China’s First Female Carrier-Based Pilots Graduate, Set to Join Frontline Naval Units

China's first group of female carrier-based aircraft pilots has completed flight training and passed graduation assessments, marking a milestone for the country's naval aviation program as the People's Liberation Army Navy continues to expand its operational capabilities.

The graduates will be assigned to frontline naval units and are expected to undertake missions aboard aircraft carriers and other large and medium-sized surface vessels, according to the Naval Aviation University, which announced the development on Saturday.

The group represents China's first intake of female shipborne aircraft pilot trainees. All the graduates were born in the 2000s and were recruited in 2023 after completing undergraduate studies at civilian or military universities.

Their training involved multiple stages of selection and preparation, including physical and academic assessments, aviation theory, aircraft conversion training and practical flight exercises. The university said the trainees had completed all flight activities required under the training syllabus and successfully passed their final evaluations.

One of the most demanding elements of carrier aviation is the ability to take off from and land on a moving vessel. Unlike conventional runway operations, carrier-based flying requires pilots to operate within a confined space, often under changing weather and sea conditions. Landing on a carrier deck demands precise control, rapid decision-making and close coordination with flight-deck personnel.

According to the university, the newly graduated pilots have completed more than 100 vessel-based takeoff and landing exercises. They are qualified for a range of operational activities, including daytime and nighttime vessel landings, takeoffs and landings in restricted areas, and search-and-rescue missions.

The graduates' assignment to frontline units means they will move beyond the university training environment and begin preparing for operational duties within naval formations. The announcement did not specify the aircraft types they will operate or identify the vessels to which they will be assigned.

The development comes as China's navy continues to expand its aircraft-carrier capabilities. The country currently operates three carriers: the Liaoning, commissioned in 2012; the Shandong, commissioned in 2019 as China's first domestically built aircraft carrier; and the Fujian, which entered service in November 2025 and features electromagnetic catapult launch technology.

Carrier aviation is a specialized field that requires pilots to master demanding flight procedures as well as the operational requirements of naval deployments. The introduction of female pilots into this branch of the military indicates an expansion of the Navy's recruitment and training system.

The Naval Aviation University has also adjusted its training approach in recent years. According to the institution, some advanced flight exercises that were previously conducted only after pilots joined operational units have been incorporated into the university training process. The aim is to shorten the time required to prepare pilots for frontline assignments and improve the efficiency of personnel development.

China's military began recruiting female pilots for the air force in 1951, while the first group of Chinese female fighter pilots graduated in 2009. The latest development extends women's participation into the demanding field of carrier-based aviation.

The announcement is also significant from a personnel and institutional perspective. As the Navy develops more complex operations involving aircraft carriers and other large vessels, it requires a steady pipeline of highly trained pilots and aviation specialists.

However, graduation does not necessarily mean the pilots will immediately undertake full operational deployments. They will still need to adapt to the aircraft, carrier groups and operational procedures of their assigned units.

The university's announcement was reported by Xinhua, while China Daily provided further details on the training and the graduates' expected frontline assignments.