Industrial Attachment (IA) AY2014/15

Student Report
Name: Leung Man Ting
Programme Code/Class: HT124007-1D
Student number: 140142584
Course Code: HST4903
Submission Date: 11thSeptember 2015
Word Count: 2028
Airport Authority Hong Kong
(Airfield, Infrastructure Management &
Coordination)

Table of Contents
1) Introduction -------------------------------------------------------------------------p. 3-5

2) IA Period and Total Hours --------------------------------------------------------p.6

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3) Linkage between the Job and Study----------------------------------------------p.7-8

4) Personal Development--------------------------------------------------------------p.9

5) Evaluation of Industrial Attachment---------------------------------------------p.10-11

6) Career Aspiration--------------------------------------------------------------------p.12

7) Conclusion----------------------------------------------------------------------------p.13
8) Appendices---------------------------------------------------------------------------p.14-20
9) Reference-----------------------------------------------------------------------------p.21

Introduction
I had worked for Airport Authority Hong Kong for 6 weeks from 13 July to 21 August.
The department that I attached to was Airfield. There are 3 subdivisions in Airfield

Department Infrastructure Management & Coordination, Standards and Services

Delivery and Baggage Handling.
Airfield Department is responsible for the management of the aircraft parking aprons,
runways, taxiways, associated airfield areas and facilities. Front line duty staff regulates
the airside operational activities in order to ensure a high standard of safety, operational
efficiency and customer service for movements of aircraft, passengers, cargo and mail on
a 24-hour basis. In addition, its responsibility covers all facets of airfield business
including management of revenues and expenditures relating to the airfield assets, and
franchisees and commercial license administration.
The key responsibility of the Airfield Management Section is to ensure that the runways,
taxiways, aircraft parking apron, aerodrome lighting and other installations are
maintained at the highest safety standards commensurate with the regulatory
requirements of ICAO and CAD for aircraft operation. Its responsibilities include:
aerodrome inspections, reporting and documentation of airfield discrepancies, aircraft
movement area cleaning management, runway surface friction measurement, bird hazard
reduction, low visibility(Cat II, IIIA) operation, airfield emergency crisis management
and aircraft recovery readiness.
I was assigned to Infrastructure Management & Coordination in the internship. My
supervisor, Mr. Thomas Li, Manager of Infrastructure Management & Coordination, had
given me tasks which were to arrange documents and do research on several airports.
In the first two week, my supervisor asked me to rearrange the files such as Master Plans
and Contracts according to his guidance and request so that was a documentary job and
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required comparatively fewer specialized skills. All I had to do were to type the file title,
retention date and print that list out. In the meantime, I had to rearrange those documents
on the cabinet. He also gave me a task which was to simplify the content of 3RS Infokit
and report to him.
In the third week, my supervisor asked me to search background information of 11
airports roughly. Those 11 airports are: Incheon International Airport, Singapore Changi
Airport, Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, London Heathrow Airport, Guangzhou
Baiyun International Airport, Shenzhen Baoan International Airport, Macau International
Airport, Zhuhai Jinwan Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Shanghai
Hongqiao International Airport and Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport. I searched
background information like number of runway, gross floor area of terminals, passenger
traffic and aircraft movement etc. I also searched some Master Plans and new
technologies roughly of these airports. After I showed those data to my supervisor, he
requested me to do a report more particularly and he had given me 2 weeks to complete
it.
In week 4 and 5, I kept on searching Master Plans and new technologies that have still
not been implemented at HKIA yet and I had searched new technologies of other airports
around the world upon my supervisors request. Also, I had to compare those airports to
see whether they are competitive. After the search process, I had to arrange all data and
analyze those airports regarding the performance of different airports and the
competitiveness of them. Lastly, I presented the report to my supervisor with my
colleague. This task required interpersonal communication with supervisor and colleague
as I had to discuss with my colleague to complete the report.
4

Since my supervisor had annual leave from 15 August to the end of August, he had
transferred me to his colleague, another manager of Infrastructure Management &
Coordination in week 6. My job was to mark down the number and position of electric
vehicle car chargers and present them on an aerodrome chart in week 6. I got the chance
to go around the apron so as to complete this task.

IA period and Total Hours

Company: Airport Authority Hong Kong
Working Period: 13 July 2015 21 August 2015
Wk
No.

