“Why do you want to learn aircraft maintenance?” 

In 2007, when Maria, a Tibetan freshman in Civil Aviation Flight University of China (CAFUC), expressed herdesire to transfer to the Aircraft Repair Plantfrom the College of Cabin Attendants,her friends were quite shocked and felt incomprehensible. 

The Aircraft Repair Plantis designed to cultivate aircraft mechanics. As the job isstamina-consuming, most aircraft maintenance talents are male. Statistics show that inevery 50 aircraft mechanics worldwide, only 1 is female. 

“There are only a few of female aircraft maintenance staff. I want to be one of them.” Maria has made up her mind to be a female mechanic though she has a thin and small build. 

Maria was never an ordinary girl. She is 30, born in a well-off family in Mangkam County, Chamdo City, Tibet Autonomous Region. She devoted all her childhood on the court with boys. 

“My mother asked me to apply for normal or medical schools before the college entrance examination. But I was totally into civil aviation. It is awesome to work with aircrafts.” 

After she entered CAFUC, she decided to transfer her major though she learned liberal arts in senor middle school. 

There were over 40 students in her class and only 4 are female. Maria did electro welding and installed the fuse with her male classmates. It was common to get hurt but she never cared about the wounds. Mariasaid, “Once I made the decision, I will hold on straight to the end despite the hardship.” 

In 2010, Maria went to Mainling Airport of Nyingchi City and became the only female aircraft maintenance staffin the field in China’s southwestcivil aviation area. 

“At the very beginning, many people advised me to transfer to a new post.” Each time her parents took a flight, they would stop to watch the busy aircraft maintenance staff. They would sigh and say, “This is a job for man. How could our daughter do it?” 

It is not easy for Maria to do the job. For example, the wheel gears, which are used to fix aircraft’s tires, her male colleagues can carryfour at a time while Maria only can only carry two.  

It is rainy in Nyingchi’s summer while aircraft maintenance staff cannot spare a hand to hold the umbrella. Working in the rain for a whole morning can wet her up in spite of wearing the raincoat. 

Once Maria’s cousin took a flight in Mainling Airport and saw the rain drenched his sister through windows of the terminal. He was quite upset and asked why she could endure the labor. 

“Because of the affection, I guess.” Maria answered with a smile. “Each time when I workout a technical failure, each time when a flight takes off safely, I feel achieved, which make all pains worthy.” 

Owing to the affection, Maria obtained the aircraft maintenance license, which is quite difficult. People around Maria all deemed this small cute girl would leave the post very soon while she managed to become a real mechanic.  

She is now able to do the troubleshooting for the whole aircraft all on her own. “I can carry four wheel gears at a time now.”Maria grinned. 

She also brings a lot of joy to the team. What makes her prouder is her daughter’s dream. The little girl told her teacher in kindergarten that she wanted to be someone like her mom, brave and persevered. 

“I will support whatever my little girl wants to do in the future. I suggest that girls should stick to their dreams regardless of outside voices.” Maria said.