Why choose aviation? Why choose civil aviation? Perhaps you've had such questions too. On September 11, the Zhongfa Aviation Institute of Beihang University was honored to invite industry expert Franck DUBARRY to answer the new students' questions.
Franck DUBARRY, hailing from a background as a French Navy carrier-based pilot, has served as an air traffic controller, and aviation instructor, and held FAA and EASA pilot licenses. He has also been a pilot for Dassault Falcon 7X and 8X aircraft. With two decades of senior aviation management experience, he has worked for variouscivil aviation companies in France, Belgian airports, Dubai Ground Services, and top private aviation companies in Switzerland and Luxembourg. His responsibilities have encompassed airport operations, base operations, airline pilots, air traffic control, and crew training management, among others. Franck DUBARRY is the first foreign general manager of a business aviation company in China and currently serves as the representative of the French Chamber of Commerce in Hangzhou and the designated representative for French expatriates in Zhejiang, as appointed by the French Consulate.
Before the lecture began, Franck asked the students two questions: Why did you choose this field to study? Why did you choose the Zhongfa Aviation Institute of Beihang University? The students' diverse answers, ranging from "Because Beihang University is renowned in China, and I can learn a lot about aviation and aerospace here" to "Because it's close to home" and "Because it's destiny's arrangement," created a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. With these discussions as a starting point, Franck started the lecture.
Regarding the Past
In his detailed presentation about his own past, Franck used a series of images and videos to illustrate his journey. Starting from his days as a French Navy carrier-based pilot, through his roles as an air traffic controller, aviation instructor, etc. His career evoked exclamations of amazement from the students in attendance. When talking about flying, he described it as "a dream, a profession, a passion, a way of life." Through the multi-faceted display, the students were able to more vividly experience the charm of the aviation and aerospace industry and understand how Franck DUBARRY has maintained an unwavering love for flying throughout various stages of his life.
Regarding the Present
Returning to the world of civil aviation and business aviation, Franck used the word "incredible" to describe his current endeavors. He expressed a deep love for his current profession, even in the face of new challenges upon coming to China.
Regarding the Future
What will the future be like? We cannot predict it, but dreams will guide us. In the final moments of the lecture, Franck DUBARRY emphasized once again the importance of dreams. Drawing from his experience in founding the Silkwings Jet, he encouraged everyone to bravely pursue their dreams and shared the classic quote fromThe Little Prince."Let your dreams devour your life so that life does not devour your dreams."
Franck DUBARRY's incredibly inspiring presentation also sparked enthusiastic discussions among the freshmen of Zhongfa Aviation Institute of Beihang University. Liu Xiaohang said, "Today's master lecture made me feel the immense power of dreams and passion. Franck began learning to fly at the age of 14 and, at a young age, became a carrier-based pilot in the French Navy and even served as an aircraft carrier air traffic controller. After that, he obtained Dassault business jet pilot certification, returned to the skies, and came to China to establish his own business aviation company. It's this unwavering dedication that has supported him through numerous changes and experiments. He told us that a pilot is not the entirety of naval aviation, and the whole team is the real hero. During the Q&A session, he encouraged me to be confident, to dare to try, and to participate in aviation and aerospace activities. That was truly motivating."
Wu Wei said, "Looking down on the world, gazing up at the stars and galaxies, aviation has been my unwavering commitment. The first question in the lecture'Why did you choose the Zhongfa Aviation Institute of Beihang University' made usreflect on our inner selves and outline the contours of our future. From helicopters to civil aviation and business jets, through the pictures and videos, the wings cut through the deep blue, and the videos alternated between passion, speed, and tranquility. This drew us into Franck's career in the aerospace world and pointed us in a particular direction for our own future. As shown in the video, 'Passion flows in our blood, driving us to strive for excellence.' With a passion for the blue skies, every Beihang student has the determination to reach for the sky. With this meticulous dedication, we will lead Chinese aerospace technology towards precision and advancement."
Li Linshen said, "Through the rich life experiences of aviation expert Franck, I deeply felt the powerful guiding force of passion and love in life. Franck is a representative of countless aerospace professionals who carry a deep enthusiasm for aerospace, unwavering in their pursuit. As Beihang students, we should shoulder the responsibility, engage actively, hone our skills, serveour country through aerospace endeavors, and contribute our youthful energy to the prosperity and development of China's aerospace industry."
The lecture ended with the applause of the students, and through Franck's career experiences, we caught a glimpse of the essence of pursuing our dreams. We were moved by the resilience and courage that propelled our predecessors toward the dream of soaring into the blue skies. Step by step, we will dispel the unknown clouds, and in the wisdom shared by our predecessors, we will gradually achieve our own dreams. On the journey to engage more actively in the aerospace industry, we are all dream chasers!
