China to recruit foreign pilots

28 July 2005

The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) will soon announce China's new policy to recruit foreign pilots in an effort to relieve the domestic pilot shortage, China Daily reported, citing a CAAC official. Foreign pilots would have to obtain flight licenses in China, according to Rao Shaowu, director of the CAAC's Flight Standard Department. About 11,000 pilots are employed to fly over 770 aircraft operated by the major Chinese commercial airlines, a figure industry experts say is inadequate to meet rising travel demand.