(ECNS) -- The death of a 51-year-old pilot on September 13 due to fatigue has triggered much debate on the status quo of Chinese civil pilots.
"Fatigue is the prime killer," wrote seasoned pilot Chen Jianguo via his social media account after hearing about the recent tragedy, adding that he's been hearing about deaths every few months.
Pilots from four major airlines in China fly an average 1,500 hours a year, or 15-16 hours per week, far exceeding the 1,000 hours limit set by China's Civil Aviation Bureau.
"We can't get enough sleep," said a captain who declined to reveal his real name. "The tragedy strikes a chord."
According to the captain, some airlines may give a pilot two to three days off after flying for four days straight, but may also send the pilot to training classes or meetings.
"Pilots have to turn their bio clock around, and are under extreme pressure while on duty," Chen wrote. "They are very sleep deprived."
China is strained by a shortage of pilots as demand for civil flights soars. According to statistics provided by Boeing, the country needs 100,000 civil pilots and 106,000 maintenance workers in the next 20 years.
The training of qualified pilots takes 10 years, which makes it hard for supply to catch up with demand.
Chinese airlines spend a big portion of their budget on renting aircrafts. To further control costs, they have to prolong pilot working hours and use airplanes as often as possible.
The good thing is, authorities are paying more attention to pilot fatigue management.
Li Jian, Deputy Director of China's Civil Aviation Bureau, said new regulations will cut flying time from 1,000 hours to 900 a year.
