One day. Real cockpits. 1,200 young people a summer.
The Hong Kong Pilot Apprentice Programme is a government- and school-supported one-day experience: airport restricted areas, full-motion airline simulators — and every participant pilots a real light aircraft.
Open to school and youth-organisation applications only · flexible scheduling
Curiosity becomes a career plan in a single day
The world faces a major shortage of pilots and engineers. By putting young people in real cockpits, simulators and engineering workshops, the programme turns "that looks cool" into a concrete, credible ambition — and shows them where they fit in Hong Kong's aviation future.
From the bridge to the flight deck and back
07:00 · Departure
Group sets off across the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge.
09:00 · Level-D simulators
Boeing 787/737 and Airbus A320/A350 full-motion simulators, plus aviation emergency procedures training.
12:00 · Lunch
Rest and refuel before the afternoon.
13:00 · General Aviation Airport
Light-aircraft trial flight, control-tower visit and ATC interaction, aviation English, career workshop, engineering workshop.
16:00 · Certificate
HKPAPA-accredited certificate presentation and group photo.
Return
Coach back across the bridge — with a very different idea of the future.
Not a tour. An apprenticeship in miniature.
Flight experience
- Trial flight — pilot a light aircraft
- Simulated airliner flight experience
- Multi-crew cooperation under guidance
- Jet Orientation (JOC) tactic control
- Airbus & Boeing full-motion simulators
Restricted-area visits
- Apron, maintenance areas & airfield
- Aircraft engineering site visits
- Air traffic control centres
- Key airport operational locations
Knowledge workshops
- Principles of aircraft engineering
- Aviation flight principles
- Aviation communication technology
- Air traffic control & aviation services
Run like an airline operation — because that's the point
Give your students the day they'll still talk about at graduation.
Group applications from schools and youth organisations — Summer 2026 cohort, flexible scheduling.
Risk & Liability Notice
All aviation and aviation-related activities — including flight experiences, simulator sessions, airside and restricted-area access, and cross-border transportation — carry inherent risk, up to and including serious injury and death. Participation in this programme is governed by our Terms & Conditions (including the assumption of risk, release of liability and indemnity provisions), our Refund Policy and our Privacy Policy. By registering a participant or group, you (and each participant’s parent or guardian) confirm that you understand and voluntarily accept these risks and agree to those terms in full.
