The US-China Aviation Cooperation Program (ACP) is a unique public-private partnership organization works on win-win activities designed to help with China’s aviation development. ACP is an American team committed to promoting safe and smart aviation development in China.
ACP is Co-Chaired by John Bruns, President of Boeing China and Chris Collins, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Senior Foreign Affairs Officer in Beijing. Geoff Jackson is ACP’s Executive Director. ACP and its over 30 members receive considerable support from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), US Department of State, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) in China.
ACP members choose to work in committees per their member interests. Committees include: Airports and Infrastructure; Manufacturing and Airworthiness; Leadership and Professional Development; General Aviation and Business Aviation; and Airspace and Environment.
ACP FACT SHEET
US-China Aviation Relationship
This Fact Sheet is a snapshot showing the depth and importance the United States attaches to China’s aviation development and the benefits that this brings to both countries. We continue to witness historic levels of growth in passenger numbers between our two countries. More than an estimated 3 million Chinese travelers visited the United States in 2016, and in the first three quarters of 2016, more than 1.66 million U.S. travelers visited China.
For more than 14 years, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have worked together to promote U.S.-China aviation cooperation through a unique public-private partnership known as the U.S.-China Aviation Cooperation Program (ACP).
Each year, ACP programs millions of dollars of assistance with help from ACP's 35 U.S. member companies. This work is a win-win for both countries, with aviation playing an important and growing role in the overall U.S.-China economic relationship.
There also are other bilateral aviation agreements—U.S.-China Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement, Bilateral Air Services Agreement; and Airworthiness, and Flight Standards Dialogues that provide the framework and standards to support the work of our respective industries. ACP’s work is grouped into seven categories deemed as priorities for ACP assistance.
1. Safety and Flight Standards
CAAC/ACP 2015 MOU pledged increased support for training and related activities to promote safety.
2017: Symposia on Airline Operations; and General Aviation Operations
The FAA and the CAAC have been engaged in a formal effort for over two decades to address aviation safety oversight challenges and adopt best practices in response to the growing scope of safety responsibilities, resulting in enhanced information sharing and analysis; access to regulatory guidance; and improved management of international operational safety oversight.
2. Airworthiness
Commitment by CAAC Airworthiness Dept. and ACP to hold select workshops: 2017: workshops on: ODA; and TC/PC Split
The FAA and the CAAC signed two Special Arrangements for technical assistance for oversight of production approval extensions, and introducing provisions for split design/production programs.
FAA and CAAC are strengthening collaboration in areas such as engine certification, delegation and continued airworthiness. FAA-CAAC will conduct strategic knowledge sharing to promote system harmonization and the ACP's workshops are useful component of this effort.
The FAA and its Asia-Pacific partners, including CAAC, submitted a risk-based validation model to the ICAO Airworthiness Panel for consideration as global guidance for validating authority to rely on the certifying authority approval using a risk-based, systems approach. The CAAC is a partner in this effort and a signatory to this risk-based validation model.
3. Professional & Educational Development
Agreement to continue Executive Development Training (EMDT); and Air Traffic Management Executive Training (ATMET). 2017 marks the 12th and ninth year respectively of these training programs; Over 600 students trained in these two highly valued programs to date.
4. Building Capacity and Efficiency
Joint projects to assist CAAC with the development of its air traffic system. Building on the recent completion of ACP’s Xi’an pilot project and other related activities, CAAC and ACP will begin its Shanghai Area Airspace and Ground Optimization Project with support from the FAA and the US Trade & Development Agency.
5. Sustainability, New Technology and Innovation
This year CAAC and ACP are undertaking Green Routes pilot project to help reduce harmful emissions. This work is an extension of ACP’s ECER work.
6. General Aviation
The fifth Phase of ACP’s General Aviation Business Aviation Program, which started in 2008 will begin this year with a focus on general and business aviation models; new technology regulations; aeromedical services; standards for new general aviation and business aviation airports; helicopter and business jet performance training; and flight operation control regulations.
On-going: GA Inspector training in US
7. Airport and Infrastructure Development
Under a recently signed MOU by CAAC and ACP, both sides plan to expand and deepen cooperation that may include, but not limited to: US study tours—Airport Emergency Management; Smart Green Hub Airports; and GA Airport Service Providers—and technical assistance for airport efficiency and operations management; and new technology applications.