The South China Morning Post (October 1) quoted analysts as saying that the China’s navy
with two aircraft carriers commissioned and another launched in June is struggling to meet
increased demand for qualified ship-borne fighter jet pilots. An article published in Ordnance
Industry Science Technology, a Chinese military magazine, said the PLA Navy has sped up
carrier-based fighter jet pilot training programmes in the decade since the commissioning of its
first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, but its lack of a fighter trainer specifically designed for
carrier-based operations has hindered progress. It said also that the JL-9G trainer cannot be
used to simulate emergency landings on a flight deck. Beijing-based naval expert Li Jie said
with Fujian, China is third and most advanced aircraft carrier, having started sea trials last week,
the PLA needed at least 200 qualified carrier-based fighter jet pilots to operate 130 ship-borne
aircraft.
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