China-Singapore Online Newsletter, June 28th: Three generations of Chinese pilots, Chinese, and young, are competing for domestic aircraft
China News reporter Li Jiajia
June 28 is the day when COMAC delivered domestic ARJ21 regional aircraft to the three major domestic airlines. For "Post 40" Xie Yuanzheng, "Post 70" Zhang Daqi, and "Post 90" Xu Tengzehui, this day is also a day when the dreams of three generations of Chinese pilots, old, middle and young, will shine into reality.
Meritorious pilot Xie Yuanzheng: designing aircraft with user's thinking
In the flight department of China Eastern Airlines, Xie Yuanzheng, born in 1949, has a friendly nickname "Xie Dazheng". As a civil aviation meritorious pilot, Xie Yuanzheng in his sparse years is still white, but he still serves as the flight instructor of COMAC. He not only participated in the design and improvement of the control system of China's new passenger aircraft ARJ21 aircraft, but also was responsible for the aircraft Teaching research work of a full-motion flight simulator.
In 1966, after undergoing countless rounds of screening and assessment, Xie Yuanzheng stood out from the candidates of thousands of Air Force pilots and entered the Second Air Force Reserve Aviation School at that time. In 1978, with the restructuring of China's civil aviation, Xie Yuanzheng took off his military uniform and put on civil aviation pilot uniforms. At that time, the annual passenger traffic of China’s civil aviation was only more than 3 million passengers, and the models were mainly Soviet-made Il-14, Il-18, Li-2, etc., like the British Trident, the passenger capacity was Less than 20 passenger planes with more than 100 passengers. After the reform and opening up, in order to change this situation, China Civil Aviation began to introduce American aircraft. Due to its excellent technology and excellent style, Xie Yuanzheng was selected as the first group of pilots to study McDonnell Douglas Aircraft in the United States.
Xie Yuanzheng, who was elected to the United States when he was less than 30 years old, was flamboyant, and he wore four bars symbolizing the captain's "professional, knowledge, technology and responsibility" on his shoulders. In the United States at that time, the average person could not become a captain without decades of flight experience, so the first time an American instructor saw him, he could not help wondering how a young captain could be a qualified captain. In addition, people in Europe and the United States at that time had a deep prejudice against the Chinese, and always doubted the technical capabilities of Chinese pilots on various occasions.
Seeing the attitude of the American instructors, Xie Yuanzheng did not show any disgust and dissatisfaction, but secretly determined: "We must fight for Chinese pilots! Fight for China!" The expedition lives almost every day in the flight teaching area and the dormitory room. Apart from cooking, eating and ensuring the proper sleep, he spends all his time reciting the cockpit diagram of the new aircraft and clarifying it. Understand aircraft structure and driving principles. When he boarded the real machine and started to drive, his skillful movement and stable control immediately conquered the American instructor sitting next to him, and straightened his thumb and said, "Chinese pilot, great!"
After returning from the United States, Xie Yuanzheng started flying a new large-scale wide-body airliner to fly the first long-range transoceanic route like Shanghai-Los Angeles. At that time, he was very clear about his position and role. When flying, he would wear a straight flight suit to perform the flight. When the task was over, he would take off his uniform and ride a flying pigeon placed under the flight attendance building of the flight department. Brand bicycles, return home when the night is quiet.
"Be meticulous and take everything that seems small as a big thing." This is the secret behind Xie Yuanzheng's 24,000-hour safe flight. During his 41-year flying career in the blue sky, he developed the habit of recording flight logs every day after the end of the flight, summarizing and evaluating the flight situation of the day, and when flying a long route, as long as he does not take the pilot seat He will learn and read the flight manual, especially the chapters dealing with special circumstances.
After 41 years of flying, Xie Yuanzheng was awarded countless honors, but he always had a complex in his mind, that is, when can he fly on a civil airliner made by the Chinese themselves. After retiring, he declined a high-paying invitation from a commercial airline and came to COMAC to serve as a trainer simulator for a Chinese aircraft under development. At the same time, he participated as a consultant in the design and improvement of related aircraft control systems. For the design of future large domestic aircraft, he once suggested: "Increase pilots in the design team of large aircrafts, and design the aircraft based on user thinking. Because this concept is used to design aircraft, I believe that Chinese aircraft can not only get the Chinese pilots. Recognition, will one day go to the world, become the third largest aircraft manufacturer that can stand with Airbus and Boeing."
From surrounding the lake to build fields and repair the earth, to flying the plane to the sky; from flying in the blue sky of China to building a sky bridge across the Pacific; from ignorantly driving a Soviet-made propeller biplane, to wisely participating in domestic jets In the design of the airliner, the legend of the Republican peers continues.
