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Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps

Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps Emblem
Formation	7 April 1971
Type	Aviation
Headquarters	Old Hong Kong International (Kai Tak) Airport
Location	Sung Wong Toi Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Membership	3263 cadets (youth) with 1588 adult members
Official language	Cantonese, English
Website	www.aircadets.org.hk

Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps (www.aircadets.org.hk)is a uniformed group under the policy aegis of the Home Affairs Bureau. A registered charitable body and a member organization of the Hong Kong Community Chest, we offer quality aviation education programmes to prepare young people for possible future service in the local Aviation Industry, thereby contributing to the economic well-being of Hong Kong. With strong support from the Aviation Industry, the community at large, and our strategic partner, the Hong Kong Aviation Club, we are currently providing our 3,263 cadets and 1,588 adult members:

(a) Up to 110 twenty-minute helicopter air experience flights for members each month in advanced modern helicopters such as Eurocopter EC120B and Robinson R44, flown by our squadron of volunteer pilots (Operations Falcon, Flying Eagle, Pegasus, Phoenix and Fennington);

(b) Three full Private Pilot License scholarships with training conducted at Tayside Aviation, Scotland, jointly with the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators (GAPAN);

(c) Six 10-hour fixed wing flying scholarships jointly with the Cathay Pacific Airways and Community College of City University;

(d) Two 10-hour helicopter flying scholarships (jointly offered with the Becker Helicopters Flight Training School, Australia and the Cathay Pacific Airways);

(e) Seven glider aviator scholarships up to solo standards offered in collaboration with the Auckland Gliding Club (Operation Swift) and the United Kingdom Air Cadet Organization;

(f) Annual Private Pilot License (Aeroplane) Ground School programme for 80 members jointly offered by the Cathay Pacific Airways and Community College of City University (Advanced Aviation Education Programme - AAEP);

(g) Annual Private Pilot License (Helicopter) Ground School programme for 50 members organized jointly by the Cathay Pacific Airways and the Becker Helicopter Flight Training School, Australia (Advanced Aviation Education Programme AAEP(H);

(h) The Dragonair Aviation Certificate Programme for 16 members (jointly organized with the Hong Kong Dragon Airlines);

(i) Aeromodelling Training Programme for 120 members conducted at our HQ Technical Workshop and the Tseung Kwan O Aeromodelling Base; and

(j) Powered Parachuting experience for 120 members conducted in Mainland China.

HKACC has been nurturing manpower resources for the local aviation industry since 1971. Throughout the years, by offering quality aviation education programmes and activities supported by the local aviation industry, we are a stepping stone for young people who pursue aviation either as a career or as a hobby. Air Cadets in the 1980 are now Captains and First Officers of wide bodied jets of local airlines, as well as Senior Pilots of the Government Flying Service (GFS). A full one third of the GFS aircrews are present and former air cadets.

Most newly joined adult members undergo a syllabus accredited by the UK Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge for fulfilling their supervisory role at unit level. Through accumulating the requisite service experience and completing certain written assignment projects, the opportunity is there for adult volunteers to gain vocational qualifications offered by the City and Guilds, UK.

In addition to Aviation Education, the HKACC also organizes non-formal education programmes such as adventure, citizenship and disciplined training. Our smart looking and highly disciplined honour guards were tasked by the HKSAR Government to be the first to greet Major General YANG Liwei, China first astronaut, in 2003 and the National Olympic Team Gold Medallists at the Government House in 2004. Our progressive leadership training programme breeds young people with a strong sense of commitment to Hong Kong and the Motherland. An example of the kind of patriotic civic events at which HKACC frequently assumes a pivotal role is the May Fourth Youth Parade, held every year since 2005 to commemorate the historically significant youth movement which took place in Beijing in the year 1919.

As an Agency Member of the Hong Kong Rifle Association owning five sports rifles, we provide regular firearms and marksmanship training to members, and by so doing we hope to improve the hand-eye coordination of our members to better prepare them for possible future service in the Aviation Industry.

The multi-faceted programmes of the Corps were planned, coordinated and carried out by 1,588 adult volunteers from all walks of life, many of them professionals such as pilots, aircraft engineers, air traffic controllers, business executives, doctors, disciplined force officers, lawyers and nurses, whilst day to day operations are driven by a small but dedicated cadre of five full-time and one part-time headquarters staff.

