Presentations were made to 13 new China Aerospace Laureate Award winners on Nov 6 for achievements and outstanding contributions toward raising sci-tech and national defense levels.

Laureate Awards have been bestowed every two years since 2005 upon an individual or group with an inspirational spirit and history of accomplishment in the aviation and aerospace fields.

Airbus and AVIC in collaboration

After a shared history of many years, Airbus and Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC) won the Best Collaboration Award.

Airforce pilot Yao Kai and test pilot Li Jikuan earned the Fearless Hero Award while Liu Chuanjian, an aircraft commander at Sichuan Airlines, and Zhao Sheng, the first captain of the AG600 amphibious plane and an AVIC test pilot, each received Prominent Pilot awards.

Meanwhile, the Technical Spearhead Award went to Ma Weiming, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Naval University of Engineering professor.

Liu Shiyong, a bench worker at AVIC Chengdu Aircraft Industrial Co, and Dai Tianfang, an operator of numerically controlled milling machines at Third Academy of China Aerospace Science & Industry Corp, received Great Craftsman awards.

Thirteen award-winners

AVIC Party Secretary Shen Fei and AVIC Chairman Guo Dianman are laureates of the Pre-eminent Leadership Award, sharing the honor with Dai Shoulun, head of Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science & Technology Corp.

The prestigious Lifetime Contribution Award was presented to Gu Songfen, a leading aircraft designer who is an academician at both the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Sun Jiadong, a renowned expert in carrier rocket and satellite technology.

The awards ceremony coincided with the opening of the 12th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition which will run in Zhuhai until Nov 11. All future editions of the ceremony will be held concurrently with the biennial expo.

Celebration performances [Photos by Wu Changfu / Zhuhai Daily]