China facing pilot shortage

China's airlines are opening up their cockpits to foreigners to solve a serious pilot shortage.
The China Daily newspaper reports China's booming commercial aviation industry is taking off faster than the country can train pilots, threatening future growth and advances in air safety.
China's industry regulator has said that every 100 new planes require 1,000 extra pilots, while official media estimates that Chinese flying schools can only graduate 600 pilots a year.
Last month, China Eastern Airlines announced 16 Indians had completed professional training as air stewardesses, the first group of Indian cabin staff ever hired by a Chinese airline.
27/06/06 ABC Asia Pacific, Australia

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