After spending a lot of money and three years on training since 2008, Lou Yang obtained both private and commercial pilot licenses three years ago.

The 23-year-old from Yiwu, Zhejiang province, went from being part of the airport ground crew in Zhengzhou to a well-paid general aviation pilot.

"The yearly income of a pilot is from 200,000 yuan to 300,000 yuan ($32,700 to 49,000), which is attractive, and that is why I wanted this job," he said.