The Baiyun International Airport, soon to replace the existing airport in this city, yesterday passed State appraisal.

Experts and officials spoke highly of the depot project and the hangar constructed by China Southern Airline Co Ltd at the new airport for Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong Province.

Zhou Yizhou, deputy head of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China's Central Southern Regional Bureau, said the 94 projects related to the depot, hangar and associated services are up to standard.

Zhou described the depot not only as well-equipped but "pleasing to the eye."

With state-of-the-art technology and equipment, China Southern's maintenance hangar - the largest of its kind in China - is being appraised as" most competent" for aircraft maintenance service.

Petty problems still exist, Zhou said, but added he is confident they will soon be worked out with experts' suggestions.

Zhou did not disclose any details of the problems.

The State examination experts conducted a three-day appraisal that concluded yesterday, examining and evaluating the gigantic project, with special attention on the depot, the central core of the airport.

It is the second time for them to examine the airport before its expected State acceptance later this month.

Some 130 experts and officials from the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China, the Guangdong provincial government and the Guangzhou municipal government previously carried out inspections of the project related to its flight zone, aviation controls, parking apron, and the base of China Southern Airline Co Ltd in late April.

All the flight zones and aviation control projects were rated "excellent," while the projects related to China Southern's cargo aircraft parking apron were rated "up to standard."

(China Daily June 11, 2004)