Vision

HKACC seeks to sustain and enhance its excellence as the premier aeronautical minded youth organization to serve the Hong Kong community.

Mission

HKACC is committed to serving the Hong Kong community by constantly endeavouring to -

(a) Develop the qualities of leadership, self-reliance and initiative;

(b) Develop character, good citizenship and a love for home country;

(c) Develop an interest in aviation in general; and

(d) Encourage members to have an active interest in aviation throughout their life.

Value

Largely by voluntary efforts, HKACC is committed to upholding the following values as its guiding spirit

Honesty, Justice, Tolerance, Discipline, Initiative and Loyalty

Organisation

The Commanding Officer of the Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps is Group Captain LEE Kwok Wing. As HKACC Chief Executive Officer, the Commanding Officer is responsible to the Executive Board for the Corps day to day operations.

The Commanding Officer Office co-ordinates a number of specialist functions at headquarters level, namely administration of the Honorary Officers Scheme; legal affairs; vocational qualifications; and liaison with the British and Canadian Air Cadet Organizations.

The Administration & Support Group discharges the administrative and support functions necessary for the daily running of the Corps. Its portfolio encompasses the routine administrative function of capital project, personnel, financial and properties management; organization of adventure activities; information technology; interface with government policy bureaux and funding agencies; public affairs; logistics and supplies; and medical support.

The missions of the Institutional Advancement Group include liaison with the Central Government, government departments, mainland organizations, parents and other uniformed groups; international and mainland exchanges; and special developmental projects.

The Operations Group is in direct command of the five operational wings, and is responsible for organizing and coordinating the activities of cadet and university squadrons. The Operations Group sees to that the functioning of its subordinate units are in line with the training objectives set out by the Headquarters, and that the Corps community services commitments are satisfactorily fulfilled.

The Training Group establishes the training standards and syllabus within the Corps. Such standards are constantly updated in light of community needs and technical advancements. The Training Group also runs advanced and specialist courses such as aviation education progammes; adult training; cadet non-commissioned officer training; and skills training.

The Flying Squadron organises air experience activities for the Corps. It also oversees flight operations and flight safety according to Civil Aviation standards.

Enrollment Qualification for Cadet Members

To be eligible for enrollment as a Cadet Member, a candidate should:

(a) have attained his/her 11th but not his/her 20th birthday;

(b) be willing to undertake disciplinary training;

(c) be of good moral character;

(d) have a reasonable knowledge of the Chinese and the English languages;

(e) be able to pay the annual membership fee and other expenses in the Corps;

(f) have his/her parents’ or guardians’ consent; and

(g) not belong to another cadet organization.

Advanced Aviation Education Programme (AAEP)Scholarship

The AAEP was first introduced in 1997 and available only to members of HKACC and other uniformed youth organisations. In 2000, AAEP opened its door to the general public and it was in that year that Cathay Pacific Airways became the co-organiser of the Programme. This year (2012) the Community College of City University also joined us as our third co-organiser. The Programme aims to provide the participants with the ground training necessary to take the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) General Flying Progress Test (GFPT).

Participants who passed all assessments will be awarded with a Certificate of Achievement issued by HKACC. AAEP graduates can apply for credit exemption when applying for the Associate Degree of Science in Airport Operations and Aviation Logistics (AScAOAL) offered by the Community College of City University. HKACC cadets who have passed the Programme will be deemed to have passed all Aviation Education (AE) subjects as required for the achievement of the Senior Cadet and Staff Cadet classifications.

Technical modules

• Aerodynamics (ADY)
• Aircraft General Knowledge (AGK)
• Operation, Performance and Planning (PERF)
• Flight Rules & Air Laws in Australia (LAW)

Navigation Modules

• Navigation (NAV)
• Meteorology (MET)
• Radio Communication (RT)
• Human Performance and Limitation (HPL)

Practical module

• Flight Simulation Training*(FST) conducted by instructors of the New Zealand (HK) Flight Training Academy

Fleet

Helicopters used for our members' flight experience by our squadron of volunteer pilots with their own helicopters in Hong Kong include:

• Robinson R44
• Eurocopter EC120B

External links

• Official organization web site

• Youth organisations based in Hong Kong
• Organisations based in Hong Kong
• Air Cadet organisations