A true mark of China's aircraft carrier era

Photos and reports released by Xinhua News Agency show that China has successfully conducted flight landing on its first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. After its delivery to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy on Sept. 25, the aircraft carrier has undergone a series of sailing and technological tests, including the flight of the carrier-borne J-15.

Aviation expert Xu Yongling said in an exclusive interview with People's Daily that the successful landing of the carrier-based aircraft has significance no second to the first sailing of "the Liaoning" in 2011. It can be regarded as the first year of China's aircraft carrier era.

First, the aircraft carrier of China finally achieved success by domestically developed complex landing system and the vessels system has reached a fairly high level, manifesting China's scientific and technological strength.

Second, it is a great success in construction of system engineering and a test of both China's industrial prowess and construction level of the system engineering. The whole huge system project from introduction of foreign aircraft carrier to development of carrier-based aircraft and training of pilots was completed according to plan, demonstrating China's strength in construction of naval engineering.

Third, test pilots certainly encountered numerous difficulties in trying the highly difficult flying skills. The landing of carrier-based aircraft is a trajectory tracking flight and is extremely difficult, so the news is really exciting.

Speaking of the biggest difficulty in landing test, Xu said that it needs mutual coordination of aircraft carrier, landing system, command system and carrier-based aircraft. Furthermore, it also needs high technical content, high accuracy and strict technical examination in pilots.