Five-star captain Zhang Daqi became one of the first batch of pilots of ARJ aircraft certified by 123 Aviation, and is about to realize the dream of flying a domestic-made aircraft to fly in the blue sky. Photo courtesy of Dong Xuan
Five-star captain Zhang Daqi: Transformation with problems and experience
"ARJ21 has a double appeal for me." Zhang Daqi, born in 1972, can be called the backbone of China Eastern Airlines' one or two or three airlines. He is also one of the first ARJ models to be certified by one or two airlines. In May 2017, Zhang Daqi had piloted the Legacy 650 (EMB135) aircraft for the first flight of COMAC's C919. It can be said that it has been his dream to fly in the blue sky in an aircraft designed and manufactured in China.
"ARJ21 is very attractive to everyone who takes flying a plane as a lifelong pursuit, and everyone who has a feeling of domestic aircraft; at the same time, for everyone who wants to challenge and change themselves, they can fly a new design. Yes, the advanced domestic aircraft is also very attractive."
Zhang Daqi is currently the Director of Flight Technical Inspection for the 2nd and 3rd Aviation Flight Department. He has 17800 flight hours experience. In his qualification certificate, there are 5 models: Gulfstream G280, Embraer EMB145, Legacy 650 (EMB135), Boeing B737 and domestic ARJ21-700. As a five-star captain of a business jet, Zhang Daqi's official flight time is far less than that of ordinary flights. Although the flight time is short, it involves many aircraft types and a wide range of business, from route design to flight control, from flight guarantee to customer service Every detail needs his careful consideration. "It can be said that the work of the business captain is more than just flying," the industry insider said.
As the first batch of pilots to transfer certificates, Zhang Daqi learned with questions and experience, and made reasonable suggestions to the ARJ21 design team from the perspective of the pilot, such as some launch buttons on the steering wheel of the original domestic aircraft. It is different from Boeing and Airbus, which are designed for mainstream international aircraft models. It is inconvenient to use and flight procedures need to be optimized. "After we made comments, many have been adopted, and the current ARJ21 human-machine interface is more reasonable."
Zhang Daqi cited an example of throttle control to illustrate that the domestic ARJ21 has a safer and more comfortable driving experience. "The business jets I used to fly were relatively small, and many did not have an automatic throttle. This meant that pilots had to monitor the speed of the plane at all times and rely on manual control of the throttle. This was unfavorable for flight safety. However, ARJ21 is a regional aircraft. The maximum number of seats is only 90, but it has not only designed an automatic throttle, but also designed a variety of more advanced protections for the throttle, such as overspeed protection and low-speed protection, and the internal software system is also more advanced." He admitted, As a pilot, I will eagerly hope that my suggestions will be adopted, and domestic aircraft can be improved. "But I also understand that it will take time."
From the initial curiosity, to the excitement afterwards, to the present pride, with the delivery of ARJ21, Zhang Daqi's dream of flying a domestic-made aircraft to soar in the blue sky is coming soon.
"Post-90s" female pilot Xu Tengzehui looks forward to flying a real Chinese-made plane as soon as possible. Photo courtesy of Dong Xuan
Female pilot Xu Tengzehui: flying with father's dream
As one of the few female pilots, "Post-90s" Xu Tengzehui was born in a flying home. Her father is an Airbus A330 pilot. The longing for flying is more like an instinct for her.
"I usually listen to the captains when I discuss the ARJ21 aircraft. My father also supports my dream of driving a domestic aircraft." From learning to flying to becoming a co-pilot, Xu Fujizawa deeply felt that the flight career is not easy . At present, she is already a co-pilot. It can be said that through future studies and hard work, she has a great chance to achieve the dream of flying a domestically-made aircraft into the blue sky. "My dad is almost retired. He may not have the opportunity to fly in the future. When I arrived at a domestic aircraft, I was still young. Their good time when their generation failed to catch up was caught by me. I hope to fly with his dream."
In recent years, with the enhancement of China's national strength and the expansion of China's aviation market, China, as a major aviation country, is striding forward to become an aviation power. From design to manufacturing, it is inevitable to own its own large domestic aircraft. ARJ21-700 can be said to be up-and-coming. In the future, more advanced and larger domestic series aircraft will continue to emerge, active in the sky of China and the world, so that the world can enjoy a safer and faster "Made in China" flight experience It is a dream for every Chinese pilot. "I am convinced of this. As a civil aviation pilot, I am very proud and look forward to flying a real Chinese-made plane as soon as possible," said Xu Tengzehui. (Finish)