China certifies first batch of homegrown airship pilots for commercial service

China's first four independently trained airship pilots have received their commercial pilot licenses from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, marking a breakthrough in the country's ability to cultivate its own airship flight crews, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has announced.

The milestone fills a critical talent gap as the country's homegrown Xiangyun AS700 manned airship moves toward large-scale commercial operations, AVIC said in a press release on Wednesday.

The four pilots, drawn from both client companies and the airship's developer, completed a comprehensive training program approved by the aviation regulator, encompassing theoretical study, simulation and actual flight training.

They performed more than 400 takeoffs and landings aboard the AS700 before passing the final examination.

The AS700, China's first manned airship to secure both type and production certificates, has already received 44 orders, according to the aircraft's developer, AVIC's Special Vehicle Research Institute.

With each airship requiring two to three pilots, the existing orders alone create a demand for nearly 100 qualified pilots, a figure that is expected to surge further as the low-altitude economy expands, according to AVIC.

To address the growing need, the institute plans to launch China's first airship flight school, build a standardized training platform, and scale up both pilot and instructor training programs, AVIC said.