Archive · 27 Dec 2025
China Appoints First Female C919 Captain
China has appointed its first female pilot, Yu Yue, to be a captain on its new C919 passenger jet.
Yu Yue used to fly Boeing 737 planes and has been training to fly the C919.
The C919 is a plane made in China for short trips.
Yu Yue said she was excited to switch to the C919 and completed lots of training.
She also talked about how women in aviation have to balance work and family.
There are not many female pilots in China, but more women are joining the industry.
The C919 is like other planes from Boeing and Airbus but is made in China.
China's big airlines are adding more C919 planes to their fleets.
Yu Yue, a former Boeing 737 pilot, is China's first female captain for the C919 passenger jet.
The C919 is a narrow-body commercial aircraft designed for short- and medium-haul routes.
Yu Yue completed intensive training, including simulator sessions for emergencies, to transition to the C919.
Women make up less than 2% of all pilots in China, compared to around 9% in the United States.
The C919 entered domestic service in May 2023 and is being added to the fleets of China's major airlines.
- Who
- Yu Yue, a former Boeing 737 pilot with China Southern Airlines
- What
- First female captain appointed to fly China's home-grown C919 passenger jet
- When
- After intensive training earlier this year, with the C919 entering service in May 2023
- Where
- China, with the C919 primarily used for domestic routes
- Why
- To serve as a captain on the C919, a narrow-body commercial aircraft designed for short- and medium-haul routes
- Name
- Yu Yue
- Previous Experience
- Boeing 737 pilot with China Southern Airlines
- Aircraft
- C919
- Manufacturer
- Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac)
- Route Type
- Short- and medium-haul
- Female Pilots in China (2024)
- 941 (less than 2%)
- Female Pilots in US (2023)
- 9% of certified pilots
- C919 Entry into Service
- May 2023