Approved at Executive Yuan No. 2848 Meeting on July 16, 2003 Released by Executive Yuan Letter No. Tai-(92)-Ching-0920088159 on July 22, 2003
Aviation industry is characteristic of its highly internationalized work sharing. Its high technological level and strict quality requirement makes it widely related to other industries, so its development can often upgrade industry’s technological level and increase product’s added value. Advanced countries worldwide, in view of gaining competitive edge and assuring national security, all give full support to the development of aviation industry, and list it as one of the key strategic industries of the nation. It is for this reason that our government released “Aviation and Space Industry Development Program” in July 1990, which has achieved great results over the past years. Aviation industry, in broader sense, covers civil aviation industry, military aviation industry, aviation services industry and sports aviation industry, etc. Each is correlated with and dependent on each other. For instance, the top technologies and core capabilities developed in military aviation can be used for the design and production of civil aircraft, while the low-cost technology and management in civil aviation can be used to reduce the production cost of military aircraft. As for aviation services and sports aviation industry, its booming or recession will even directly impact the whole aviation industry. So those advanced countries with successful experience in developing aviation industry are all devoted to the concurrent development of these areas. For example, U.S. government stimulated the development of aviation industry through their long-term devotion to the development of aviation technologies, so as to maintain their air transport and defense advantage. The active participation of U.S. private sector in sports aviation also fosters a pool of manpower and expands the horizon of aviation industry. Singapore, under the strong governmental support, developed their defense, air transport, and aviation industries simultaneously. Within 30 years, Singapore has established a self-dependent civil/military maintenance industry and a world-class aviation services industry. Japan has its civil and military aircraft developed and produced by its heavyweight conglomerates which makes it the largest aviation country in Asia. Japan’s large population involved in sports aviation also makes it a key country to produce extralight aircraft in the world. In order to promote the upgrade of traditional industries, stimulate domestic economy, expand aviation industrial scale, establish self-reliant defense, and upgrade aviation services quality, Aviation Industry Development Steering Committee was established and Aviation Industry Development Program was formulated, so that the planning and promotion of civil aviation industry, military aviation industry, aviation services industry and sports aviation industry can be carried out concurrently. It is hoped that, through this program, an advantageous environment can be built, economical scale can be realized, production capacity can be expanded, and high-value added industry can be created. Also the government hopes that, by joining global supply chain system, Taiwan can become a key logistic center for global aviation industry.