Sponsorships Set Out for Civil Aviation Staff from Six Southeast Asian Countries to Study Advanced Master in Air Transport Management in Hong Kong

(HONG KONG, 8 August 2017) – Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) and the world-renowned National School of Civil Aviation of France (Ecole Nationale de l’Aviation Civile or ENAC) are partnering with civil aviation authorities and industry players from both Hong Kong and France to sponsor civil aviation staff from six Southeast Asian countries to participate in the Advanced Master in Air Transport Management Programme (the Programme), which will be launched by the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy (HKIAA) and ENAC in Hong Kong later this year.

The six countries are Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed today in Mongolia during the 54th Asia and Pacific Region Directors General of Civil Aviation Conference, detailing the arrangements for cooperation in the development, operation and management of the 18-month Programme.

Representing the AA was Vivian Cheung, President of HKIAA. Signatories from other parties were Marc Houalla, President of ENAC, the Director-Generals of civil aviation authorities of Hong Kong and the six Southeast Asian countries, together with representatives of the sponsors, including Cathay Pacific, Cathay Dragon and Hong Kong Airlines, as well as Direction Generale de l’Aviation Civile (DGAC) and Aeroports de Paris of France. The signing was witnessed by Dr Fang Liu, the Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The support to the Southeast Asian countries joining the Programme are part of the efforts in taking forward the Belt and Road initiative, as set out in the cooperation framework signed between the Transport and Housing Bureau of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and DGAC of France on 22 June 2017. It also echoes the ICAO’s “No Country Left Behind” campaign to provide training to countries looking for capacity building in aviation.

The Programme aims to cater for the future demand and growth of the aviation industry in the Asia-Pacific region by enhancing the training and certification of technical and management personnel. It provides participants with management-oriented and global perspectives on air transport, offering a systematic and analytical approach and covering topics such as the economy, operations, financial strategies, safety, human resources, as well as major issues, challenges and strategies of air transport in the future.

Set up in 2016 by the AA, the HKIAA aims to establish Hong Kong as a regional civil aviation training hub by providing educational programmes and practical hands-on experience for industry professionals, partnering with local and overseas educational bodies, vocational training institutions, industry practitioners and other organisations.