C919 Welcomes Its First Female Captain as Yu Yue Successfully Completes Commercial Maiden Flight

On May 1, China Southern Airlines Flight CZ3599 touched down smoothly at Nanjing Lukou International Airport. The moment Captain Yu Yue stepped out of the cockpit, she made history — becoming the nation's first female captain of the domestically built C919 large aircraft and successfully completing her first flight assignment as lead captain after obtaining her type rating conversion.

Rigorous Selection, Standing Out from the Crowd

In 2025, Yu Yue voluntarily applied for type rating conversion to the domestically produced C919 aircraft and distinguished herself through a rigorous selection process. She then underwent over two months of intensive conversion training at the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), successfully obtaining her C919 type rating qualification. Throughout the process, Yu Yue passed every assessment through unwavering dedication — from theoretical examinations and base training to line checks and all other required evaluations — ultimately taking the controls on May 1 as the C919's lead captain on a commercial flight.

This milestone not only reflects Yu Yue's exceptional piloting skills and professional competence but also marks a significant step forward in diversifying the talent pipeline for China's homegrown large aircraft program.

C919 Operations Continue to Expand

As of the end of April 2025, China Southern Airlines' C919 fleet has operated over 9,500 flights and carried nearly 1.3 million passengers. The domestically built large aircraft is rapidly integrating into China's civil aviation transport system, emerging as a force that can no longer be overlooked.

In terms of route coverage, China Southern's C919 network now spans the country — reaching Beijing Daxing in the north, Chengdu Tianfu in the west, Shanghai in the east, and Sanya in the south — connecting the nation's major economic hubs. Currently, China Southern operates 10 C919 aircraft, deploying them primarily on key routes from Guangzhou to Beijing Daxing, Wuhan, Nanjing, Ningbo, Xi'an, Wenzhou, and Hefei, while steadily expanding its operational route network.

A Promising Future for China's Homegrown Large Aircraft

Since the C919 entered commercial service in 2023, the domestically built aircraft has undergone a critical transition from its early debut to scaled operations. Steady fleet growth, an ever-expanding route network, and continuously rising passenger numbers together paint a picture of accelerating commercialization.

Yu Yue's achievement as the C919's first female captain is not only a career-defining moment for her personally but also reflects the growing maturity of the domestic large aircraft industry chain in terms of talent reserves, training systems, and operational capabilities. As more pilots complete C919 type rating conversions and more routes are added to the operational network, China's homegrown large aircraft is poised to play an increasingly important role in the country's civil aviation market, driving high-quality development in China's aviation manufacturing industry.