China steps up pilot recruitment for its aircraft carrier programme

Beijing: China plans to double the recruitment of aircraft carrier fighter cadet pilots as it aims to have adequate personnel for its fast expanding aircraft carrier fleet, official media here reported Tuesday.

Over 4,500 Chinese students have passed the initial selection in the recruitment programme, almost twice as many as last year. With China's second aircraft carrier widely expected to join the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy this year, the recruitment campaign is designed to ensure personnel to meet the needs of the aircraft carrier-borne fighter jet J-15, state-run Global Times reported.

The comprehensive examination phase of the 2019 annual recruitment campaign for aircraft carrier cadet pilots started in January and is due to conclude in April. Students will undergo physical and psychological tests and political examinations, the PLA Navy's website navy.81.cn reported on Sunday. This year's physical exams added a series of tests that pilots of carrier-borne aircraft need to pass, including vision and auditory tests on candidates' vestibular function, corneal topography and stereovision, the report said.

More than 4,500 students who passed enrolment exams will participate in the next phase, the report said. During the same recruitment campaign last year, about 2,600

students made it to the comprehensive examination phase, according to the recruitment campaign's website.