Shanghai Issues First Private Pilot LicensesJiang Ying, a woman in Shanghai, has realized her dream of being a pilot when she received a private pilot license granted by the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China, commonly known as CAAC, Sunday.Another five people, including a New Zealander working in Shanghai, also got their licenses. They are the first private pilot license holders in Shanghai. The six people are beneficiaries of a private pilot training program held by the Education and Training Co., Ltd. under the Shanghai-headquartered China Eastern Airlines upon the approval of the CAAC. Beginning May this year, the license holders took one and half months to learn flight theories, such as physics, aeronautics and meteorology. They then practiced flying skills for some three months. In October, they passed the exams on flight skills. According to a senior official from the CAAC, some 50 people around the country have got such licenses since August 1996 when the CAAC approved the licensing. The license holders include private business owners, university students and factory workers. Fang Li, general manager of the education and training company, said that currently the company has two training planes and is capable of training six to ten attendants at one course. The company plans to buy another three or four planes and by 2002, it will be able to accommodate 40 trainees, said the manager. |
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