Branch Chairman’s Report 2025/2026

First, I would like to express my appreciation to the members for your support of the Branch over the past year. It has been a great pleasure to once again be able to engage and interact with our membership and to showcase some of Hong Kong’s excellent aviation industry organisations.

I would also like to take the opportunity to thank the members of our committee for their ongoing support for the RAeS Hong Kong branch. Our Committee members have generously volunteered their time and their energy to provide support and guidance to the society and our members.

Events summary

In the past 12 months, The Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society kept up a lively programme of aviation-focused events, mixing technical lectures, networking opportunities, and social gatherings for the local aerospace community.

We started our lecture season in August when members listened to Dr Zhao, of the Hong Kong PolyTechnic University discussing research into lunar soil samples returned by the Chinese Chang’e-5 mission. Following much disruption due to typhoons we continued the standout JK Swire Annual Dinner and Lecture, scheduled for 28 November 2025. This year’s speaker was Captain Emma Henderson, delivering a talk titled “Defying Gravity and Expectations.” with her inspirational aviation leadership story.

December 2025 was particularly busy. The Branch promoted “The Future of Flight at GE Aerospace: Advancing Safety, Efficiency, and Durability” on 8 December 2025. This lecture focused on technologies shaping the next generation of propulsion, including the CFM RISE technology programme.

Just a few days later, the tone shifted from technical insight to festive fun with the Christmas Aviation Quiz on 12 December 2025. Teams were invited to test their aviation knowledge, enjoy food and drinks at the Hong Kong Aviation Club.

The technical momentum carried into March when the Branch hosted an Engine Shop Planning Workshop, supported by GE Aerospace and the International Aviation Women’s Association (IAWA) Hong Kong Branch. This highlighted the real-world challenges of engine maintenance planning while also showcasing industry collaboration.

We concluded the period with two site first to HAESL in April, and then to HAECO in June. Both visits gave members a closer look at major aviation maintenance and engineering operations in Hong Kong, adding a valuable behind-the-scenes dimension to the Branch’s lecture and networking programme.

Overall, the events continue to provide a healthy mix of professional development, future- technology discussion, annual tradition, and light-hearted networking. The programme reflects the Branch’s role as a connector for Hong Kong’s aviation community — bringing together engineers, pilots, students, industry leaders, and enthusiasts around both serious aerospace topics and social engagement.

Overall, the events continue to provide a healthy mix of professional development, future- technology discussion, annual tradition, and light-hearted networking. The programme reflects the Branch’s role as a connector for Hong Kong’s aviation community — bringing together engineers, pilots, students, industry leaders, and enthusiasts around both serious aerospace topics and social engagement.

The following members resigned from the committee.

Mr Patrick WK ChanHong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Ltd

Mr Nuwan KamaragodaMembership Secretary, Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd

The Chairman thanked Nuwan and WK for their services to the Branch and the Society

The following new committee members were elected for the session 2025/2026.

Mr Clement Au, Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Ltd
Ms Michelle Lee, Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd

Ms Michelle Lee was also confirmed as the new Membership Secretary.

No other nominations were received.

All other existing committee members were confirmed for the session 2026/2027.

Membership Report

As of today, the branch membership stands at 263, comprising of 125 full members and 138 student members. This is an overall decrease of 23% from this time last year, mostly due to a decrease in full members. In 2026 to date, we have welcomed 4 new full members. / In the last 12 months, we have welcomed 8 new full members.

Stronger promotion is required and we will be looking at new ways to increase full member numbers in the coming year. Starting with increased promotion through social media, promotion after every event, reaching out to University faculties and student societies, and targeting different companies within the industry and across different fields. Previous members will also be reached out for membership renewal or understanding the reason behind leaving, in order to improve how to better improve our community.

Young Member’s Chairperson Report 2025/2026

Good afternoon everyone. It has been an honour to serve as your Young Members’ Chairperson for a second year. Today, I am pleased to share a recap of our key highlights and activities since our last AGM.

Annual Aviation Christmas Quiz - 12 December 2025

Continuing our festive tradition, the Annual Aviation Christmas Quiz attracted wide participation from across the local aviation community, including undergraduates and early- career professionals. It provided an enjoyable platform for friendly competition, insightful discussion, and cross-generational networking, helping members connect in a relaxed setting beyond formal lectures.

Engine Workshop Challenge - 12 March 2026

To provide our student members with greater practical engineering exposure, we launched the Engine Workshop Challenge in March 2026 with the support of GE Aerospace and the IAWA HK Branch. This marked the first time such an engine-focused workshop initiative had been organised for our Young Members. As a new initiative, it was designed to bridge classroom theory with real-world practice, offering participants a comprehensive walkthrough of the engine overhaul process and helping them better understand how engineering knowledge is applied in maintenance operations. The event was very well received, attracting a full house of more than 50 participants and generating highly positive

feedback. The strong response demonstrated students’ clear enthusiasm for engaging, hands-on aviation topics.


Student Engagement & Looking Ahead

Attracting and engaging student members has remained a key focus in recent years. Our shift towards more interactive initiatives, such as the Engine Workshop Challenge, alongside our lectures and quizzes, has significantly increased student involvement. Direct collaboration with university student societies and engineering faculties has also proven to be a highly effective approach, helping us better understand students’ interests and develop activities that are more relevant to them. Looking ahead, we will continue to expand these partnerships to create practical opportunities for students and strengthen their connection with the aviation industry. Thank you all for your ongoing support, enthusiasm, and dedication throughout the past year. I look forward to working alongside all of you in the year ahead.