Man takes daughter in a small plane to hometown for Spring Festival

A video screenshot shows Wang and his daughter flying a small fixed-wing aircraft back to their hometown

As the Spring Festival approaches, many people can’t wait to rush back home for a family reunion. A man from Lu’an city in East China’s Anhui province took a novel way – flying a small fixed-wing aircraft – to take his 7-year-old daughter back to their hometown village, Jimu News reported.

The man, surnamed Wang, works as a flight instructor and provides flight license training, so he frequently travels by plane, according to the report. In previous years, he also flew back home.

The aircraft is a two-seater, with luggage placed in the rear of the cabin. This flight from Lu’an to his hometown, Lixin village, took about 50 minutes, saving over two hours compared to driving, which usually takes around three hours. And there is a flight camp near his hometown where he could land.

“Before the flight, I need to report the takeoff time to the Civil Aviation Administration of China and other relevant authorities, confirm that the flight path is clear, and then I can take off,” Wang was quoted as saying. “Since Lu’an to Lixin is a fixed route, reporting a few hours in advance is sufficient,” he added.

Some netizens expressed concern about the safety of flying a small aircraft with a child. Wang said he has been flying with his daughter since she was in kindergarten. And this particular flight was quite smooth, and the child even took a nap during the journey.

“In terms of laws and regulations, the minimum age for obtaining a pilot’s license is 17, but there are no age restrictions for flying experience. Therefore, children can ride in small aircraft as long as their physical condition allows,” Wang added.

After Wang posted the video on social media, many netizens expressed envy, with some saying, “My childhood dream was to pilot a helicopter back to the countryside,” and “Flying back home by plane means no traffic jams.” China Daily