Skies open wide for pilots from abroad
By Cao Desheng (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-07-28 05:51

Besides Schmidt, a Chinese-Canadian, another Swiss national and four pilots from Hong Kong, all aged from 25 to 30, also work for Okay. All of them obtained pilot's licences in their home countries but could not find work there.

"A lot of trained pilots in the West can't find opportunities to put some experience under their belts, while we in China are short of co-pilots, captains and even technicians," Okay's President Liu Jieyin said.

Liu said he intends to recruit more foreign pilots.

Foreign pilots working for Okay receive salaries of around 20,000 yuan (US$2,466) a month - higher than the 11,000 yuan (US$1,356) Air China offers its domestic co-pilots, but well below the European standard.

However, Schmidt's enthusiasm is undimmed. "I would fly for less, as long as I can fly," she said. "It's been my goal since I was 15."

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