Fri, Dec 30, 2022
Former USMC Aviator Indicted For Training Chinese Military Aviators
As China's aviation industry grows, it's worth noting that the "Five Eyes" states frown upon their former servicemen teaching their military trades to the country's services.
Australian (formerly American, with renounced citizenship) national Daniel Duggan, 54, will soon be extradited to the USA for his work in training Chinese military pilots. His flying career began with a stint in the US Marine Corps as a Harrier pilot, before moving on to a variety of flight services and training engagements throughout his post-military service.
A 2017 indictment from the USA says that Duggan provided military training to the PRC through a South African flight school on 3 separate occasions in 2010 and 2012 as a United States Citizen. His training there is alleged to have been centered on aircraft carrier landings and naval aviation, points of operation sorely needed by China's relatively inexperienced Naval aviation arm. Duggan nets 4 US charges for his trouble, ranging from conspiracy to export defense services to China, money laundering, and violations of the Arms Export Control Act.
Duggan's time training in South Africa lines up quite coincidentally with the commissioning of the PLAN's first carrier in 2012, the CNS Liaoning. In recent months, pilots from the western bloc have increasingly reported being approached by Chinese recruiters for training and education, often offering temptingly lucrative payments for experienced combat IPs. Pilots from the UK, Canada, the US, and France have sounded the alarm, and indictments like Duggan's can be seen as a shot across the bow to any retired veteran looking for an interesting Chinese adventure.
While Duggan may appeal the Australian approval of extradition, the government won't likely be too keen to stick their neck out for a recent citizen. For now, former military pilots should beware that maybe the 'boring' airline life is better than some of those "exciting" job offers abroad.
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