Aircraft Maintenance Mechanic

Khan Awais

I joined HAECO as Aircraft Maintenance Trainee in 2014 and am currently responsible for airframe and engine maintenance. After graduation, while I was struggling whether to continue my study further or start working, I participated in HAECO career talk in a job fair by chance.  I see HAECO as a large corporation with clear career prospect for staff, not to mention aircraft engineering is a very professional business, I therefore joined HAECO aircraft maintenance trainee programme to start my career.

Aircraft maintenance is not only a job, but also a lifetime craftsmanship for me. While aircraft appearance of different models looks similar, component configuration of each aircraft model varies.  It is difficult for you to learn and tackle all the issues by just reading the manual. It is critical to learn from trial-and-error, and advices from seniors and colleagues are also essential. Hands-on experience and further studies and training are also very important. Fortunately, HAECO aircraft trainee programme is comprehensive, the course materials are in English and people with different nationalities can join the programme, it equips me with a solid foundation on aircraft maintenance. I am now able to complete the assigned tasks, and I am so satisfied to see repaired aircrafts take off from the runway!

HAECO Father-and-son working partners

Lee Ping & William Li

Lee Ping – Joined HAECO in 1956 and retired in 1983, Co-founder of HAECO Veterans Club

I started to work when I was only 12, and I joined HAECO after my friend’s referral. I had no relevant work experience at that time, which I would never thought that I could work until my retirement at HAECO.

In the past, it was common to use our folk wisdom and skills in developing useful tools to solve the problems in daily working life. The self-satisfaction and appreciation from others are the main reasons keeping me here. Besides, HAECO was definitely a good workplace where we could earn a living for our family.

Now, I go to the Veterans Club every day and indeed I’m glad to meet up with my old friends and apprentices, and I feel so satisfied after helping others to fix their precious belongings, just like the good old days in HAECO.

William Li – Joined HAECO at 1975 as apprentice, currently the Head of Technical Services

When I graduated from F.5, I learned one of my neighbour was working in HAECO and he could continue his study at the same time. This fitted in exactly what I always wish for, especially I could study in the well-known institute, Hong Kong Polytechnic. I appreciate my dad as a skilled mechanic so much while I was young, and I always wished to be like him. Therefore, I joined HAECO. I always admire my father’s perseverance, no matter in the past or even now. You can feel the passion and insistence of this over 90-year-old man by seeing him every day in HAECO Veterans Club, helping the others to fix the things.

The family-like relationship among colleagues definitely is one of the reasons for me to stay in HAECO. HAECO is such a big family that we are all good brothers and the strong bonding is rarely to be seen in other companies in Hong Kong. Joining HAECO not only provides me with a career and wider exposure, but also enable me to earn a living to support my family and even my brother to continue his study.

Engineer

Tam Chan Neng

I am one of the Licenced Engineer under Line Maintenance Department and I’m responsible for sign off and releasing aircraft after their light check-ups. I began as a trainee and have worked my way up to become an Engineer with a Civil Aviation Department approved licence.

When I first started with HAECO, I thought our daily routine would be quite mundane and straightforward, but I couldn’t be more wrong! It is essential for all the technicians to be well versed with the technical manuals, on top of that, I have also learnt that communication and people skills are of equal importance. Effective communication skill allows cross department teams to work seamlessly together to ensure that aircraft are delivered on time in airworthy condition.

One of the most exciting assignments I have worked on was the 767 aircraft winglet modification project. Upon project completion, the modified aircraft will have reduced energy consumption, resulting in better fuel efficiency and being measurably more environmentally friendly in the long run.

Front line technicians are constantly facing engineering challenges. We are required to be very detail-minded; every step of the process is treated with extreme caution and vigilance.

HAECO aspires to provide our customers with the best and most efficient solutions, and that is precisely why many leading international carriers choose to partner with us.

Aircraft Maintenance Mechanic

Yuen Ying Ming

I joined HAECO as a Mechanics Trainee in 2011 and I am embracing the tremendous learning opportunities ahead. My work at the Sheet Metal Department primarily involves applying protective layering to metal aircraft parts.

In my first year I went through a series of intensive on-the-job training sessions that helped build the fundamental foundation for my career development. As I was the youngest team member in the Heat Treatment and Plating Workshop, I have the pleasure to learn from experienced team members, who offers mentorship and guidance to help me learn and hone my skills from my day-to-day work.

I would describe HAECO as a huge running engine and we are the toothed wheels that move the gear forward. Teamwork is highly valued here and it is collaborated effort that moves the business forward, helping the company to grow and capture exciting business opportunities.

HAECO is an exceptional workplace. For me, it is an amazing experience to work closely with large aircraft on a daily basis!

Planning & Production Control Manager

Derek Hui

Joining in 2005 straight after graduation, I had the opportunity to work across different departments in my first 3 years with HAECO. This allowed me to understand the overall business from different angles.

I really enjoy working with people and I perform best under a dynamic working environment. At HAECO, every day is filled with new challenges and growth opportunities. One of my biggest job satisfactions is securing customer contracts for HAECO, which gives me a great sense of contribution to both HAECO and customers.

As I am progressing along the management ladder, my involvement in people development has become bigger. It is vastly satisfying for me to nurture young recruits into knowledgeable team members, who are playing essential parts in the sustainable development of HAECO.

Opportunities are abundant here. HAECO provides me with a range of training courses from essential technical training to leadership skills development. I was nominated to enter the Swire Leadership Programme, which further equipped me with skill sets and knowledge required to be a team leader in the HAECO Group.

It has been eleven and a half rewarding years. I am very blessed with the opportunity to work with some very talented and passionate people. HAECO is 70 years old and going strong, this is a company that strives to become better and more innovative every day. I welcome other challenging new projects and look forward to growing with HAECO to become a world leader in the aircraft maintenance industry.

Senior Aircraft Maintenance Mechanic

Silky Tang

In 2007, I participated in the Youth Employment Training Programme (YETP) organised by the Labour Department and joined HAECO as an Aircraft Maintenance Trainee. Over the years, I have been a member of various teams in HAECO’s Component and Avionics Overhaul (CAO) department, and have earned valuable experiences on the repair and overhaul of aircraft components such as pneumatic and hydraulic systems.

Thanks to the guidance given by my mentors in the team, recently I was lucky enough to become HAECO’s first female “CAT T” authorisation holder, specialising in Power Drive Units (PDU) used in cargo applications. By dedicating time and efforts to familiarise myself with knowledge about aircraft types and their components, I have now taken up a supervisory role in my team to share with junior staff members the trade skills I have learnt.

Being a mother of two children, I am truly grateful for the opportunities I was given here at HAECO. My time spent with aircraft have always been fascinating to my children — they are so proud of my job!