The event still entailed individual races.
By now, they had gotten a grip on the rules of the competition.
Team and individual races alternated.
Although these four women had trained together more than once, this was the first time they were pitted against each other as true opponents.
In exhibition matches, they were teammates, and during international rating exams, there was no conflict of interest.
This time, they were finally adversaries.
Charlie felt a bit of nervousness.
“Scared?”
When Kou Mei and Zuo Yulei encountered each other, Kou Mei asked with a smile.
“Scared?” Zuo Yulei snorted, “I’ve been overshadowed training with you all.”
The once haughty Zuo Yulei had vanished without a trace.
Her confidence and pride had been worn away after numerous competitions with them, leaving nothing but chaff.
“Aren’t you scared of how Song Air will treat you if you lose?” Kou Mei knew the drill and naturally wanted to remind her friend.
Zuo Yulei shrugged nonchalantly, “Kou Mei, my hands aren’t just for flying planes.”
Kou Mei raised an eyebrow.
“They’re also good for slapping faces.”
Kou Mei laughed, “Alright.”
Zuo Yulei could fight back because she had support, but Kou Mei knew she didn’t have that luxury.
Kou Mei was well aware that if she ended up last, she would never hear the end of it from her colleagues at Air China. Even Air China’s supporters would point their fingers at her.
Kou Mei was a bit distracted.
After checking her number, Madison noticed Kou Mei’s off state and walked over, “What’s wrong? Feeling unwell?”
Kou Mei looked up, exhaling a long breath without hiding her distress.
Madison was no longer the naïve newcomer at Mukino Airlines; she could read the meaning in Kou Mei’s eyes.
“Is Air China pressuring you?”
Kou Mei just pressed her lips together in a smile.
She never saw Madison as an opponent but as someone to learn from.
But today, at this moment, they were indeed opponents.
“Don’t worry, I’m fine,” Kou Mei said, holding her boarding pass firmly, “I’ll do my best to beat you.”
Madison and Kou Mei exchanged a knowing smile, “We didn’t learn to fly for what others say. As long as we do what we must, the rest, we leave to time.” The boarding alert began to sound.
Madison, braving the biting wind, walked past Kou Mei, growing distant.
Kou Mei watched her back until she was out of sight.
She remembered Madison, once unwilling to stand out, always quiet, never lashing out even when Zuo Yulei provoked her. Ads by PubFuture
Now, she faced the sharp wind, undaunted.
Kou Mei tightened her hold on the boarding pass and strode towards her plane.
Six pilots from each company, thirty in total, and the four most competitive among them were all aboard the central aircraft.
It was soon noticed that this round of pilots consisted entirely of women.
After seeing Madison and the others take off, the other airlines quickly arranged for their female pilots to join.
The contests between women were always the most captivating.
The head of Yun Air sighed, advising his female pilot, “Don’t aim for first, just avoid elimination.”
With those four formidable women competing, aiming for first?
Forget about it.
Not just first, even second, third, and fourth seemed unattainable!
As all the pilots were ready, the control tower’s voice outlined the rules for this event.
“Snow-making machines ready, rapid flight amidst harsh weather. The route is indicated, all pilots prepare accordingly.”
The radar flight map appeared instantly.
Once the route was displayed, some
of the female pilots aboard the planes turned white, “Such at
.ne
distance in such a short time? How can we fly it?”
“Goodness… Only fighter pilots could handle this, right?”
The large screen on the ground lit up with the flight map.
“This route isn’t difficult to fly.”
“They’re still coming up with such simple routes?”
“I don’t think it’s that simple, there must be something else.”
As soon as the voice fell, a line of yellow text suddenly appeared in the top left corner of the screen.
“Look!”
“I knew it!”
“This long route, demanding takeoff, circled flight, and landing within six minutes? This is challenging.”
“More than challenging, it’s extremely difficult. Seems only fit for fighter pilots.”
Conversations buzzed within the crowd.
“Zheng team, can you manage?”
Zheng Congyu’s expression was contemplative; he was genuinely pondering this question.
After about ten seconds, Zheng Congyu spoke softly, “I could have in my twenties.”
“You’re not old now, Zheng team.” Ads by PubFuture
“It’s not about being old or not,” Zheng Congyu said. “There’s a significant difference in reflexes between your thirties and twenties.”
And that Madison, in the prime of her youth, at the best age for a pilot, would be immeasurable if she continued to develop her talents. Over at Song Air.
“Yang team, can you complete the flight and land within six minutes?”
Yang Zi didn’t hesitate, “No.”
The pilot was taken aback, “Not even in your twenties?”
Yang Zi thought for a moment, “Not with absolute certainty.”
What did this indicate?
It suggested that the Civil Aviation Authority’s arrangement for this round of individual races was particularly challenging.
It would directly eliminate anyone whose skills were lacking.Contents belong to NovelDrama.Org
Especially since only the top five finishers within six minutes from thirty pilots would proceed.
Meaning, at least a hundred would be eliminated after this round.
Top five.
That was a daunting prospect.
Not only did one have to complete the flight within the allotted time, but they also faced ranking elimination afterward.
For some pilots with less than stellar skills, even completing the flight in six minutes was a hurdle.
If any of the four women made a mistake, they would be instantly eliminated, with no second chance.
As everyone conversed, the large timer prepared to start.
“Attention all pilots.”
“3-
.”
“2”
“1-
”
“Take off!”
Thirty planes began to move in unison.
Normally, passenger planes would taxi slowly, ascending steadily.
But today was different.
At the moment the countdown started, their speed shot to the limit, shaking the ground beneath.
Especially the five or six leading
et
planes, they blazed down the long runway, then ascended swiftly into
the sky, heading straight for the prescribed route.
As the planes vanished into the clouds, the crowd could only track their progress on the big screen radar signals, each one marked with a number.
At the screen’s bottom were two rows of numbers corresponding to the pilots’ names.
Everyone saw that Zuo Yulei was in
the lead, followed closely by Kou Mei and Madison, with Charlie in fourth, and the remaining planes trailing behind.
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