Chinese operator Hainan Airlines announced at the Asian Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition that it will open an authorized service center for Raytheon’s Premier I and Hawker 800XP. This is the first time a general aviation manufacturer has launched a partnership with a service provider in mainland China.

Randy Groom, president of Raytheon’s Beechcraft division, said that the service center in Haikou on Hainan Island in southern China will eventually extend its capability to cover King Airs, the Hawker 400XP and Raytheon’s piston aircraft.

Hainan Airlines, which operates five Hawker 800XPs through its executive charter subsidiary Deer Jet, is investing around $1 million for the necessary tooling, training and spares for the new service center. FlightSafety International will provide the training for Hainan’s mechanics.

According to Raytheon, its Beechcraft and Hawker products now command a 51-percent share of the total turbine business aircraft fleet in Asia and a 40-percent share in Australia. The group has 12 of China’s 42 turbine business aircraft. Groom said that India is also now showing strong market growth, with King Air turboprops well established there, as well as in China.

Raytheon splits its sales presence in the Asia-Pacific region between two offices. In Beijing north Asia sales director Jason Liao oversees China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Mongolia. Nick Jones, sales director for southeast Asia, Australia and the Pacific Rim, operates from Sydney, Australia.

Hawker Pacific is Raytheon’s dealer and authorized service center for Australia, with facilities in Sydney, Cairns and Perth, as well as in Singapore. The U.S. manufacturer’s three other authorized service centers and dealers in the region are Indamer in Mumbai, India; Jamco in Japan; and Air Asia in Taiwan.