Hong Kong’s Airport Authority seeks green light for academy to launch first training programme for local, mainland China pilots
- Hong Kong International Aviation Academy has joined with Hong Kong Airlines to offer programme
- They plan to partner with local universities and flying schools over border and overseas
The Airport Authority has applied for approval to run a pilot training programme that would extend over the border, a move analysts say would further boost collaboration between Hong Kong and mainland China, as well as help the city expand its role as an aviation hub.
The academy and the carrier signed a memorandum of understanding last week, with the airport authority saying it was pursuing ways to build a pool of future pilots for the city and the rest of the nation.
“By partnering with Hong Kong Airlines, [the academy] expects a substantial increase in the number of pilots and aims to make a significant contribution to the aviation industry in Hong Kong and the mainland,” the authority earlier in the week said.
The academy planned to partner with Hong Kong universities as well as flying schools on the mainland and overseas, according to academy president Simon Li Tin-chui. Graduates can apply for jobs as second officers with the local carrier.
“The signing of the MOU is a critical milestone that marks a new chapter for local commercial flying training and provides potential entrants with an additional option to receive cadet pilot training in Hong Kong,” Li said.
On Thursday, Law Cheung-kwok, a senior adviser at Chinese University’s Aviation Policy and Research Centre, told the Post that Hong Kong Airlines was outsourcing its training programme to the academy, which would coordinate training with local institutions and flight schools.
