Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

Taipei, March 28 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian invited aspiring pilots Thursday to enroll in the nation's first civilian flying school, saying that they no longer have to study abroad to learn how to fly.

Chen said at the inauguration of the Taiwan Aviation Training Center that the nation's aviation industry has long had to rely on military support or on foreign pilots in pilot training.

The deficiency in local training facilities and cultural differences among pilots in the cockpit have all presented challenges for aviation safety, the president said.

Chen added that the establishment of the training center with the full support of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and the Ministry of National Defense marks a new era for the domestic aviation industry.

According to the training center, it plans to enroll approximately 100 students a year. The training period for students will be 18 months, after which the center will help place graduates with domestic airlines.