A Tibetan pilot is ready for take-off. [Photo/jstv.com]

Tibet autonomous region in Southwest China, at an average altitude of 5,200 meters and home to unpredictable weather, once proved to be a major obstacle for the general aviation industry.

But the skies of Tibet are no longer uncharted territory, as 31 local pilots have flown helicopters in the region since 2018.

Getse is among them. His dream to conquer the sky started in late 2016, after he finished his first semester of twelfth grade and was admitted by the Ruo'er General Aviation Development Group in East China's Jiangsu province as a special trainee, part of a special project launched by Jiangsu. The aim was to offer intellectual and educational support to the remote area and help residents there escape poverty as soon as possible.

Along with Getse, a total of 31 students were selected from among more than 600 candidates after three interviews and one physical examination, opening a new chapter in their lives.

Tibetan students pose for a group photo at a training base in Suzhou city, Jiangsu province on Jan 12, 2017. [Photo/jstv.com]

Theory courses delivered in mandarin Chinese, especially related to flight, proved to be a challenge for the students, but they persevered.

Several hundred hours of intense flight training were awaiting them. Getse's first flight on Feb 14, 2017 remains vividly etched into his mind.

"I was really nervous and my body froze up, but the discomfort vanished completely once I reached altitude. It was a liberating experience," Getse said.

He received his pilot's license for commercial helicopters and returned to work in Tibet in 2018. Getse said he felt lucky to be a pilot, which earns him 130,000 yuan ($19,877) every year, and was also glad to see residents in his hometown living better lives.

Since 2018, Getse and his colleagues have served over 5,100 tourists. They have also helped seed and afforest 14,533 hectares of land and participated in 10 emergency rescue missions.