Hong Kong International Aviation Academy Receives Full Membership in ICAO’s TRAINAIR PLUS Programme

Milestone further strengthens Hong Kong’s position as regional aviation training hub

(HONG KONG, 9 January 2019)  –  Hong Kong International Aviation Academy (the Academy) announced it has received the Full Membership Certificate for the TRAINAIR PLUS Programme (the Programme) from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The certification recognises the Academy’s capability to develop ICAO-compliant training packages.

The Programme promotes global training collaboration for the safe, secure and sustainable development of civil air transport, as well as to provide a programme development methodology that can be applied to develop standardised courses in aviation disciplines. Launched in 2010, the Programme’s current membership comprises institutes from 70 states.

The Full Membership Certificate was presented to the Academy during the 5^th Global Aviation Training and TRAINAIR PLUS Symposium held in Doha on 10 December 2018.

Simon Li, Director-General of Civil Aviation, said, “I would like to offer my congratulations to the Academy in receiving Full Membership Certificate from the ICAO. It is remarkable that the Academy, which has been offering courses since April 2017, has been recognised by the ICAO within a short period of time.  Attaining Full Membership Certificate is a significant milestone on the developmental roadmap for the Academy and will further strengthen Hong Kong’s status as a regional civil aviation training hub.”

Vivian Cheung, President of the Academy, said, “We are delighted to be awarded Full Membership by the ICAO. Since its inception, the Academy has provided some 430 courses to over 10,000 participants, offering a broad, aviation-related curriculum through summer day camps, placement programmes, professional certificate courses and advanced programmes. We will continue to work closely with our business partners as well as various local and overseas educational bodies to offer a comprehensive curriculum that contributes to the development of the aviation industry both in Hong Kong and across the region.”   

The Academy was awarded Associate Membership in June 2017. Following the establishment of an ICAO-recognised Course Development Unit in 2018, all members of the Academy’s Programme Development Team have been qualified as ICAO-Certified Course Developers and Instructors. The Academy also introduced the first-ever ICAO Standard Training Package focusing on aviation security, developed in collaboration with Aviation Security Company Limited, the aviation security provider and operator at Hong Kong International Airport. The Academy was awarded Full Membership by ICAO in August 2018 after successfully completing the first Standard Training Package.

By attaining Full Membership status, the Academy is qualified to host TRAINAIR PLUS courses and develop ICAO Standard Training Packages and Compliant Training Packages. Looking forward, the Academy will work towards obtaining Regional Training Centre of Excellence (RTCE) certification, the highest status under the Programme. All RTCEs are recognised by the ICAO as regional training leaders and are able to develop and deliver ICAO Compliant Training Packages in areas such as aerodromes, air navigation services, air transport, flight safety, safety management and more.