The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) recently signed a three-year agreement with an international airline – the flag carrier of Hong Kong – to collaborate on a new integrated course for the airline’s Cadet Pilot training programme that will cultivate local aviation industry talent and develop Hong Kong as a hub for aviation training.
The new 55-60 week integrated course comprises three stages: theory, simulator training and flight training. Under the newly signed agreement, PolyU will provide a 150-working-day Theoretical Ground Training course that includes a minimum of 750 hours of instruction and examination in areas including principles of flight, meteorology, human performance, general navigation, instrumentation, radio navigation, air law and more. Successful candidates will then commence flight training overseas before returning to the airline’s hub for multi-crew simulator technology training.
The first batch of 24 candidates have already started the integrated course at PolyU in March and are scheduled to commence flight training in October 2022 after they have completed the ground theory portion of the programme. In parallel with the new integrated course, the airline is also conducting cadet pilot training courses based on the original programme module in Adelaide.
Conducting most of the cadet-training activities in Hong Kong will ensure that the training regime is specifically suited to meet the needs of the airline. Cadet pilots will be familiarised with aviation facilities and relevant organisations in Hong Kong as well as maintenance providers.
The Chief Executive Officer of the airline and PolyU’s Council Chairman welcomed Hong Kong’s Secretary for Transport and Logistics as the guest of honour at the signing ceremony. The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) Assistant Director-General (Flight Standards) was also in attendance.
The Secretary for Transport and Logistics noted that the signing ceremony served as a milestone in Hong Kong’s aviation industry. The Cadet Pilot training programme would not only groom more pilots for Hong Kong, but it also marked the first time that aviation theory courses would be taught by a local institution, writing a new chapter in Hong Kong’s aviation history and enriching the variety of aviation professional training in the city.
The Chief Executive Officer of the airline stated that as Hong Kong’s home airline, the company is committed to continuing to invest in young local talent and the long-term development of the Hong Kong international aviation hub. He noted that Hong Kong has huge potential to become a leading centre for aviation training in the world, and this new integrated course will provide world-class instruction and training for prospective pilots.
The PolyU Deputy President stated that the civil aviation industry has been the backbone of Hong Kong’s development. PolyU and an American aerospace company co-founded the first Aviation Services Research Centre (ASRC) in Hong Kong ten years ago and the centre has since become a successful exemplar of research and innovation collaboration between academia and industry.
Moving forward, the University will continue to actively collaborate with industry partners to develop more professional qualifications and training programmes in support of the National 14th Five-Year Plan, to contribute to the healthy and sustainable development of the civil aviation industry in Hong Kong and the Nation.
In the Civil Aviation Department’s Annual Report (2020-2021), despite the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the aviation industry, the Government is working to ensure that the region is in optimal condition to enable Hong Kong to become an aviation hub.
For example, the Department is preparing to commission a new runway at HKIA this year and the completion of the Three-Runway System (3RS) in 2024 as planned. These included recruiting and training more air traffic controllers to meet the future demand for air traffic services and support the future 3RS; managing various 3RS-related air traffic improvement projects, and working closely with the Airport Authority Hong Kong on the 3RS- related projects and other airport facility development projects to ensure their compliance with aviation safety and security requirements.
