Shanghai Hawker Pacific Business Aviation Service Centre General Manager Carey Matthews is upbeat about business aviation trends in mainland China. In a press briefing at NBAA'12 he reported that year over year growth is 13 percent for business aviation movements at both Hongqaio (SHA) and Pudong (PVG) airports in Shanghai, China. "We expect total movements to be around 4,000 at the end of 2012," said Matthews. He noted that as new owners and current owners of business aircraft learn what those aircraft can do for them, and as more FBO facilities and MRO facilities spring up, those owner/operators are using their aircraft more often. "With the FBO we can have an owner off the aircraft and to his car in the parking lot in a minute or so," Matthews said. He currently estimates just under 160 business aircraft flying in mainland China.

Shanghai Hawker Pacific is a joint venture between Shanghai Airport Authority and Hawker Pacific located at Hongqiao International Airport, within eight miles of downtown Shanghai. The FBO, one of the first in mainland China, provides VIP lounge facilities and ground handling services for private aircraft. Hawker Pacific is involved in integrated civil and military aerospace sales and product support in the Asia Pacific region. The company maintains facilities in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Townsville, Cairns and Auckland as well as in Southeast Asia and the Middle East and is an authorized service center and sales agent for Hawker Beechcraft and Dassault Falcon aircraft.

Matthews also announced that the FBO has been approved by the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC) to maintain the Dassault Falcon 2000EX EASy series, including the Falcon 2000DX and LX. This makes Shanghai Hawker Pacific the first authorized service center for Dassault Falcon jet in China. The company expects to add the Falcon 900EX EASy, DX and LX certification by the end of 2012.

The Part 145 MRO is also now certified to maintain Cayman Islands-registered aircraft, Matthews said during the briefing. "The Cayman Islands registry has 195 aircraft worldwide, with the vast majority being operated in businesses," he said. The MRO has also installed and is now CAAC certified to use the Corridor aviation service software that has been updated by Continuum Applied Technology specifically for Chinese use.

Shanghai Hawker Pacific is gearing up for its second ABACE show in 2013. Matthews said that the show is on track to have 45 aircraft on static display, along with 200 exhibitors. "We are working with CAAC right now to smooth access for helicopters and turboprop aircraft to ABACE," he said. Last year's show had 6,000 attendees and 27 aircraft on static display. Show dates are April 16-18, 2013.