Time flies. As I write this, I have already completed my studies for my Bachelor's degree. My journey in AE had been fruitful and exciting. The courses had given me solid theoretical knowledge of aeronautical and aviation engineering, and training in the Industrial Centre (IC) had strengthened my understanding of hands-on practical tasks in aviation engineering via a simulated environment.

The industry exposure offered by the AE programme also taught me more about various roles in aviation. Some of my peers interned with local aviation authorities, airlines, and MROs, and I did on-the-job training in a local MRO through the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers’ Aircraft Engineer Development Scheme. During the pandemic, I also interned with OpenAirlines, working on aircraft noise modelling. The internship exposed me to numerous aviation career pathways and introduced me to research and development in the field.

Although AAE offers close industry connections, with some classes taught by industry practitioners, academic scholarship is the bedrock of the Department. AAE offers undergraduate research opportunities with support from academic staff. My core research interests are aviation operations and human factors in aviation. During my undergraduate research project, I had the invaluable opportunity to extend my minor studies of applied psychology to aviation and deepen my understanding through enquiry-based study.

Offering solid academic support and close industry connections, the AE programme is the right choice for anyone who wishes to study aviation at the undergraduate level. This is where your aviation journey will truly take off.

This programme prepares students to excel in the aviation industry, and provides a wide range of learning opportunities, such as pilot-based and manufacturing electives.

One of the highlights of my time as an AAE student was assisting with the research on UAV urban navigation. This equipped me with a lot of technical skills that were not taught in class. Besides various research opportunities, entering competitions gave me valuable hands-on experience. I even built a carbon-fibre model aircraft for the AIAA DBF competition. The Department offers many resources to support students’ learning. Moreover, the programme is taught by world-renowned professors and experts from the industry.

During my four years as an undergraduate studying aviation engineering, I acquired extensive knowledge and skills in various areas of the aviation industry, from theoretical knowledge of aerodynamics, flight stability, and avionics to practical technical skills in aircraft maintenance and component manufacturing.

The programme gave me international exposure. I received HKAR-66 AML training under the Aircraft Engineer Development Scheme offered by the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers. I took an exchange study trip to the University of Surrey, UK to attend challenging aerospace courses. I also worked as an engineering intern in a UAV start-up company named Nordluft Automation in Stockholm, Sweden.

I also had the chance to intern as a technician in the HKCAD, during which I gained a tremendous amount of insights into and experience the Hong Kong aviation industry. Last but not least, I undertook a fascinating and fruitful final-year project. My team and I designed and built a learning-based navigation system for a quadrotor UAV to accomplish autonomous object-searching and object-tracking in an unknown environment with collision-free flight. To conclude, this four-year programme was definitely a fulfilling learning journey for any aviation enthusiast.

I strongly recommend this programme to students who wish to equip themselves to become professionals in the aviation industry. The programme broadened my horizons and enriched both my technical knowledge and my non-technical knowledge. The programme is taught by both world-renowned professors and experts from the industry.

Besides, AAE provides various opportunities for undergraduate students to participate in events and activities, such as joining international exchanges, internships, and competitions. One of the highlights of my AAE studies was entering the AIAA DBF competition. This is an annual competition that takes place in the USA. Students have the chance to design, build and fly an aircraft, competing with teams from 100 universities worldwide. I entered the competition for two years in a row and served as a team leader. Through this competition, I had the opportunity to put my theoretical understanding of various subjects into practice by creating an actual flying machine. With AAE’s solid support and world-class facilities, we were the only team from a Hong Kong university that managed to construct our aircraft from a carbon fibre composite. Furthermore, the competition gave me the chance to learn soft skills such as project management, acquiring funding, and teamwork.

I very much enjoyed my time at PolyU as an aviation engineering student. I strongly recommend this programme to all students who are looking to join this fast-growing industry as professionals.

Unlike many of my peers, who were passionate about aviation before entering ATE, I became interested in aviation during my studies at PolyU. I learned much from the diverse curriculum, from aircraft structure and working principles to aircraft maintenance practices. Practical lessons in the IC also consolidated my understanding of aircraft maintenance, a key area of the industry.

In addition to taking programme-specific subjects and receiving IC training, I undertook the HKAR-147 aircraft maintenance training offered by AAE. I acquired a deeper knowledge of aircraft maintenance, helping me to pursue my goal of becoming an aircraft maintenance engineer. I was also lucky enough to learn both theoretical and practical skills from experienced professionals in the industry.

I also interned at China Aircraft Services Limited during my studies. Although practical maintenance training had unfortunately been suspended due to the pandemic, I gained additional out-of-the-classroom knowledge and familiarised myself with my future work environment. Lastly, I had the invaluable opportunity to enter the HKIE CA Paper competition. Being awarded the championship was a perfect end to my university life.