Chan Wai Lun, Tom The Airport Authority Hong Kong- Operation Officer

Being a pilot is many teenagers’ dream, including me. However, it is definitely not an easy task, even we seldom gain knowledge related to aviation in our daily life. During the first year of study, I have gained a lot of basic aviation knowledge, like aeronautical knowledge, safety management skills and airport operation. We could even try to do a risk management project for helicopter operation and had a chance to visit the hangar of HAECO. Those learning experiences were really gratifying as I have always been an aviation enthusiast. And then before the start of year 2 study, I did have an opportunity to work with the aviation industry, I was a ground service staff and air cargo service officer. Those experiences let me transfer my knowledge learnt from classroom to practical skills applied in the industry. When proceeding to year 2, I further gained more comprehensive understanding of the operation of aviation industry, like air traffic management, human and environmental factors in aviation operation etc. The final year project also made me understand how team work and effective communication could be useful in business aviation. I also joint the International Federation of Airworthiness safety forum in Hong Kong, which gave me a chance to observe and realize what was happening inside the industry and what expertise they were focusing on. During my whole study of HD AS, I had joined two overseas aviation trips. I went to Beijing, Tianjin and Chengdu respectively to visit their aviation institutions and companies like Airbus production line in Tianjin and Beihang University in Beijing. Chengdu has always acted as an aviation hub like Hong Kong. Other than visiting aviation institutions and companies, we also toured the aircraft parts factory and maintenance hangar there. Now, I am continuing my study in university, but I believe what I learnt in CC will be beneficial to me life-long, especially to my career development in aviation industry. View Details

Chu Ka Wo, Dennis The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, International Shipping and Transport Logistics

If you want to pursue your dream in aviation, it is not a bad idea to study in this programme. You will meet a lot of lecturers with strong experience and willing to share all they know with the students, so you will get a lot from studying here. I have kept a good relationship with some lecturers, even though I have already graduated from HKU SPACE CC. We sometimes have a dinner and chat about everything. The two years studying in the Aviation Studies programme were the most enjoyable moments ever, as you are studying something that you like. I have met a lot of friends with the same interests and share the same passion, so you will not be alone, if you are interested in aviation. There are many activities in this programme. I have joined two summer study trips to Beijing, Tianjin and Chengdu. Thus, I could visit an Airbus factory, flight training school and an aircraft maintenance hangar. You can learn a lot from the trip, such as the actual operation, working culture, and the aircraft structure in different countries. The lecturers will go with us, so we can ask them some technical or industry related questions, and you can learn a lot in those few days. We will have some local visits as well, like the HAECO and Heliservices visit. Every student will have a chance to visit those places to learn more about the industry. Some of you may want to be a pilot, flight attendant, etc. Thus, the College will have some workshops or seminars for the students. I have joined a two-day workshop of pilot interview skills. Due to the limited time, you cannot learn lots of knowledge about this, but you will know the most important criteria to be a pilot, so it gives you a chance to think about how to improve yourself to achieve your dream. You will also have a chance to fly the simulator with a pilot instructor, so you can know what it is like to fly. This course can help you a lot in preparing to join the aviation industry. How much you can get from this depends on how much you want to get. You will have a lot of chances here, so treasure every chance that you can get - this is the most important thing that I have learned here. I am now studying a BBA programme at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, majoring in International Shipping and Transport Logistics. I am still working hard on pursuing my dream. Dream Big! Fly High! View Details

Tam Ka Ho, Alex The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Social Science

It was a tough time when I found out that I had failed to get a place in a local university two years ago. It was HKU SPACE CC that gave me the opportunity to keep learning and better equip myself for the future. Aviation had long been my interest but it turned into my study major, enabling me to pursue my dream in the future. Apart from regular lectures on aviation-related knowledge, the College programme team offered us various internships and part-time working opportunities, as well as a lot of relevant activities throughout the two-year programme. Being able to really work in the field helped consolidate my own knowledge and exposed me to some new things that couldn’t be learnt in the classroom. I am really happy that I had these precious practical experiences. I believe these real-life working experiences did help me a lot in gaining admission to university two years later, and will definitely help me in the future when developing my career path. A lot of people see the study of sub-degree programmes as a waste of time and money, but I think, on the contrary, these two-years enabled me to think about what I wanted my ideal future to be, and turn it into reality. The time in the College is not only about academic achievement but about whole-person development as well. So please don’t close yourself off from society. Seize the opportunity and enrich your life in CC! View Details

