A unique program is bringing young flight students from China to Springbank Airport to learn how to be commercial pilots.

Skye Hou is only 17-years-old, but she knows exactly what she wants her career to be.

“I told them in the interview I like when I am flying in the sky, and they asked me why don’t you just buy some tickets and fly, and I said it’s different, you sit in the cabin as a passenger and it’s different,” she said.

Hou is one of 16 students from China who have been training to be commercial pilots with the Calgary Flying Club. It’s a special arrangement the club has with the government of China, where pilots are usually trained by the military.

“They currently have three approved government cadet programs,” said Duane Hicks, Calgary Flying Club. “This program is unique because the Chinese government wants in five years to open the skies in China and have general aviation.”

Over the next five years, 5000 students will come from China to learn how to fly at Springbank Airport, and will also work on their English, which is the international aviation language. It’s a great deal for the students, and for the club.

“The Chinese have come in at a really crucial time in Alberta, as you know with the economy, we finally got hit pretty hard, so we sought out global opportunities are was able to land a contract with the government of China,” said Hicks.

The students range in age from 17 to 35-years-old, and some have their private pilot’s license already, while others are starting from scratch. So far, the instructors are pretty impressed with their new students.

“I was shocked how hard they work, they work harder than pretty much any other students we have, they are here from 6:30 in the morning and stay until 4:30 at night, studying in class, flying, it’s amazing,” said Haley Thomson, flight instructor.

There is a small amount of culture shock, or rather, environment shock.

“Oh, I love the Canadian environment, it's really nice, the air is so fresh, the China… umm… I love China, but the environment is not very good,” said Ferdinand Yu, student.

Some of the students say they would love to stay in Canada after their training is over to either work or teach. Their instructors believe with their great work ethic, the sky is the limit.

“I think it’s pretty rewarding bringing these people up who have come to Canada, they were here in March, they started, their English wasn’t great, they didn’t know a whole lot about aviation and now they are almost commercial pilots,” said Thomson.

Even though the students are here on two year Visas, most will likely become commercial pilots in just 13 months.