Wind beneath her wings

Last year, the bureau signed a cooperation agreement with the Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Ruijin Hospital to jointly develop a national sea-rescue lifeline. The move reduces the time of ferrying critical patients or accident survivors to the nearest hospital from sea by at least 30 minutes.

Wan has since joined several such missions. When she first flew above downtown Huangpu district in Shanghai, she realized there had been a paradigm shift in her job.

"Land missions are very different from those at sea. Above water, it is usually crosswinds, and sometimes blinding rain and lightning, that pose challenges. If you have carefully assessed meteorological risks, you are good to go. The city, on the other hand, is an unpredictable obstacle course," she says.

Even though the Shanghai administration has done a good job to mark or clear potential threats, skyscrapers continue to be a hazard for chopper rescue services, she explains.

Dong Enze, an official at the Donghai Rescue Bureau, says there are nearly 100 sea search and rescue missions every year.

"Earlier, helicopters brought survivors/patients to Gaodong helicopter airport, from where the 120 emergency medical service was used to rush them to hospital by road. Now, they can be directly airlifted to hospital using the Lianyungang-Xiamen waters channel. It is a free service," Dong says.

Since last year, Wan has also taken up the role of a flight instructor as the country increases its investment in marine rescue. "The fleet has gone up from one to more than 20 helicopters, and models are being upgraded. Rescue bases have expanded, with more than 200 professional salvage vessels."

Mission capabilities have improved too, Wan says. "Earlier, only daytime rescues were carried out. Now, night missions take place," she says, adding that the latter is rare in other countries.

That is not all. The team's response time has reduced from 45 minutes to 30. "Every compressed minute increases safety pressure, so you have to do better to defuse those risks and bring hope to people in danger," she adds.

Pregnancy and motherhood, seven years ago, didn't stop Wan from doing what she does best. "Piloting is about sharp reflexes and decisive adaptability. I believe, as long as we strictly follow the standard operating procedure, safety is guaranteed," she says.

When people ask her if she will continue to fly once her child grows up, Wan's response is affirmative. "This profession is about saving lives, not gender hindrances. A woman is perfectly capable of being a rescue pilot, once and always."