Time flies! During my four years as an Aviation Engineering student at PolyU, both the University and the AAE Department have provided me with numerous resources and opportunities that have enriched and broadened my understanding of the aviation industry.

This degree not only provides electives that are related to aircraft maintenance engineering but also offers subjects related to aircraft financing, pilot ground theory, data management, etc., which prepare graduates for careers in various fields of the aviation industry.

As an engineering student, I have spent a great deal of my time in the Industrial Centre (IC) taking engineering classes. At the IC, students obtain valuable practical experience by getting their hands dirty. Various welding, wiring and other techniques are demonstrated to us, and we are required to apply them to complete various tasks and assignments. I was able to use these techniques to assemble and build a quadrotor during one of the courses in a later stage of my studies.

Studying at PolyU and in the AAE Department has been challenging yet rewarding. I am looking forward to applying the knowledge and skills that I have gained in my future career.

SIN Ka Yin

My name is David, and I am a second-year intake student in the BEng (Hons) Aviation Engineering programme. I first became interested in aviation, especially piloting, when playing a flight simulator game on a computer. To obtain more professional aviation knowledge and skills, I chose to study Aviation Engineering at PolyU.

The Aviation Engineering programme enriches students’ aviation expertise in many ways.

• In terms of knowledge, we learn about a wide range of aviation subjects, such as aerodynamics, aircraft propulsion, flight mechanics, airplane performance and aircraft structures.
• In terms of experience, our department has extensive aviation resources and equipment, such as an Airbus 320 flight simulator, three GA simulators, an open wind tunnel, a gas turbine and a virtual turbofan engine test bench. These can be used for flight training, experiments and research.
• Our Department often organises career talks and sharing. The speakers include pilots, air traffic controllers and engineers. Their stories give us insights into various careers in the aviation industry.

To conclude, Aviation Engineering is helping me to realise my dream of becoming a pilot.

CHE Ka Ho

I developed a great interest in aviation at a young age. This led me to PolyU’s Aviation Engineering programme. I have just finished my third year of study.

My three years of learning have been interesting and meaningful. The programme offers various aviation-related courses that enable us to learn about aerodynamics, avionics and aircraft propulsion systems. I also had the chance to take some basic courses in my first year of study to build up my fundamental understanding of physics and mathematics. This has enabled me to understand the challenging theories and concepts in later courses.

I have also had the chance to learn through hands-on practice in the Industrial Centre. My classmates and I have tried to construct an aircraft’s composite materials, and we have learned the working principles of a pneumatic system. Such experiences make the courses fun and enable us to relate textbook knowledge to practical work.

The Department also provides ample support for our studies and career planning. Overall, the last few years have been a great experience, and I am looking forward to my final year of study.

WONG Kwan Long Clement

I was chosen to join one of the very first cohorts of students enrolled in the Aviation Engineering programme. At first, I was both nervous and excited. Initially, I had limited knowledge of the theories and working principles of aircraft and the aviation industry. I was passionate about acquiring as much knowledge as I could, so I tried very hard to learn about the professional aspects of aviation, including its mechanical, electrical and electronic features. Although I encountered many difficulties in my studies, the AAE Department provided me with ample support and resources.

Theoretical courses such as Introduction to the Aviation Industry, Mechanics of Materials, Control Systems of Aircraft and Aerodynamics familiarise students with the operation of the aviation industry. Physics and mathematics courses help us understand and perform sophisticated analyses. In addition to these theoretical courses, practical training courses are available in the Industrial Centre. From safety rules to practical work, such as the actual fabrication and machining of aircraft components and materials, we are given opportunities to thoroughly apply what we have learned in lectures and to prepare for our future careers in the aviation industry.

Photo Caption: “Butter Beer”, a special soda with cream topping sold in the Harry Potter theme park at Universal Studios, Osaka.

TSOI Chak Kam