Military Pilot Candidates Must Pass Language Test

2007-10-26 16:21:22 Xinhua

China's Air Force has begun recruiting this year's pilot trainees, and for the first time it now requires pilot candidates to pass a foreign language test.

The foreign language test, English or Russian, is held during the second round of exams, according to the recruitment department of the Air Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

The second round of recruiting in Beijing will be held from December 15th to 16th, according to the department.

Under the new policy, all the new recruits must pass national examinations for the entrance of colleges and the pilot academies will hold second round exams mainly on maths and foreign languages, said Sui Guosheng, head of the recruitment department.

This year's high school graduates in both art and science majors and graduates in science and technology majors of universities are allowed to apply for the exams.

"The Air Force is recruiting talented people for future aerial or space missions, and also selecting future leaders at all levels. So pilot trainees must have the ability to benefit from higher education and the learning ability to acquire expertise in weapons," said Sui, explaining the new requirements.

China now has a 14-strong astronaut team, including Yang Liwei, China's first taikonaut.