To Brad Perrett, Aviation Week & Space Technology’s Asia-Pacific bureau chief based in Beijing, “It all comes down to opening up the airspace.” He pointed out that, “The whole country is a military zone with airways carved out within it. The airspace belongs to the military, but that is changing. It used to take days to get a clearance to operate. Now it takes only 12 hours to get one, if there is space on the airways.”

Three primary documents will need to be arranged before heading to the PRC: a permit for the trip, visas for passengers and crew, and if headed to any of the aforementioned remote locations, permits to access restricted airports or military bases.

There has been some confusion among international operators lately concerning slot restrictions at Beijing Capital International Airport (ZBAA). Matt Pahl, assistant manager of operations for Air Routing International at Houston, cleared it up. “Earlier this year, [the CAAC] told the business aviation community that they could not support continuous operations through the day. Consequently, they have no general aviation slots available between 1100 and 1700 local, and you can obtain only one slot between 0800 and 1100, and 1700 and 2200.