《TAIPEI TIMES》Taiwanese pilot flies around the world in nine days

Taiwanese aviator Roger Lin stands in front of a single-engine aircraft in an undated photograph. Photo: Screen grab from Pilot Roger’s Around the World Flight Facebook Page

By Shelley Shan / Staff reporter Taiwanese aviator Roger Lin （林睿哲） returned to Taiwan on Saturday after completing a nine-day round-the-world journey in a single-engine aircraft, becoming the first Taiwanese pilot to achieve the feat.

Lin departed on June 5 from Los Angeles, California, and continued through Alaska, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, Jordan, Norway, Iceland and Canada before landing at the Taipei International Airport （Songshan） via Los Angeles and Japan.

Lin shared numerous photos and videos of his journey on a Facebook page titled “Pilot Roger’s Around the World Flight,” including a video showing his aircraft flying over the Danjiang Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf in New Taipei City as he made his approach to the capital.

“Taiwan is just beautiful,” he wrote. The single-engine aircraft used for the round-the-world flight prominently displays the word “Taiwan” and the national flag on its fuselage.

Many people online called Lin “the pride of Taiwan,” but he said he is just a person who is passionate about flying.

“This single-engine round-the-world flight is not only about showing the world how a Taiwanese pilot can challenge the unknown through determination and perseverance, but also about helping the world see Taiwan,” Lin said.

“What I gained from the journey is not the distance I flew. It was the support I received from the people for my dream. It shows that even though Taiwan is a small country, Taiwanese can dream big,” he added.

After landing, Lin told a reporter that he was particularly concerned about engine failure and other in-flight emergencies when flying across the Pacific Ocean. As such, he made sure he carried an adequate amount of fuel. Aside from retrofitting the fuel tank, Lin said it also carried an auxiliary fuel bladder just in case.

Lin said that seeing his homeland from the cockpit of an aircraft he piloted himself was a magical experience, adding that it gave him “a bit of goosebumps.”

A National Taiwan University graduate, Lin is certified by the US Federal Aviation Agency. His flying experience includes a wide range of aircraft, including the Eclipse EA500 light jet, Sling 2, Piper PA-28, Cessna 172, Diamond DA40 and DA42, the PL-1 Chieh Shou trainer and the CJ-6 primary trainer, a Chinese-built aircraft originally used by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force.

Lin’s request to land at Hengchun Airport in Pingtung County was reportedly rejected by the Civil Aviation Administration （CAA）.

The CAA issued a statement on Sunday night, saying that Lin filed an aviation application for the first time through a Taiwanese agent on Thursday last week.

The flight plan included in the application showed that his flight was scheduled to depart from Japan’s New Chitose Airport and land at Songshan on Saturday. He was scheduled to fly from Songshan to Francisco Bangoy International Airport in the Philippines yesterday.

The CAA approved his application on Friday last week, the agency said.

“Because Lin had indicated on Facebook that he was seeking to land in or fly over Hengchun Airport, we had inquired with the agent about whether he wanted to apply for permission to do so as well,” the agency said.

“However, the agent did not make further requests regarding such an endeavor. We then approved the original flight plan included in his application,” it said.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES