China’s civil aviation registered on-time flight rate of 68% in 2014, down from 72% in the previous year. Besides inclement weather, the airspace control system was cited as one of the main causes for worsening flight delays.
Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) director Jun Li said China’s outdated airspace control system was hampering the development of civil aviation, affecting the on-time rate of flights. “It [airspace control system] certainly is a roadblock to progress and must be revamped,”he said.
The issue of reforming China’s civil aviation air traffic control system had already surfaced in the 80’s, according to Mr. Li. Initial proposed reforms to gradually hand over flight corridors from military to civil aviation departments were launched by the 90’s.
The National Air Traffic Committee will launch a national low-altitude airspace control reform in 2015. CAAC will boost its efforts to set up air traffic institutions, consolidate industry resources, explore large-scale air traffic control models, develop civil aviation development for the 13th Five-
Year Plan and launch experimental integrated aviation reform projects in the industry.
CAAC will also optimize the present fight corridor network and speed up implementation of the so-called “Air Silk Road” with linking Beijing-Guangzhou, Beijing-Shanghai and Shanghai-Lanzhou. Airspace in China’s southeast region will also be consolidated with the southwest and northwest regions and work on major routes linking China with Korea will also get a boost, in an attempt to improve the overall conditions in national airspace and pick up airport capacities.(Translation by David)
