Established more than half a century ago, the Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps (HKACC) has long been a foundation for the development of local aviation talent. Until recently, however, training was carried out at borrowed school and community centre facilities.
HKACC Commanding Officer Chan Mang-lang highlighted the challenges faced over the years. “Venue limitations restricted our ability to hold training activities according to our needs or introduce professional equipment like flight simulators.”
Renovation project
To improve its training environment, in 2018 the corps began looking for a suitable location to establish a new headquarters and training centre. Ultimately, in 2023, it chose a vacant school on Shiu Fai Terrace in Wan Chai.
HKACC Deputy Officer Commanding Operations Group Martin Choi explained that the original school had 12 classrooms and an assembly hall, meaning the refit could be accomplished without major renovations, allowing for time and cost savings.
After over a year of refurbishments, the new headquarters officially opened in March. Classrooms were transformed into multi-purpose rooms, conference rooms and other facilities, providing cadets with ample training and learning areas. The corps also added several small flight simulators and a helicopter simulator.
“As Hong Kong integrates into the Greater Bay Area’s aerospace developments, the new headquarters equip the youth with cutting-edge facilities to explore aviation careers,” said Mr Choi. “These professional facilities could enhance the cadets’ technical skills. In future, we will also introduce one-to-one fixed-wing aircraft simulators for cadets.”
Overcoming challenges
As a youth uniformed group, foot drill training is vital for the corps. The original playground has been converted into a parade ground for Chinese-style foot drills and a flag-raising training zone. During reconstruction, however, technical challenges arose when it came to installing flagpoles.
Due to the lack of road access, which prevented large machinery from entering the site, the contractor opted to use manual labour and small machines to lift and install three steel sections for the 15m main flagpole and the two 13m flagpoles on either side of it.
Building pride
The new headquarters also features a national education corner aimed at strengthening young people’s national identity and pride through showcasing the country’s achievements and development.
HKACC No. 402 Squadron Non-commissioned Officer-in-charge Lui Wai-fung, who joined the corps five years ago, outlined that the new training centre offers numerous opportunities for training and growth, as well as increasing cadets’ sense of belonging.
Vital support
From April 2024, the corps has been supported and funded by the Government Flying Service (GFS), which also assisted in establishing the new headquarters.
GFS Air Crewman Officer III Nicholas Choi stated that the service participated in site selection meetings led by the Security Bureau and the Development Bureau to ensure that the facilities at the new headquarters would meet the corps’ future development needs. Having offered technical and professional advice to assist the corps in setting up its flight simulation equipment and teaching facilities, it also provides ongoing virtual reality and flight simulator training for cadets. In addition, it hosts cadets at GFS headquarters on enriching educational field trips.
Bright prospects
GFS Acting Senior Pilot Martin Yu explained that on such visits, “when the cadets enter the hangar, they may actually have a quick touch on the helicopters, so they are usually very happy and become more interested in our daily job for GFS and aviation on the whole.”
Mr Yu also revealed that over 10% of current flight personnel in the GFS are former cadets, and said he hopes this percentage can rise even further in the future.
“Apart from that, many cadets has become a professional in aviation industry, including in many different streams, like the air traffic controllers, like in the maintenance industry, in the aviation, as well as a pilot.”
