general aviation industry.

During the field visit, Cui pointed out how the cross-border flight services between Guangdong and Hong Kong match China’s national strategies and will have a promising market.

Cui expressed that he hopes the development of Shenzhen’s general aviation industry becomes a vigorous, exemplary and replicable case in the field.

As a demonstration area for China’s general aviation industry, Shenzhen plays a leading role in low-altitude air transportation and the city has formed a general aviation service network that covers areas such as low-altitude and cross-border transportation, medical and emergency rescue, city patrol and aerial tourism.

On June 28, a helicopter operated by Shenzhen Eastern GAC took off from Shenzhen and landed in Hong Kong after an approximately 15-minute flight, which marked the first cross-border helicopter flight between Guangdong and Hong Kong.

The 1,000-helicopter platform will serve a 500-km radius around Shenzhen, according to Zhao Qi, chairman of Shenzhen East GAC.  (Liu Wenjin)