China trains first batch of female helicopter pilots

  Xie Xiyao and Ma Yang pose on the right for a photo before fying a helicopter during a training class at the Civil Aviation Flight University of China in southwest China’s Sichuan province May 20, 2009.

They are trained to become China’s first batch of female helicopter pilots, among others.

English People’s Daily Online  reports that upon graduation, they need to finish one year’s training and 105 hours’ air flight at the university.

Not counting the armed forces around the world there are probably less than 1,000 female helicopter pilots so these two will be joining a fairly exclusive club.