Leung Ho Lok, Tommy Graduate, Higher Diploma in Aviation Studies

I love the sky! Until now, I still remember my trip to Sapporo. In this flight, I had a chance to visit the Boeing 747-400 cockpit. During the conversation with the captain, he encouraged me to be a pilot and ignited my passion to fly. In February 2014, I joined the Singapore Airshow Study Trip with the College. In this trip, except the Airshow aerobatic display, the most exciting activity was CAE visit. During the visit, we all had a chance to fly a few minutes in the A320 simulator. When I was flying, I understood why I want to fly; Why I want be a pilot. That flight helped me to know my passion to fly is as strong as ever. I am working for Jardine Aviation Services Limited as a Passenger Services Agent now. My responsibilities are assisting airline passengers to board the aircraft or to transfer to other flights, etc. I can gain a lot experience from this job like customer service, airlines policy, etc. that will be helpful to my career in the future. This Aviation Studies programme provided plenty of knowledge from experienced lecturers. The knowledge isn't only applicable for my job, but also in my life. Besides that, the College arranges internship opportunities in local airlines, and study trips for us like Beijing in 2013 and Singapore in 2014. I am very pleased that I applied to this course two years ago. In the College life, we still “Work Hard! Play Hard!” But, the most important isn't what you do, is how you do it. View Details

Liao Chi Yin, Sam Flight Operations Officer in Sky Shuttle Helicopters Company

The Sky is unlimited. After graduating in this Higher Diploma in Aviation Studies, I have finished my bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management. Currently, I am a Flight Operations Officer in Sky Shuttle Helicopters Company, one of the world's leading commercial helicopter operators. Aviation is a huge industry. It is not only focusing on neither Pilot nor Flight Attendant, but also other positions like Air Traffic Controller, Dispatcher and Loaders The Higher Diploma programme not just taught me knowledge in aviation, it also enriches my vision in this industry. The programme combines three areas, operations, management and safety. I have studied a lot of different interesting subjects like Airport and Airline Operations, Air Traffic Management, within the two-year programme and the valuable knowledge learnt is very practical for my current job; most of the problems and situations faced during my job have been taught during the programme. Beside knowledge, the programme also provides a very good networking opportunities with lecturers and experts in the industry who are very knowledgeable and experienced. The Sky is unlimited. Aim higher, dream higher. Let's start the aviation journey here! View Details

Chan Chung Ho, Matthew The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Social Science

I am currently an undergraduate student in The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), majoring in Global Studies. The area of focus is about international relations and politics in global affairs. Before joining CUHK, I decided to take a year of full-time employment in order to subsidize my further studies after graduating from the Higher Diploma in Aviation Studies programme of HKU SPACE CC. From my previous work experiences in the discipline of flight operations at a local aviation ground handling agent, I came across many real life complexities for which I could make good use of what I have learnt about the industry, and that further enabled me to demonstrate certain levels of familiarity to get job tasks done within real-life constraints. During my study in the Higher Diploma in Aviation Studies programme, I was luckily selected as a student representative to participate in the conferences organised by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) - Next Generation Aviation Professionals Outreach Committee. My role was to work with my teammates through meetings and give presentations to different aviation stakeholders from different countries. We gave ideas on how to tackle the anticipated shortage of competent personnel required by the industry from a student’s point of view. Through the Higher Diploma in Aviation Studies programme, I received the opportunity to join an internship in a business jet company in Hong Kong, Metrojet Ltd. During the 2-month internship training, I had job rotations in three departments within Metrojet, which were the Engineering Department, Corporate Safety Department and Flight Operations Department. At the end of the internship, I gave presentations to the management board of the company regarding the key learning areas gained in each department as a conclusion of the whole internship programme. Overall, the Aviation programme has equipped me with extensive specialized knowledge of the industry and provided me with lots of opportunities to get involved in the real-life industrial situations even when I was just a student with no practical experience. My enthusiasm for aviation has simply been sparked further by the programme. The experience had dramatically changed my mind when I stepped far outside my comfort zone. View Details