A J-15 carrier-borne fighter jet takes off from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Liaoning during a maritime training exercise on July 1, 2017. The Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning and its carrier strike group carried out realistic training in an undisclosed sea area on July 1, 2017. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Li Tang)
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has loosened the criteria for recruiting pilots for carrier-based aircraft by including young candidates who have received vision correction surgeries.
The PLA Navy recently initiated its pilot election program for the year 2025, recruiting pilot cadets for carrier-based aircraft among high school graduates as well as fresh graduates with bachelor or master degrees, the PLA Daily reported on Tuesday.
This year’s recruitment program has made adjustments to medical tests by loosening relevant standards required in ophthalmology, as candidates who have received vision correction surgeries are now eligible to be recruited, the PLA Daily said.
It means that young people with nearsightedness now have the chance to become a warplane pilot after receiving surgeries, according to the report.
Citing a person in charge, the PLA Daily said that the goal of the adjustment is to further improve the PLA Navy’s pilot recruitment program, expand the scope of recruitment to select more outstanding young candidates to join the Navy’s pilot team.
The new medical test standard has gone through sufficient researches and verifications, the PLA Daily noted.
The combat capability of an aircraft carrier consists of several elements, including the aircraft carrier itself, carrier-based aircraft, and pilots. At a time when the development of aircraft carriers and carrier-based aircraft is progressing smoothly, there must also be a sufficient number of pilots, a Chinese milit expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Tuesday.
China now has three aircraft carriers, the Liaoning, the Shandong and the Fujian, with the latest carrier Fujian undergoing intensive sea trials this year.
In terms of aircraft, official media reported in September that a new type of warplane was recently tested on the Liaoning.
With the new adjustment, the talent of those who have the gift for flight but have developed nearsightedness will not be wasted, the expert said.
