WEALTHY Chinese increasingly use private aircraft for long-distance business and some with a license take to the skies for fun in one-man helicopters. Yao Minji takes off after the story.

Shanghai-based businessman William ("Just call me William") just flew back in his 10-seat private jet from a business trip to a second-tier city in western China.

Two days later, he himself piloted his private helicopter to a well-known hot spring in Sichuan Province to meet friends and relax. Some of them also flew there in private helicopters.

In his early 30s, the young entrepreneur is very discreet and insists on privacy, asking that his name and aircraft not be used.

"We don't want to be seen as rude, rich devils flaunting their wealth, as many private jet owners are already perceived by the public," he tells Shanghai Daily.

"That might be true for some people, but I just simply want to realize my dream of flying. Many boys had the dream when they were little, but I'm fortunate to be able to afford it."

Increasingly there are more Chinese people like William who own private jets, other luxury aircraft and helicopters, mostly for business. A few have pilots' licenses for helicopters and small aircraft.

Private jets and high-end propeller aircraft which are usually foreign, including famous names such as Gulfstream, King Air and Bombardier, are indeed status symbols, but owners also call them business necessities in areas where there are few flights, and speed and convenience are issues.

But private aircraft are expensive, and a lot of planning and red tape are involved in getting off the ground.

China's low-altitude airspace is reserved for military use and each private takeoff requires approval well in advance (at least a week) by the military and civil aviation authorities. Detailed flight plans must be filed.

Around 50 to 60 companies act as middlemen to streamline the procedure. In major cities, such as Shanghai and Beijing, there are flying clubs, and China also has flying schools.

But taking off is still more difficult in China than in many other countries.

The 10-seat jet that carried William back to the city cost around US$30 million and belongs to his father, who has been expanding business to western Chinese cities that lack good air connections.

It costs about 7 million yuan (US$1.4 million) for annul maintenance, not including flying costs. Each one-way flight costs around 100,000 yuan in airport fees, wages for pilots, flight attendants, food and services. The takeoff fee alone is 20,000 yuan in Shanghai and 35,000 in Beijing.

William and his father mainly use the aircraft for business trips. They have equipped it with a bar and two beds to make it more comfortable for them and business partners.

William's helicopter, which cost around half a million US dollars, was acquired two years ago, after he got a pilot's license for private aircraft in Jiangsu Province, his birthplace. Each year it costs around 200,000 yuan for maintenance, permits, membership in private clubs and other expenses. He mainly flies it for fun and has a dozen friends with the same hobby.

William and his father are typical of the two groups, sometimes overlapping, driving up the number of private aircraft in China, both the larger gong wu ji, or business jets, and the smaller helicopters (zhi sheng ji), since 2011. In 2010, the government said it was considering opening lower air space on a trial basis to make it easier to get off the ground.

Expensive business jets usually cost more than US$20 million and require a crew, while smaller aircraft and helicopters can be purchased for less than a million yuan and can be operated by the pilot alone. China-made helicopters are available.

"The situation is very complicated, but it's already much better and will only get better in terms of policies. The problem is the number of airports. We only have a little over 100 airports around the country, far behind the demand," says Wei Lingke, board chairman and president of World Aviation Elites Investment Co Ltd.

"If the number of airports goes up, you will see a real boom in business jets here," he tells Shanghai Daily.

His company sells, leases and maintains nearly 40 business jet aircraft. Around 40 percent of his clients are from the Chinese mainland, and the rest are from nearby countries.

The China Civil Aviation Administration reports that 166 business aircraft, owned by both individuals and enterprises, were registered on Chinese mainland by the end of 2012, 57 more than the number in 2011. It usually takes between a year and two to take delivery after an order has been placed.

"The ones priced under US$25 million don't sell well here. Chinese businessmen like it big, safe and comfortable," says Wei.

He estimates that 80 to 100 business jets will be delivered and registered this year.

Thirty were sold at the Asia Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition in 2012 in Shanghai, and clients typically take delivery two years after placing an order.

"Many Chinese businessmen buy a private business jet for convenience and privacy," says Wei. "Many of our clients have business in Africa or in western Chinese cities, where frequent flights are not available. It is much easier for them to fly private jets and conduct business on board, which saves time."

In 2012, Chinese airports handled 11,810 landings and takeoffs of business aircraft, and a third of those were at Shanghai's two airports.

Despite the civil aviation authority's efforts to boost the private aviation industry in one of the world's fastest-growing markets, business aircraft still can't spread their wings because of various issues.

"The limited flight schedules due to limited air traffic control, the lack of infrastructure and the relatively low quality of maintenance personnel are the main problems," says Shi Boli, head of the transport department of the China Civil Aviation Administration.

While businessmen who own personal jets enjoy convenience and privacy while leaving all arrangements to experts such as Wei, smaller aircraft owners such as William enjoy the fun of piloting and the adventure.

He worries that the general public, already offended by wealthy Chinese and officials, associates private aircraft owners with those who flaunt their wealth, like those who drive Lamborghinis.

Some high-fliers are changing the stereotype, however, by doing good deeds.

In 2010, Guangdong Province businessman Liu Boquan made headlines when he encountered a robbery on the street. He then ordered his pilot in the air to survey the scene, the skipper of his yacht to block an escape by water, and blocked a road with his own Porsche, according to news reports. He helped catch the bad guys and was honored by the city.

Last month, private aircraft owners in Sichuan Province offered to pilot their craft to help in the surveillance and supply efforts after an earthquake struck the mountainous city of Ya'an.

"Many people still stereotype us as rich bastards, but aircraft doesn't cost as much as they thought and it takes more than money," says young entrepreneur William.

"I want to fly, so I am doing it. It's as simple as that. I've met friends with the same dream and I hope our group will continue to grow," he says.

(Yang Jian contributed to this article.)