Posted By Michele Chalmers | October 02, 2026
It seems that September 2026 was a banner month for interesting activity concerning China. This was capped by President Xi Jinping’s welcomed visit to the USA. What originally triggered my desire to write this, however, was an article in Aviation Week & Space Technology titled Accelerating Investments1 which stated that:
“Aftermarket stakeholders are betting on significant growth in China over the next couple of decades…”.
Paralleling this is China’s nascent domestic PMA as well as foreign PMA parts use, the rise in the use of Used Serviceable Material (USM), and use of parts sourced from disassembly projects. Supporting these trends is the presence and participation of the ASA and AFRA (Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association) at key China conferences such as the 3rd Annual PMA Parts Management Seminar in Xiamen, China September 16–17, 2026, and the Aircraft Part Out & USM Management Seminar in Xiamen, China September 17–18, 2026, attended by Michele and Jason Dickstein, Sam O’Connor, and AFRA’s Brent Webb.
Complementing this activity, consider the following1:
• China’s commercial fleet will increase to 5,800 aircraft from 4,760 in the coming 10 years.
• With a fleet of that size, the annual MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) market is projected to translate to $22.9 billion or 16% of global MRO demand by 2035.
• By 2044 China is expected to need up to 131,000 new maintenance technicians – a number that exceeds demands for technicians in all other regions except Eurasia.
• Between 2024-2043 dismantling and recycling will see a 7.5% CAGR (Compounded Annual Growth Rate).
• Beyond support for its domestic fleet, China MROs have been a big beneficiary of the outsourcing trend with customers from North America, Europe, and the Middle East among others.
• Use of USM and PMA parts is expected to grow steadily including China.
o Globally, Naveo2 estimates the air transport USM market, for USM material consumed by airlines and MROs, is ~$7B in 2025
o Globally, Naveo forecasts the USM market to grow to ~$11.8B by 2034. The 2024-2034 CAGR is ~6.2%
Supplementing those stats, reflect on these:
• As of September of 2026, the ASA-100 Accredited companies in China (including Hong Kong and Macau) total approximately 279 facilities and growing.
• As of September of 2026, the AFRA Accredited companies in China (including Hong Kong) total 10 or approximately 20% of the global total and growing.
The growth of the ASA-100 was facilitated by the CAAC (Civil Aviation Administration of China) recognition of the Quality Standard for use under Chinese Law3. Currently the ASA has 4 ASA-100 Auditors based in China. I have had the pleasure of training and working with them, who I’ll describe as world-class with significant industry experience, education, and credentials.
AFRA’s growth is the result of what was expected to be similar recognition by the CAAC of the AFRA BMPs (Best Management Practice), which are the Quality Standards for Disassembly. This was initially reflected in a Memorandum of Understanding. The MOU set forth that CAAC and AFRA will agree on a process to support the application of CCAR-145 approval to disassembly facilities based on AFRA accreditation for limited disassembly functions. Additionally, the MOU called for the establishment of a means for compiling parts information from disassembly facilities outside of China that meet CAAC requirements4, and the guidance was circulated among industry participants as a draft CAAC Advisory Circular. As I was writing this article the CAAC officially released the document as AC-145-FS-017R1, Aircraft Disassembly5. This noteworthy document was an achievement resulting from significant collaboration between the CAAC, AFRA, and the CAAC’s stakeholders.
Many of you who follow my articles know that I fancy myself to be the unofficial historian of such things. As such, with the release of the AC, something which I consider historically significant has occurred which is worthy of being heralded. In 2018 I wrote an article “Blockchain in Aviation?”6 and gave an overview of the potential of blockchain to become a secure repository of aircraft parts histories. I ended the article with the observation that unless aviation authorities gave their support to this concept, that the idea was likely to remain a commercial for-profit concept offered in potentially bewildering variations and platforms. With the release of the AC, the CAAC is the first aviation authority to sanction the use of a blockchain solution to storehouse the listing of parts removed from disassembly projects under the program. Keep an eye on this. Its success will likely signal other aviation authorities to consider the technology as a solution to the broader issue of creating complete and secure ‘cradle to grave’ part histories. The AC is a start, bravo.
I fly out of MKE, and my choice of airline for frequency, service, and destination is Delta. Delta’s Skyteam partner in China is China Eastern. I like that China Eastern seamlessly honors the airline’s elite status for its passengers. To facilitate the codeshare arrangement among the Skyteam members, IATA IOSA (International Air Transport Association, IATA Operational Safety Audit) certification is required. For more information on this important certification program read my article at this link:
https://www.aviationsuppliers....
When I last looked at IATA’s IOSA registry there were 8 Chinese airlines with this global accreditation.
I have been to China many times now including Chengdu. This city is fun from the point of view that they seem to be the center of universe for all things relating to the popularity of panda bears.
Images, statues, tee shirts (yes I got one), paintings, and all sorts of souvenirs seem to be everywhere here. Two giant pandas named Ping Ping and Fu Shuang arrived at Zoo Atlanta on September 27, 2026, following an announcement by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his Washington summit. The Hill announced the transfer during his state visit, highlighting the bears as "envoys of friendship" between China and the United States.
Collectively, all of these point to an optimistic outlook for China, particularly for civil aviation.
Make it happen. Over ‘n out
Roy ‘Royboy’ Resto
Written without the use of AI
1 - Accelerating Investments; Aviation Week & Space Technology; May 18-31, 2026; Page 44
2 - Naveo Consultancy Air Transport Fleet & MRO Update 15 June 2026
3 - https://aviation-suppliers.org...
4 - https://afraassociation.org/in...
5- https://afraassociation.org/in...
6- https://www.aviationsuppliers....