Hong Kong Airways Secures Its Pilot Pipeline

Earlier than we heard about COVID-19, Asia was quickly changing into the worldwide middle of economic aviation, usurping its rivals in North America, Europe and the Center East. The flywheel of progress is lastly beginning to activate Asia’s post-pandemic restoration, however it has nonetheless solely recovered to round 55% of 2019 site visitors ranges.

For the final 12 months, the gradual restoration was pinned on lingering strict lockdown and border restriction insurance policies, significantly within the tourist-rich nations of North East Asia. With China, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea again within the sport, the one factor holding the area again from full restoration is getting maintain of the plane and skilled individuals they should meet surging demand.

One airline taking cost of its future is Hong Kong Airways, which is establishing a structured pathway for aspiring pilots wishing to work in Hong Kong and Mainland China. Hong Kong Airways (HKA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Hong Kong Worldwide Aviation Academy (HKIAA) to develop high-quality and well-trained business airline pilots.

Good prospects for aspiring pilots

The long-term prospects for business pilots are sturdy globally, and with 1000’s of recent plane headed China’s manner, pilot shortages are looming not far over the horizon. In keeping with the HKA announcement on the MoU, that is prompting the business and tutorial establishments to urgently develop a well-planned flight coaching roadmap to draw aspiring skills and meet hovering business demand.

The collaboration will convey collectively the airline’s flight coaching capabilities, the academy’s expertise in private improvement and the superior simulation coaching amenities of each organizations. HKA and HKIAA say the collaboration will maximize the synergy in fostering the following era of economic airline pilots for Hong Kong and the Mainland.

Long run, they imagine this mixture will contribute to constructing a “much-needed expertise pipeline” for the way forward for the aviation business. A broader intention is to place Hong Kong as a regional hub for civil aviation coaching within the area and past.

Hong Kong Airways has an 11-story coaching facility staffed by skilled trainers and outfitted with CAE 7000XR full-flight simulators, licensed by the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Division and the Civil Aviation Administration of China and different cockpit simulation gadgets.

Good for Hong Kong Airways

HKA Chairman Hou Wei mentioned HKA’s utilization of superior know-how and bespoke coaching curricula additionally ensures environment friendly civil aviation pilot coaching. He added:

Photograph: Airbus

This present of assist from a home-based provider is welcome information for HKIAA, which is in search of approval from the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Division for Flying Coaching Group authorization. That is wanted for HKIAA to conduct the cadet pilot coaching program, which it says marks a brand new chapter for native business flying coaching.