National-level flying camp opens in Lingang

A MAJOR aerosports and drone camp was unveiled in Lingang, the Pudong New Area, yesterday for the takeoff and landing of fixed-wing aircraft, seaplanes, helicopters and drones.

Apart from aerosports and pilot training, Shanghai’s first national-level flying camp will play a key role in the development of regional air transport and general aviation in the Yangtze River Delta region, according to the city’s aerosports federation.

The camp near Hangzhou Bay within Lingang’s drone demonstration zone also allows artificial intelligence and general aviation companies in the area to conduct test flights and airworthiness certification.

It has a 600-meter grass runway and a 800-meter water runway as well as owning a 300-meter-high airspace with a flying radius of 5 kilometers. It can handle the takeoff and landing of aircraft and helicopters under 800 kilograms with a maximum speed of 120 knots (222 kilometers per hour).

“Shanghai has had five drone camps, while the newly unveiled camp is the only one that can serve both drones and aircraft,” said Qian Weiqi, secretary general of the federation.

An aerobatic drone show marked the official opening. Two domestically developed jets, the M2 Skywave, a two-seat amphibious jet, and solar-powered unmanned aircraft MOZI 2, are showcased at the camp.

Qian said the site will help to enhance efficient use of the city’s limited airspace.

The Oxai M2 Skywave, a Shanghai-made two-seat amphibious light aircraft, was one of the first aircraft to use the camp, finishing its certification and test flight from there.

“The camp will greatly help general aviation firms based in

Lingang, who need frequent test flights,” said Roger Mao, general manager of Oxai Aircraft.

The M2 Skywave can fly up to 1,000 kilometers on 100 liters of fuel. The empty weight of the airframe, which is 90 percent carbon-fiber composite, is 350 kilograms and maximum takeoff weight is 650kg.

General aviation is emerging as a strategic industry in China after the State Council issued a guidance in 2016 for its development. China plans to build more than 500 general aviation airports by 2020 to serve more than 5,000 aircraft.

Meanwhile, the Jinshan Industrial Park has launched a center for research on unmanned aerial vehicles.

The new center has the right to fly drones in 58 square kilometers of airspace and has two 800-meter runways for fixedwing UAVs.

Jinshan Water Airport at Hangzhou Bay has been approved as the city’s only level-A general aviation airport by the East China Region Administration of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, meaning the site can offer services to the public.

It has two runways, four airplane stands on land and a 70-meter dock for seaplanes. The water airport will serve seaplanes with five to nine seats and drones for emergency rescue, transport, travel, marine patrols and test flights, according to Joy Air Holding Co, which owns the airport operator.