Carmen Chan: Female Helicopter Pilot
She’s the only female helicopter pilot in a 30-man team, but that doesn’t faze Carmen Chan. She provides shuttle flights from Hong Kong to Macau and Shenzhen. She tells June Ng about life as a woman in a man’s world.
HK Magazine: How did you become a pilot in the first place?
Carmen Chan: A coincidence, really. I used to have zero knowledge about aviation; I actually majored in finance and accounting and I worked in a bank. But after I joined this company as a management trainee, I became interested in flying. I took a course to learn how to fly small aircraft and I joined my company’s cadet program. After training, I qualified as a pilot.
HK: What criteria do you need to meet to become a helicopter pilot?
CC: As long as you’re at least 18 years old, in good physical condition and you speak pretty good English, there’s nothing to stop you. Some people think that you won’t be able to become a pilot if you’re shortsighted, but the truth is, it varies between different companies. Some will take shortsighted candidates so long as they pass a medical check.
HK: Who are your customers?
CC: Most people take the flights to Macau, so you can imagine that many of them just want to take a quick ride to the casino. But actually, over the last few years, it’s changed; most are businessmen and families flying over for work, or just for fun.
HK: Have you had any interesting experiences that you can share with us?
CC: When I first started flying, I found it very difficult. I’m a very nervous person, and unlike planes, helicopter controls are very sensitive. If I over-control it, the craft might fly off miles in the wrong direction. I remember I had to take out a pen and write “relax” on a piece of paper to keep in my pocket whenever I flew. When you’re up in the air, the scenery is so stunning. In Shenzhen, we can fly up to 7,000 feet, above the clouds. Sometimes, I even see dolphins as we fly past Lantau Island.
HK: Female helicopter pilots are quite rare. Are your passengers surprised when they find out you’re a woman?
CC: Yes, and some of them even take pictures with me.
HK: Would you ever want to fly anywhere else besides Macau and Shenzhen?
CC: Yes, of course, but because of the aviation laws it’s really difficult to extend the service. But if people want to charter a helicopter somewhere else, they can contact our company and we’ll see if we can tailor-make a trip for them.