With the approval of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, ten 10 local aviation companies have formed the Shanghai General Aviation Association to meet rising demand in eastern China.

The new body will establish a human resources bank to share pilots, maintenance workers and air traffic controllers among the companies, and an expert panel to conduct research on the development of general aviation in Shanghai, reported Shanghai Daily.

The association plans to hold forums and exhibit aircraft annually at Nantong Airport in neighbouring Jiangsu province from next April.