Aviation "Amazon" Civil Aeronautics Administration Director Shen Qi Wins Praise for Telling the Truth

▲Civil Aeronautics Administration Director Shen Qi addresses the media regarding the TransAsia Airways accident. (Photo / File)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Shen Qi, the current director of the Civil Aeronautics Administration and the first woman to hold the position, is set to retire in mid-January next year. Her colleagues have dubbed herthe leader and role model of the aviation industry’s “female knight”. Her style of speaking the truth and not fearing to offend others has also earned her widespread acclaim.

Having served in the Civil Aeronautics Administration for 43 years, Shen Qi has worked in air traffic control, navigation aids, planning, and airport operations, making her highly knowledgeable about civil aviation affairs. Taiwan completed the “Satellite Communication, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Management Project” in 2011; Shen Qi was responsible for the most critical five years of testing, installation, and training, which significantly advanced Taiwan’s air traffic control automation and aligned it with global standards.

In the eyes of her colleagues, Shen Qi is decisive and straightforward in her actions, never beating around the bush. She often tells the truth and isn’t afraid to offend others in order to solve problems. She advises her team to do what is right and not limit themselves or be bound by existing rules. “Even laws can be amended, so what can’t be changed?” is a phrase she often uses to inspire her colleagues.

A colleague recalled that during the automation of air traffic control, a large workforce was needed, but regulations limited overtime hours. Shen Qi personally led her team in submitting reports up the chain of command. To overcome the regulatory hurdles, it took two years and 23 revised proposals as she argued her case persistently. Eventually, the mission was accomplished. The foreign consulting team and airlines that had assisted the Civil Aeronautics Administration in setting up the automated system also gave Shen Qi a thumbs-up for her perseverance and determination.

▲Civil Aeronautics Administration Director Shen Qi (right) answers questions from legislators at the Legislative Yuan. (Photo / Reporter Lai Ying-hsiu)

After becoming director, Shen Qi personally gave lectures to staff across various departments. However, rather than delivering dogmatic warnings or nagging reminders, she used storytelling to help her colleagues understand that focusing solely on their own expertise makes it difficult to achieve team success.

Shen Qi’s teaching style is quite engaging, alwaysstarting from the passenger’s perspective—covering the processes of booking tickets, checking in at the airport, boarding flights, how air rights are negotiated, flight routes are planned, runways are constructed, and duty-free shops are tendered. She explains the interconnections between air transport, planning, air traffic control, and flight safety. She also organizes group visits for her colleagues to walk on the runway and tour the control center.

One colleague told Shen Qi that although they had worked at the Civil Aeronautics Administration for many years, it was their first time actually setting foot on a runway. Accounting personnel, who previously didn’t understand why significant funds were spent on airport fire trucks, finally grasped the importance of airport safety after the visit.

Shen Qi considers herself a civil servant who doesn’t act like one. When she first became director and saw the planning department’s simulated questions prepared for possible Legislative Yuan inquiries—categorized by business type—she immediately asked her team to change their approach. She said the Legislative Yuan is a body representing public opinion, and its members are public representatives. The simulations should be tailored according to individual legislators, understanding which local civil aviation-related issues they care about, in order to communicate effectively and successfully secure their support for the budget.

Shen Qi is strict with her staff but hates to see them unhappy. She approaches everything with empathy, and her colleagues really appreciate her motherly “Shen-style,” quickly finding solutions whenever they know a colleague has an issue.

▲Civil Aeronautics Administration Director Shen Qi participates in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge for charity. (Photo / Provided by the Civil Aeronautics Administration)

Last year, when the Executive Yuan ordered the cancellation of transportation allowances and shuttle buses across various ministries, Shen Qi thought of the Northern Regional Control Center located in Dayuan Township, Taoyuan—a remote area with no public transport, where air traffic controllers work 24-hour shifts. She immediately reported the situation upwards and fought to keep the shuttle buses for the Northern Control Center. After her first request was rejected, Shen Qi supplemented the documentation and tirelessly explained the situation to the Ministry of Transportation and the Executive Yuan, eventually succeeding. Her colleagues were not only grateful but also admired her determination to get things done.

Last year, over ten staff members at Taichung Airport were eligible for promotion. Shen Qi immediately processed their applications, but the accounting unit thought there was no rush. Shen Qi spoke up, stressing that her reasoning was simple: if the staff could be promoted by December 1, their year-end bonuses would increase one year earlier. “Something that can make over ten families happy shouldn’t be delayed.”

It’s no exaggeration to say Shen Qi has a motherly touch. Not only does she remember the names of frontline staff, but she also notices when a colleague gains or loses weight, offering timely encouragement and praise. During major events, she finds ways to give grassroots staff a moment in the spotlight, boosting their sense of honor. (News source: Central News Agency)