Life as a Chinese pilot cadet in Melbourne: fresh air, sunshine, and English lessons

Bo Song is one of the army of 2,500 trainee pilots sent overseas every year by Chinese airlines to meet rocketing demand for pilots.

The 22-year-old from China’s Shandong province is studying at CAE Oxford’s Melbourne flight school, which is home to 150 China Eastern cadets.

“You know in China we need more and more pilots but we don’t have enough airspace or flight schools. So we need to come here,” he said.

Mr. Song is training for a commercial pilot’s licence issued by the Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority. He will spend 20 months in Australia and fly about 200-250 hours, as well as taking English lessons.

“English is really important. We have to communicate with our instructors and communicate with the tower,” he said.

Some of the students undertake extra high-performance training when they have completed their commercial licence. If successful, the cadets will graduate and join China Eastern — one of the country’s biggest carriers.

“I think every pilot wants to be captain. Maybe when I finish my training I will fly the big jets. That would be amazing,” said Mr. Song.

Asked the difference between his hometown in China and Melbourne, he replied: “Life here is very comfortable. In fact the biggest difference is the weather and the atmosphere. In China the air is polluted, whereas in Melbourne the beautiful weather and fresh air is amazing.”