Events
Join Our Events
RAeS events deliver expert content, insight and networking across the breadth of technical, engineering and business subjects affecting aerospace professionals.
Our annual calendar of around 20 events of lectures, technical visits, competitions and field trips are designed to support your professional development and industry knowledge.
Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Technical Visit
26 July 2025
Formed in 1950, HAECO Hong Kong is home to the headquarters of the HAECO Group. Based at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), they offer a full range of services including airframe services, line services, component services, engine services, inventory technical management, cabin solutions, freighter conversions, technical training and AOG support.
They have a significant presence at HKIA, offering round-the-clock support to more than 100 airline customers and handling over 110,000 flight movements in 2024.
Drawing on seventy-five years of aircraft engineering expertise, HAECO deliver an unparalleled range of airframe and line maintenance solutions, including AOG recovery services. These are enhanced by strong in-house component services and comprehensive back-shop support, as well as long-standing relationships with OEMs.
They are a world-class leader in tailor-made cabin reconfigurations and, in addition, offer technical training and examination services that support operators and industry players around the world.
The visit includes briefings on operations followed by a tour of the hangar and facilities.
Maximum group size will be 25 and members have priority.
Date: 26 July 2025
Time: 09:30-12:00
Location :
80 South Perimeter Road
Hong Kong International Airport
Lantau, Hong Kong
Anatomy of Lunar Regolith: The Moon’s Surface Material
29 August 2025
Space is a rare lecture topic, but Hong Kong plays a role in the netional programme.
Dr Zhao, of the Hong Kong PolyTechnic University, will discuss their research on lunar soil samples returned by the Chinese Chang’e-5 mission. To analyse these samples, they used advanced 3D X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning combined with machine learning techniques. This allowed them to examine over 700,000 lunar soil particles and determine their physical and mineralogical properties in a non-destructive way. The analysis revealed that the Chang’e-5 soil grains are generally smaller and have more complex shapes compared to samples collected by earlier US and Soviet missions. By processing the CT images, we determined the approximate composition of the lunar soil: about 46% glass and plagioclase, around 50% pyroxene and olivine, and roughly 5% ilmenite. Based on these findings, they developed a high-fidelity lunar soil simulant called PolyU-1. This simulant closely matches the real lunar samples in both grain size distribution and mineral composition. Using PolyU-1, they conducted tests to measure key mechanical properties of lunar regolith, such as friction angle and cohesion. Understanding these properties is crucial for predicting how lunar soil will behave during landing, drilling, excavation, and other engineering activities on the Moon. Lastly, Dr Qi will discuss potential ways to use materials found on the Moon to support future missions and infrastructure.
Dr. Qi Zhao is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). He obtained his PhD from the University of Toronto and subsequently worked as a postdoctoral researcher at both the University of Toronto and UC Berkeley before joining PolyU. He is a recipient of the Leopold Müller Award from the Austrian Society for Geomechanics and the Dr. N.G.W. Cook PhD Dissertation Award from the American Rock Mechanics Association (ARMA). In 2021, he was selected as a Future Leader of ARMA. Dr. Zhao is a founding management committee member of the Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE) at PolyU. His research focuses on developing novel geomechanics and geophysics solutions for sustainable urban development and deep space exploration. He is currently participating in the Chang’e-8 project, developing a probe for in situ measurement of the dielectric constant of lunar regolith at the south pole of the Moon.
Date: 28 Aug 2025
Time: 6pm to 8 pm
Venue: Hong Kong Polytechnic University, QR610
Annual General Meeting
26 June 2025 - 6pm
It is that time of year and this year’s Annual General Meeting will be held in Cathay City.
After the AGM, we will be visiting the training facility where crew are trained in all safety aspects of the aircraft they will operate including equipment in the cabin, aircraft doors and emergency egress.
This event is open to members only. Registration will open shortly along with AGM documents.
2 vacancies exist on the committee and nominations will close at 6pm 12 June 2025.
Date : 26 June 2025, 6pm
Venue : Training Room 432, Cathay Pacific Airways, 8 Scenic Road, Lantau