"If you want to be a pilot, I would definitely say study hard and stay out of trouble," Garcia said. "Being a pilot, you need to have a good record. Just learn as much as you can. Go on the internet and then learn. Go to museums and learn about airplanes and don't give up."

Garcia's log books show more than 8,000 hours piloting about 15 types of aircraft, mostly small ones, such as the Bombardier CRJ-900 with around 70 passenger seats. Now he has flown regional jets more than 1,700 hours for China Express.

"A good pilot may not be a qualified captain," Garcia said, noting that the captain plays a managerial role and needs to make quick decisions.

Copilot Deng Youhong, spoke highly of Garcia.

"Our working atmosphere in the cockpit is great. David is easygoing, optimistic and professional. From him I can learn new things."

On his days off, Garcia loves to explore the city with his wife and two daughters, walking around, sampling local cuisine and shooting videos.

"We love the great city. Everybody's been very nice and hospitable," he said.
"My wife and I enjoy the hotpot, while my children like the noodles."

There's too much uncertainty due to the pandemic at the moment," he said. It gets in the way of his ideal state, which is to fly and discover things as a tourist.

With the economic development of China, the need for regional airlines has expanded over the years, along with the use of smaller airplanes. And that calls for more pilots.

China Express said it has 762 pilots in the company, 22 of whom are foreigners. By the end of 2020, 180 routes and 127 navigation points have been opened, covering 43 percent of the country.

"China's aviation market is huge and has great potential for more foreign pilots," a staff member in the human resources department of China Express said. "We are looking for excellent pilots who are native English speakers and who have rich flying experience, a good understanding of the rules and regulations of the Civil Aviation Administration of China and the ability to adapt."