From August 1 to 3, CAAC Deputy Administrator Li Jian led a survey team to Xinjiang, to keep abreast of the new technologies of civil aviation as well as general aviation activities in the region. He underscored that relentless efforts should be made to promote the application of new technologies to give full play to their supporting role; promote the application of new technologies in general aviation to facilitate safe GA development; seek development through innovation and achieve win-win results by opening-up; and support high-quality development of civil aviation in Xinjiang in a bid to boost its economic and social development as well as achieve solidarity and common prosperity of people of different ethnic groups.

The survey team participated in the validation demonstration of Beidou Navigation System and ADS-B OUT/IN conducted by Xinjiang General Aviation Co., Ltd. and observed ADS-B operation in Xinjiang area, full satellite based PBN operation at Tacheng Airport, and pilot operational validation of CCAR Part 135 of Air Xiya. Li Jian said that Urumqi Area Control Center controls the largest area as compared with other ACCs in China and the area is dense in routes and heavy in aircraft operation. In the meantime, Xinjiang has more civil transport airports than any other provinces in China, featuring many destinations, long-distance routes and a wide coverage. However, aviation industry development in the province has long been constrained by the CNS equipment which need improvement and could not meet the huge demand for civil aviation development. In recent years, Xinjiang civil aviation has embarked on a road to develop new technologies which could improve safety and economic benefits, and Xinjiang has become a trailblazer in the application of new technologies available in the civil aviation industry.

Li Jian underlined that it is imperative to steadfastly promote the application of new technologies to give full play to their supporting role. New technologies should serve as the basis for continuous improvement in safety level, the driving force leading to higher operational efficiency, and the means to constantly improving the quality of operation. At the same time, efforts shall be made to promote the application of new technologies in general aviation to support its safe development; apply Beidou navigation system and ADS-B in general aviation so as to solve the urgent issue of providing surveillance for the GA aircraft; strengthen the supporting role of new technologies to continuously improve the safety support capability of general aviation; realize self-control of core technologies for the purpose of accelerating the transformation of scientific and technological achievements; and scientifically manage airworthiness certification of general aviation and promote the wide use of GA products produced by China.

Given the widespread presence of small and medium-sized airports and the large number of joint-use airports, Li Jian requested that the safety oversight and the application of new technologies should be strengthened at small and medium-sized airports; the problems in the safety management and air traffic control should be comprehensively sorted out and scientifically evaluated; areas of weakness concerning professional training and emergency response of the airports in the autonomous region should be identified; and the operation of new technologies such as ADS-B, HUD and PBN should be promoted to effectively improve the supporting capabilities. Also, civil-military integration will be pushed forward. And efforts will be made to further improve the communication and coordination mechanism; harmonize standards and regulations; boost resource sharing and coordinated operation; effectively manage the risk of safety operation of airports for both civil and military operation; summarize and promote successful experience in a timely manner so as to comprehensively improve capabilities to support operation.

In recent years, Xinjiang kept applying new navigation technologies and has become a hot spot region in this regard. In February 2015, Xinjiang became the first region in the country to implement PBN operation covering all routes; in November 2015, Urumqi Airport became the third airport in China with HUD special authorization CAT II approach and 200 meters low visibility takeoff capability; in August 2017, ADS-B operation was implemented in Xinjiang.