China needs 9,100 pilots until 2010 to meet demand

The rapid development of China’s civil aviation is increasing the demand for pilots in the next decade. China needs 9,100 new pilots in the 11th Five-Year Plan until 2010 and 16,500 new pilots in the 12th Five-Year Plan from 2011 to 2015, according to estimates. Last December 28, a cooperation agreement was signed to establish the Chaoyang Flight School of Civil Aviation University of China (CAUC). It was signed by Wu Tongshui, president of CAUC; Mayor Zhang Tiemin of Chaoyang City; and Song Yuqi, general manager of Liaoning Provincial Airport Management Group. The trilateral cooperation will facilitate the sharing of resources. China needs more flight training schools to fill the demand for domestic pilots. The CAUC will be responsible for establishing Chaoyang Flight School. The Chaoyang municipal government will provide land and local preferential policy for the construction of the Chaoyang Flight School. The Liaoning Provincial Airport Management Group will retrofit the Chaoyang Airport facilities to meet related technical requirements for flight training.