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Chinese Pilots Dare To Improve Chinglish

We'd always thought that airline pilots had to learn a bit of English to get a licence, but it turns out that less than 10% of Chinese pilots meet the English standards of international aviation regulations.

With the Beijing Olympics coming up (it seems to be the impetus for pretty much everything in China these days), the Chinese civil aviation authority is trying to boost this percentage. The deputy aviation minister had this to say:

I hope those comrades who have the wrong thinking drop their illusions, don't wait around and don't rely on others, grasp the present good conditions for studying English and dare to fulfill their responsibilities. This will be long, hard, comprehensive work.

So next time you're flying in China, check if your pilot has dared to learn English.

Related Stories:
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· China Demands Its Pilots Speak Better English [Reuters] [Photo: brappy!]