April Brings New Frontiers in Sino-International Cooperation
Here are a few free stories to catch up on.
The four-seater RX4E electric aircraft Video: Via Volar Air Mobility
This April, we've seen some developments in Sino-international cooperation in aviation and aerospace.
Here are five stories to catch up on.
Volar Announces Win for RX4E at 2025 e-Flight Awards
Volar Air Mobility, in collaboration with the Liaoning General Aviation Academy (LGAA), has been awarded the 2025 Aero Friedrichshafen e-Flight Award for the RX4E electric aircraft.
The accolade was presented at Aero Friedrichshafen 2025, a general aviation trade fair held annually in Friedrichshafen, Germany.
The e-Flight Award highlights achievements in electric aircraft development that align with broader industry goals for reducing aviation’s environmental footprint.
The recognition follows a major regulatory milestone.
On December 29, 2024, the RX4E received its Type Certification (TC) from Chinese aviation authorities, making it the world’s first electric aircraft to be certified under China’s CCAR-23 airworthiness regulations for normal category aircraft.
The category covers small aircraft with up to 19 passenger seats and a maximum takeoff weight of 8,618 kilograms or less.
With the certification in hand, LGAA is now able to move forward with mass production of the RX4E.
JOUAV Earns Awards and Hosts Hamilton City Council Delegation
JOUAV will showcase its flagship systems for industrial applications at the 9th Drone World Congress 2025, taking place from May 23 to 25 at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center, Booth 1A62, Hall 1.
JOUAV UAS Solutions has also been earning recognition both at home and abroad.
At China’s 10th National UAV Power Inspection Technology Summit on April 17, JOUAV received the UAV Technology Innovation Award for the PH-007 Autonomous Inspection System and the Innovative Application Case Award for the JOS-C800 Drone-in-a-Box Solution.
On April 18, a delegation from the Hamilton City Council of New Zealand visited JOUAV’s Tech Park to explore the company’s industrial drone solutions.
The delegation, including Councillors Ewan Wilson and Maria Huata, toured JOUAV’s manufacturing facilities, including composite material and CNC machining workshops, and was introduced to UAV systems such as the CW-15, CW-30E, and CW-20E.
JOUAV stated that the visit highlighted the growing global interest in its technology, with both parties expressing optimism about potential future collaborations in the UAV sector.
Author’s note — JOUAV’s CW-15+CA-103 drone system was deployed on a successful aerial surveying mission in Laos late last year.
FAA Audit Clears Drayton Aerospace Xiamen
Auditors from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conducted an on-site review at Drayton Aerospace’s landing gear facility in Xiamen—its first since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020.
The April 11 audit focused on assessing the company’s operational management system and its compliance with FAA standards.
Drayton Aerospace Xiamen reported a positive outcome, with auditors confirming “zero non-conformities” after a detailed review
According to the company, the FAA carried out a thorough review of its operations, including documentation checks, process verifications, and staff interviews.
The audit covered various aspects of the company’s operations, such as policy implementation, production processes, and quality management systems.
Drayton Xiamen said the FAA auditors commended the company’s quality systems, standardized management practices, and the professionalism of its staff.
The company’s leadership and efficient management were noted as key factors contributing to the successful audit outcome, Drayton Xiamen added.
The company views the audit as a fresh starting point, aiming to continue advancing in aviation maintenance and contribute to global aviation development.
Drayton Aerospace Xiamen supplies landing gear for Boeing, ATR, and Airbus aircraft.
In 2024, deliveries included ATR72 and A320 landing gear on January 15, A320 units on February 23 and March 26, B737NG gear on April 26, and both A320 and B737NG gear on May 24.
On June 21, the company delivered another batch of B737NG landing gear, bringing the year’s total to 74 units.
The company is part of Drayton Aerospace, a UAE-headquartered aircraft maintenance and aftermarket services provider owned by Invesco Ltd., with operations across ten facilities in seven countries.
Its landing gear facilities in Rio and Xiamen are certified by the FAA, EASA, CAAC, to name a few. The aerostructures division in China handles both shop and on-wing repairs, while the Brazil site provides base maintenance for engines, APUs, avionics, and accessories.
