China should improve its airworthiness standards to boost the export of civilian aircraft, national legislators have suggested.

"The current airworthiness standards of China were made based on those used [at the time] by the United States Federal Aviation Administration, but our authorities have neglected to revise and update them in a timely manner," said Yu Feng, deputy to the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature.

Yu, an executive of China's leading helicopter manufacturer Avicopter, said the nation's airworthiness standards don't reflect the latest developments in aviation technology or manufacturing techniques. They also exclude aircraft made by individuals and unmanned aircraft.

"For instance, the China Civil Aviation Regulations part 25, which governs the airworthiness of transport aircraft, falls nearly 10 years behind the US Federal Aviation Regulation part 25 in its content because the US administration periodically revises its standards, but we don't," he said.

Airworthiness reflects an aircraft's suitability for safe operations. An airworthiness certificate is initially conferred by a national aviation authority and maintained by performing the required maintenance actions.

Tang Jun, another deputy and chairman of Xi'an Aircraft Industry, the leading maker of the nation's large aircraft such as the H-6 bomber and MA regional airliner series, said the current standards aren't suitable for certifying domestically developed, large airliners and their engines.

That situation will pose obstacles to China's efforts to build a commercial aircraft industry.

"I suggest the government should establish a project and allocate funds to draw up new airworthiness standards and regulations that fit our civil aircraft development levels," Tang said.

"The standards of the US and Europe are widely recognized and adopted. If ours are as good as theirs, then it will be easier for us to remove many difficulties related to market access."

Fu Mingyao, spokesman for Aviation Industry Corp of China, said airworthiness certification standards concern China's national interests. If a foreign government wants to prevent Chinese aircraft from entering its market, it can use disparities in standards to delay giving Chinese companies access.

Ma Yongsheng, an NPC deputy and chairman of AVIC Aerospace, cited his company's experience as an example.

"A new seat developed and made by my company is very competitive in terms of technology, weight and price and has been used in our civil aircraft for many years," he said.

"However, it took a long time for the product to be certified in the US. I think there could be some non-technical factors such as trade barriers or political elements behind our wait."

Yu said: "If we have a set of indigenously produced standards and convince other nations to recognize them, then our products will enter overseas markets without being hindered."

He urged the government to accelerate negotiations on mutual recognition of airworthiness certificates with foreign authorities, which will facilitate the export of Chinese aviation products.

The deputies also urged the government to maintain its strong grip on foreign investment in the civil aviation manufacturing sector.

"Some cities are proposing to found free trade areas and loosen controls on foreign investment in the civil aircraft industry," Tang said.

"This will interrupt the central government's implementation of its roadmap for civil aircraft and enable big foreign companies to gradually monopolize our domestic market," he added. "Therefore, the government should adhere to its policies on the introduction of foreign capital in the civil aviation field."

In the guidelines on foreign investment issued in 2011, the government said it encourages foreign enterprises to invest in China's civil aircraft industry, but it insisted that Chinese companies must hold the controlling interest in any joint venture.

zhaolei@chinadaily.com.cn