<p>The Pinggu District administration is planning to open the airspace to amateur pilots, The Beijing Morning Post reported quoting Zheng Jifu, head of the district.<br />If it is permitted it would be first time in the history of China that such a permission is granted for private jets.<br /><br />The airport would allow private aircraft to fly within a certain area, or via a regular route if declared 24 hours in advance, Zheng said.<br />Pinggu covers an area of 1,075 square kilometers in northeastern Beijing, with its north, east and south covered in mountains while its central and southwestern parts are mainly flat.<br /><br />The move came after a circular in November 2010 allowing the opening of some of the country's low-altitude airspace - up to 1,000 meters - to private planes. Previously, aircraft had to get approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China for every proposed journey, which often takes a long time.<br /><br />Pilots who broke the rules would be fined up to 100,000 yuan (USD 15,000). But this did not stop China's nouveau riche from reaching for the skies. There are thought to be 1,000 general aviation planes in China.<br /><br />They are defined as flights that are neither military nor from scheduled airlines and include civilian flights and those for such things as rescue missions, offshore exploration and aerial photography, the China Daily reported.<br /><br />The government of Xi'an, in Northwest China's Shaanxi province, decided to open low-altitude airspace to touring aircraft last year instead of private planes. Li Rui, a staff member with the Beijing Flying-Man Aviation Sport Equipment Co, said opening airspace in Pinggu would be "great for civil aviation".<br /><br />"Aviation amateurs usually organise flying activities at a limited number of bases outside Beijing, but they lose interest due to the long flight time. If they can fly legally in Beijing, they will have more choices and much more fun," Li said.</p>
<p>The Pinggu District administration is planning to open the airspace to amateur pilots, The Beijing Morning Post reported quoting Zheng Jifu, head of the district.<br />If it is permitted it would be first time in the history of China that such a permission is granted for private jets.<br /><br />The airport would allow private aircraft to fly within a certain area, or via a regular route if declared 24 hours in advance, Zheng said.<br />Pinggu covers an area of 1,075 square kilometers in northeastern Beijing, with its north, east and south covered in mountains while its central and southwestern parts are mainly flat.<br /><br />The move came after a circular in November 2010 allowing the opening of some of the country's low-altitude airspace - up to 1,000 meters - to private planes. Previously, aircraft had to get approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China for every proposed journey, which often takes a long time.<br /><br />Pilots who broke the rules would be fined up to 100,000 yuan (USD 15,000). But this did not stop China's nouveau riche from reaching for the skies. There are thought to be 1,000 general aviation planes in China.<br /><br />They are defined as flights that are neither military nor from scheduled airlines and include civilian flights and those for such things as rescue missions, offshore exploration and aerial photography, the China Daily reported.<br /><br />The government of Xi'an, in Northwest China's Shaanxi province, decided to open low-altitude airspace to touring aircraft last year instead of private planes. Li Rui, a staff member with the Beijing Flying-Man Aviation Sport Equipment Co, said opening airspace in Pinggu would be "great for civil aviation".<br /><br />"Aviation amateurs usually organise flying activities at a limited number of bases outside Beijing, but they lose interest due to the long flight time. If they can fly legally in Beijing, they will have more choices and much more fun," Li said.</p>