Drayton also operates an asset management division, offering parts supply and inventory solutions through warehouses in Asia, Latin America, and North America.
Geespace and ATSS Forge Strategic Partnership to Advance Satellite Communications in Saudi Arabia
Zhejiang Geespace Technology Company, a technology innovation enterprise under Geely Holding Group, has inked an agreement with Advanced Telecommunications Solutions and Services (ATSS), a leading player in the Middle East's satellite communications sector.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in Riyadh on April 15.
The agreement will focus on several key areas, including policy access, commercial testing, and the promotion of Geely Constellation — Geespace's flagship satellite communications network.
As part of the deal, ATSS will play a leading role in supporting the local licensing, technical verification, and market expansion of Geely Constellation in Saudi Arabia.
According to Geespace, the partnership aims to strengthen the region’s communications infrastructure, with a focus on developing Saudi Arabia’s smart cities, intelligent transportation systems, and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies.
ATSS, a subsidiary of the Saudi conglomerate Mawarid Digital & Communications Group (MDCG), specializes in IoT, satellite communications, 5G, cloud computing, and data analytics.
With significant experience managing national and regional satellite networks, ATSS's capabilities align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives to diversify the economy and advance digital infrastructure.
Geespace’s network expansion in the region aligns with the broader objectives of the Belt and Road Initiative, as it looks to enhance international cooperation to develop a comprehensive space-ground communication system.
The partnership marks another milestone for Geely Constellation in the Middle East, following a similar agreement with Alibaba-backed Azyan Telecom in June 2024.
Geespace Expands into Southeast Asia with New Joint Venture with ALTEL
Days after Geespace's agreement with ATSS, the company announced the formation of a joint venture telecom operations company with ALTEL Group Sdn. Bhd. (ALTEL), a leading communications service provider under Malaysia's Tradewinds Group (TGM), on April 18 in Kuala Lumpur.
The collaboration follows a framework agreement signed in October 2023 between Geespace and ALTEL, witnessed by Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim.
The joint venture marks Geespace’s first equity investment in an overseas telecom enterprise.
The company said the partnership, inspired by the "Proton Model," aims to leverage Geely Constellation’s global low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communication network to develop an integrated satellite-terrestrial communication system across Malaysia and Southeast Asia, thereby boosting the region's digital economy.
The company stated that Minister Fahmi Fadzil emphasized Malaysia’s commitment to developing satellite communication technologies under the National Space Policy 2030.
Fadzil noted that the ALTEL-Geespace partnership would play a crucial role in digital transformation across sectors such as smart ports, agriculture, and energy, and that the partners plan to explore technologies like direct satellite-to-mobile communication to enhance Malaysia-China cooperation in the digital economy.
Encik Mohamad Helmi Harith, CEO of ALTEL, pointed out that the collaboration would integrate ALTEL’s LTE/5G technologies with Geely Constellation’s LEO capabilities, aiming to serve industries such as maritime shipping, smart mobility, and agriculture.
Wang Yang, CEO of Geespace, highlighted that the partnership is a key element of the company’s Southeast Asia strategy, marking a milestone in China-Malaysia collaboration to create replicable digital economy models and advance satellite communication and high-precision positioning technologies.
Tradewinds Group (M) Sdn. Bhd. (TGM), a core subsidiary of Malaysia’s Albukhary Group, operates across various sectors including agriculture, logistics, ports, telecom, broadcasting, and technology, driving industrial diversification and digital transformation in Malaysia.
ALTEL Group Sdn. Bhd. (ALTEL) specializes in wireless networks, IoT, cloud/edge computing, cybersecurity, and system integration, playing a key role in supporting digital growth in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.
Author’s note — The "Proton Model" refers to a strategic partnership framework spearheaded by Geely Holding Group during its 2017 acquisition of a 49.9% stake in Proton Holdings, Malaysia's national automotive manufacturer. The model emphasizes equity investment combined with technology transfer, local market empowerment, and joint operational collaboration to drive mutual growth in international markets.
Overall, the Proton Model reflects Geely’s strategy of "globalization through localization"—building trust in foreign markets by aligning with national interests (e.g., supporting Malaysia’s industrialization goals under its National Automotive Policy).