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China opens more low-altitude airspace

By Yu Hongyan (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-04-11 13:13

China will open more of its low-altitude airspace below 1,000 meters this year in another five pilot cities, the Shanghai Securities News reported Monday.

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The country initiated the reform last year, with Changchun and Guangzhou chosen as the first two trial cities, the paper said.

China aims to "thoroughly" open its low-altitude airspace across the country by 2015, the paper said, citing a circular jointly issued by the State Council and the Central Military Commission.

Meanwhile, China is to boost its general aviation industry, and aims to set up three to five key enterprises in this sector, the paper cited Wang Changshun, vice minister of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China.

General aviation refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline or regular cargo flights, both private and commercial.