On March 5th, Zhao Chunling strolled through the busy halls of the Chinese mainland’s COMAC Shanghai Design Institute, eyeing models of the C919 and the upcoming C929. As the first woman to spearhead a major national aircraft program on the Chinese mainland, she’s literally reshaping the future of aviation ✈️.
Since joining the industry in 1991, Zhao has dived into everything from system design to test flights. She played key roles in the C909 and C919 programs (the C919 is now flying commercial routes!).
In 2023, she took on her biggest challenge yet: heading the C929 wide-body project. “Roles change, challenges change,” she says. “But my dream of the skies—and the courage to pursue it—never has.” 🚀
For young pros across South and Southeast Asia, Zhao’s journey is proof that with passion and grit, the sky’s the limit. From Bangalore’s startup scenes to Jakarta’s vibrant creative hubs, this fearless mindset is in the air. 💪
Reference(s):
#HerVoice in Aviation｜Zhao Chunling and the skies she's shaping
cgtn.com
