A 75-year-old man, Tao Nai-hsia (陶乃俠), has become a certified coach for operating lightweight aircraft on Sunday after passing all the tests required by the Civil Aeronautics Administration.
He was hailed as proof that seniors can compete with younger people in this area of expertise.
Administered at Fonglin Township (鳳林) in Hualien County, the tests required applicants to complete a course, then pass an oral test, followed by a flight test.
Apart from Tao, 10 others passed and became certified coaches on Sunday.
Tao said he became an aviation sports enthusiast when he was 50 and had accumulated 2,000 flying hours in the past 25 years.
Flying has kept him young, mentally and physically, by encouraging him to continually challenge himself, he said.
Tao had previously obtained a US-based pilot license and certification for coaching lightweight aircraft pilots.
At the time, Taiwan had yet to stipulate regulations on lightweight aircraft and had even banned the sport.
However, Tao never lost the hope that the Taiwanese government would make it legal one day and lightweight aircraft enthusiasts would enjoy the fun of flying in a safe environment.
Tao said the sport has gradually matured in Taiwan over the past two decades, adding that the government has done a good job in making sure the nation is in sync with other countries in terms of aviation sports.
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