China's high-growth aviation gains global concerns

BEIJING -- Air traffic experts convened in Beijing on Wednesday as the city hosts an international forum to discuss air traffic control in one of the fastest growing aviation industries worldwide.

The ATC Global 2014 Exhibition and Conference, which held its opening ceremony on Wednesday, saw more than 70 exhibitors, including top US air traffic officials, meet in Beijing.

With the country experiencing double-digit passenger growth every year and congestion problems already visible at China's busiest airports, air traffic control is one of the most important issues facing the country's aviation sector.

In 2013, China's 193 civil airports handled a massive passenger throughput of 754 million, an 11 percent year-on-year increase. Beijing International Airport is listed as the second busiest airport by passenger numbers in the world, behind Hartsfield-Jackson Alanta International Airport in the US.

Despite big challenges, China's air traffic management authorities are confident in further enhancing the operation efficiency and better serving the development of the country's civil aviation, Wang Liya, director of the Air Traffic Management Bureau of the Civil Aviation Administration of China said.

The country already boasts the second largest air traffic control system in the world, he said at the opening ceremony.

The first time the ATC Global conference has been held outside of Europe, it offers companies the chance to show off the latest in air traffic technology.

It is estimated that, by 2020, China will have a civil transport fleet of 4,000 aircraft, and 240 airports with total air traffic movements surpassing 15 million, almost doubled existing level.

"It's an important time for aviation in China, with its potentials for its civilian and general aviation growth," said Mark Reeves, director with the Asia Pacific Region of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

He called for cross-border cooperation and joint research in the industry standards and market-based technologies across all levels.

China is ready to join hands with global partners to meet the target through airspace optimization, new technology application and operation management improvement without sacrifice of safety, he said.

The three-day ATC Global event is being held at the China National Convention Center in Beijing.

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