{"id":23166,"date":"2026-08-18T12:54:07","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T07:09:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=23166"},"modified":"2026-08-18T12:54:07","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T07:09:07","slug":"pla-navys-first-female-shipborne-pilot-trainees-pass-daytime-landing-qualification","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=23166","title":{"rendered":"PLA Navy\u2019s First Female Shipborne Pilot Trainees Pass Daytime Landing Qualification<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dragon Media News Desk<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first batch of female shipborne pilot trainees of the Chinese People\u2019s Liberation Army Navy have successfully passed their daytime shipborne landing qualification assessments.<\/p>\n

They have now entered the more demanding phase of night landing training and evaluation. Footage released by Chinese state media showed a Z-8 helicopter landing on the aft flight deck of a naval vessel.<\/p>\n

Han Meng, a trainee pilot at the Naval Aviation University, said night landings are significantly more challenging than daytime operations. With both the sea and sky appearing almost completely dark, pilots can find it difficult to distinguish the horizon, increasing the risk of spatial disorientation.<\/p>\n

Han said completing the daytime landing assessment had given her a clearer understanding of her abilities and greater confidence as she prepares to graduate and take up assignments involving maritime and far-sea missions.<\/p>\n

Shipborne landing qualification is regarded as a critical milestone in the development of naval aviation pilots. Successfully completing the assessment demonstrates that a trainee has acquired one of the core capabilities required for operational aviation from naval vessels.<\/p>\n

Chinese military affairs expert Zhang Junshe said male and female trainees are required to meet the same rigorous physical and psychological standards for shipborne aviation.<\/p>\n

According to Zhang, the successful qualification of the first group of female trainees demonstrates that the PLA Navy\u2019s selection and training system is becoming increasingly systematic and capable of developing personnel on the basis of operational ability rather than gender.<\/p>\n

In recent years, the PLA Navy has been expanding its shipborne aviation training beyond the basic ability to fly aircraft and land on ships toward developing pilots capable of combat operations, joint missions and command responsibilities.<\/p>\n

The Navy is also developing different career and training pathways for shipborne fighter and helicopter pilots, while integrating training programmes, support resources and operational processes into a broader talent-development system.<\/p>\n

The PLA Navy completed its 2026 pilot recruitment process in July. According to the Navy, the average national college entrance examination scores of newly admitted pilot trainees reached a record high.<\/p>\n

New technologies are also being introduced into pilot selection. Carrier-based flight aptitude assessment platforms now incorporate tools such as virtual reality and biofeedback to improve the accuracy and comprehensiveness of candidate evaluations.<\/p>\n

The qualification of the first batch of female shipborne pilot trainees represents a significant step in the PLA Navy\u2019s efforts to expand the role of women in frontline naval aviation and strengthen its pool of skilled personnel for future maritime operations.<\/p>\n

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