For many children, aviation can feel distant: something seen through an airport window rather than something they can explore for themselves. At HKPC Academy’s Summer TechEd Fest 2026, HKPAPA helped turn that curiosity into a direct, practical experience.
Held at the HKPC Building on 3 and 4 July 2026, the annual event brought together students, families and educators for hands-on technology learning. HKPAPA sponsored 10 aviation workshops across the two days, welcoming more than 1,000 children and young people into the simulator environment and introducing them to professional pilots.
A first encounter with a flight simulator
For many participants, it was their first time sitting at flight controls or meeting a pilot. The simulator made aviation immediate: young visitors could see how control inputs affect an aircraft, hear how pilots approach a task and discover that flying combines science, communication, discipline and teamwork.
The goal was not to turn a short workshop into a career promise. It was to give young people a credible first experience—one that could awaken an interest, help them ask better questions and show them that aviation is a field they can begin exploring while still at school.
A story about perseverance and possibility
Each workshop also included a motivational talk from Steven, who shared how he overcame poverty and dyslexia to become an airline pilot and later a serial entrepreneur, including building businesses during the COVID period.
His message was grounded in education and persistence: a difficult starting point does not have to determine a young person’s destination. Progress is built by discovering an interest, developing useful skills, learning from setbacks and continuing to act when the path is uncertain.
Meeting a working pilot made that message tangible. Children could connect the uniform and cockpit with the years of study, practice, responsibility and resilience behind them.
Two days of continuous teamwork
The HKPAPA team worked continuously across both full days, moving each group through pilot talks and simulator experiences while answering questions from young people and parents. The energy and demand again made this one of HKPAPA’s most popular public open-day programmes.
The scale mattered, but the individual moments mattered more: a child reaching for the controls for the first time, a parent hearing a new ambition, or a student realising that aviation includes engineering, technology, operations, communication and many other possible futures.
Every workshop group deserves to be seen
Across ten workshops, each group brought its own questions and excitement. These additional photographs record the families and young participants who made the two-day event possible.
Starting early builds more than enthusiasm
High-quality aviation education can help young people develop confidence, teamwork, communication, problem-solving and a stronger learning record. These experiences can become meaningful evidence of initiative for future school and university applications—but their greatest value is helping a young person discover what they care about and learn how to pursue it responsibly.
For families who want to continue beyond a first simulator experience, HKPAPA’s Aerospace Ambassador Programme (AAP) provides a structured next step through aviation theory, professional simulation, industry exposure and pilot mentorship.
Explore the next stage: HKPAPA Aerospace Ambassador Programme (AAP)
Event reference
Official event information: HKPC Academy Summer TechEd Fest 2026
