Zhuhai-headquartered China Aviation Industry General Aircraft (CAIGA), whose Cirrus Aircraft is awaiting permission to enter production, received a Special Contribution Award on Nov 5.

The company operates in Zhuhai Aviation Industrial Park, Jinwan District. It was cited by Guangdong aviation organizations for having a positive social, industrial, and corporate impact. Online votes and organizing committee evaluations were considered.

CAIGA's Cirrus Aircraft will develop domestic Chinese products when it obtains a production certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) for a new assembly line.

Cirrus Aircraft was originally Circus Design Corp, an American aircraft manufacturer founded in 1984. It was the world's largest producer of piston-powered aircraft before being acquired in 2011 by a division of State-owned China Aviation Industry Corp (CAIC).

Aviclub helicopter at Airshow China 2018 [Photo by Zheng Zhenhua]

Cirrus's bestsellers are light aircraft such as the SR20, SR22, and SR22T. Currently, the SR22 and SF50 are flying at Airshow China 2018 through Nov 11.

Other companies were honored at Monday's awards ceremony in recognition of domestic contributions to general aviation and unmanned aerial vehicles. For example, Zhuhai Airshow, Zhuhai Aviation City & Airport Group, and AVIC Flight Academy were cited for respective strengths in platform operation, aviation, and training.

The air show exhibition lineup also includes CAIGA's AG600 amphibious aircraft, the largest of its kind.

The awards event was sponsored by the Guangdong General Aviation Association, Guangdong UAV Industry Association, General Aviation Committee of the China Air Transport Association, and Zhuhai Exhibition Group.