Chinese J-15 fighter jets on the deck of the Liaoning aircraft carrier during military drills in the Bohai Sea, off China's northeast coast. Photo: AFP
Asia Times: PLA tackles shortfall of aircraft carrier fighter pilots
Plans to fast-track training for elite pilots in place as new carrier set to enter service in the next two years
The Chinese military is waging a nationwide recruitment campaign and a cadet pilot program to draw new recruits ahead of the introduction of the domestically-produced Type 001A aircraft carrier. With the Type 001A due as early as 2020, Chinese top brass are all too aware that the grooming of elite pilots able to fly fighters from a seagoing airbase has been falling behind.
Starting from this month, would-be fighter pilots among male high school graduates aged between 16-19 can apply to sit enrollment exams and interviews, according to the PLA Daily.
Shortlisted cadet pilots, usually physically fit teenage prodigies excellent in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines, will be trained at the People’s Liberation Army’s Naval Aviation University in eastern Shandong province, where they will learn on a new type of training aircraft that better mimics the J-15.
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WNU Editor: Apparently China also has a problem of not having enough planes .... China will soon have 3 aircraft carriers, lots of pilots, but no aircraft (NewsRep).
