The newly opened Hong Kong Airlines Training Academy offers advanced programmes as part of the airline’s commitment to safety
In line with its continued commitment to safety across all aspects of flying, Hong Kong Airlines opened the Hong Kong Airlines Training Academy (HKATA) on 25 September, 2019. This is the airline’s first training facility at Chek Lap Kok, the island where Hong Kong International Airport is located, and is a significant milestone in the airline’s history.
The building was designed by A.LEAD architects under the management of the Hong Kong Airlines Building Team with the intention of drawing out the natural beauty of the area. As such, the building has been designed to maximise natural daylight and offers panoramic views of Hong Kong International Airport. HKATA spans 11 storeys and features advanced training facilities including 24 classrooms, 12 aircraft simulator bays, an eight-metre-high multi-function training hall and a 25-metre-long swimming pool which is essential for practising evacuation, safety and service training for all aircraft types. It is only the third facility of its kind on the airport island which combines advanced technology with specially designed training programmes to set new safety technology benchmarks for the industry.
One particular highlight is the CAE 7000XR Series full-motion flight training simulators. Used for both the A330 and A350 aircraft, these simulators are able to reproduce the environment within the aircraft, as well as at the airport. They feature the latest technology in visual simulation and have an extensive database of airports including Hong Kong, Narita, Los Angeles and Vancouver, to name just a few.
The Combined Cabin Emergency Evacuation Trainer (CEET) is another noteworthy addition to HKATA. Featured in the training hall, it comes equipped with a smoke chamber function as well as additional elements to prepare crew for handling emergency situations.
Speaking at the opening, Hong Kong Airlines chairman Hou Wei emphasised the airline’s commitment to safety as well as innovation. “HKA Training Academy is not only a result of Hong Kong Airlines’ ambitious effort to nurture future aviation talents but also a formal approach to aviation safety, supporting Hong Kong’s thriving aviation industry. We want to fulfil our vision to offer one of the most advanced aviation training programmes for aircrew and will do our part to help elevate Hong Kong aviation standards to world-class levels.”
