Mile Dongfeng Airport in Honghe
Honghe Mile Dongfeng Airport (also known as Mile General Aviation Airport) is the first general aviation airport in Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, and one of the first 20 Class I general aviation airports planned during Yunnan’s 13th Five-Year Plan. Below is a comprehensive overview of the airport:
I. Basic Information
- Location: Situated southeast of Dongfeng Farm in southern Mile City, approximately 14.7 kilometers from the city center. Dubbed “the nation’s first airport surrounded by vineyards,” it is nestled among grape plantations and tourist attractions.
- Investment & Infrastructure: Total investment of 340 million yuan, covering 757.49 acres. Rated as a Class 2B flight zone, it features a 1,500-meter-long, 30-meter-wide runway capable of accommodating helicopters and small fixed-wing aircraft.
- Operation Date: Officially opened on July 15, 2021, becoming Yunnan’s third operational general aviation airport.
- Long-Term Goals: Aims to evolve into a comprehensive general aviation hub and industrial base for Yunnan, targeting annual passenger throughput of 30,000 and 3,760 flight operations by 2025.
II. Operations & Key Services
- Operational Data
- By June 2024, the airport had handled over 9,806 flight operations, ranking first among Yunnan’s general aviation airports in both flight volume and passenger traffic. Operations doubled year-on-year in the first half of 2024, reaching approximately 6,000 flights.
- From January to August 2024, its low-altitude economy sector generated revenue of 300,000 yuan, covering services like flight training, skydiving, and aerial forest patrols.
- Core Services
- Flight Training: Attracted five aviation companies (e.g., Haoxiang, Yajie, and Boyue) offering light aircraft pilot license programs, with over 30 trainees currently enrolled.
- High-Altitude Skydiving: Yunnan’s first skydiving base, ranking among the top three nationwide in daily operations, offering jumps from 4,500 meters.
- Low-Altitude Tourism: Partners with local attractions like Taiping Lake and Dongfengyun to develop aerial sightseeing tours under the “Fly Mile” tourism brand.
- Drone Applications: Engages in logistics, scientific research flights, and drone pilot training to diversify low-altitude economic activities.
III. Industrial Base & Manufacturing
- Local Manufacturer: Mile Haoxiang Technology Co., Ltd., China’s second-largest light aircraft production base, independently designs and manufactures the DL-2L light aircraft (priced at 1.3 million yuan). It also produces gasoline-powered model aircraft engines (e.g., the DLE series), which hold over 60% of the global market share, with annual output exceeding 20,000 units exported to Europe, the Americas, and Australia.
- Expansion Plans: A second-phase factory is under construction to boost annual aircraft production from 50 to 200 units and develop 4–10-seat multi-purpose aircraft models, advancing smart manufacturing in general aviation.
IV. Future Development
- Low-Altitude Economy Demonstration Zone: In May 2024, the Yunnan Low-Altitude Economy Industrial Park was established in Mile, aiming to create a “model aircraft test flight base” and a “low-altitude tourism integration zone,” with plans to apply for national-level pilot projects.
- Service Expansion: Explore drone logistics, scientific research flights, and specialized aviation services while deepening collaboration with tourism resources.
- Policy Support: Seek approval for regularized low-altitude airspace usage and optimize industrial layouts to attract more aviation firms and research institutions.
V. Socioeconomic Impact
The airport has strengthened Yunnan’s general aviation network and boosted tourism, healthcare, and highland agriculture in Honghe Prefecture, serving as a catalyst for regional economic transformation. With policy incentives for low-altitude industries, Mile is poised to become a national model for low-altitude economic development.