Week
of
D/M/Y

Worki
ng
Hours
/ Day
Off /
Leave

e.g.

Mon

Tue

Worki
ng
Hours
/ Day
Off /
Leave
Wed

Worki
ng
Hours
/ Day
Off /
Leave
Thu

Worki
ng
Hours
/ Day
Off /
Leave
Fri

Worki
ng
Hours
/ Day
Off /
Leave
Sat

Worki
ng
Hours
/ Day
Off /
Leave

Worki
ng
Hours
/ Day
Off /
Leave
Sun

Total
P.E.
Hours
in the
Week

36
5

13/07/15
19/07/15

1.
13/07/1
519/07/1
5

2.
20/07/1
516/07/1
5

3.
27/07/1
502/08/1
5

4.
03/08/1
509/08/1
5

5.
10/08/1
516/08/1
5

6.
17/08/1
521/08/1
5

Sick
Leave
Mon
8hours
50mins

Sick
Leave
Tue
8hours
50mins

9 hours

9 hours

9 hours

Day Of

9 hours

hours

Wed
8hours
50mins

Thu
8hours
50mins

Fri
8hours
50mins

Sat
Day of

Sun
Day of

44.17
hours

Mon
8hours
50mins

Tue
8hours
50mins

Wed
8hours
50mins

Thu
8hours
50mins

Fri
8hours
50mins

Sat
Day of

Sun
Day of

44.17
hours

Mon
8hours
50mins

Tue
8hours
50mins

Wed
8hours
50mins

Thu
8hours
50mins

Fri
8hours
50mins

Sat
Day of

Sun
Day of

44.17
hours

Mon
8hours
50mins

Tue
8hours
50mins

Wed
8hours
50mins

Thu
8hours
50mins

Fri
8hours
50mins

Sat
Day of

Sun
Day of

44.17
hours

Mon
8hours
50mins

Tue
8hours
50mins

Wed
8hours
50mins

Thu
Sick
Leave

Fri
8hours
50mins

Sat
Day of

Sun
Day of

35.33
hours

Mon
8hours
50mins

Tue
8hours
50mins

Wed
8hours
50mins

Thu
8hours
50mins

Fri
8hours
50mins

Sat

Sun

44.17
hours

Total I.A. Hours: 256.18 hours

Linkage between the Job and Study

How I had applied knowledge from modules to work?
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In Semester 1, I had no idea why IT Essentials Services would be included as a module

in our programme. I did not think that IT and our programme (Airport Operations
Management) had connection. When I started the internship, I finally discovered that the
module helped me a lot. I had to do a lot of documentary works in this internship and I
had applied some of the IT skills and knowledge learnt from that module. I found it
useful and now I realized the importance of learning the module. To be honest, I would
not have been able to handle some of the tasks if I had not taken the module.
English & Communication Workplace Correspondence also helped me so much. I had
to reply to emails quite often. The lecturer of that module taught us how we should reply
to letters and e-mails properly and courteously. I had learnt proper format and when an
email should be formal or informal. I could apply most of the knowledge learnt from the
module to this internship.
I had studied Introduction to Ramp Operations in Semester 1, Airport and Airline
Operations in Semester 2 and Introduction to Air Cargo and Baggage Operations in
Semester 3. These three modules are basically about operations at the apron. Fortunately
for me, I had chances to go around the apron and I could recall my memory of the
knowledge of these modules. The notes in these modules are rather vague as I could not
imagine what exactly happened in those notes. However, when I went to the apron in
person, I finally caught on the contents of those notes. After this internship, I deemed that
those notes are important, however, only in-person experience and plus notes would be
the best. None of them can be excluded. Also, I could not disparage the importance of
these modules as it would influence the effectiveness of my internship to a certain extend.

Personal Development

Since the jobs from my supervisor did not require technical and operational skills, I
would say that I acquired interpersonal skills. I had to report the development of different
airports to my supervisor occasionally and it requires communication skills. I am a shy
person who does not speak a lot when I face unfamiliar people. I realized this drawback
when I was young, I cannot cure it though. My supervisor also realized this drawback and
encouraged me to speak more. I started to speak more after his encouragement. Although
I had an improvement, I could speak a lot more. My supervisor told me that speak more
would bring along more opportunities, however, I would miss those opportunities if I
speak less. From now on, I would speak more in order to grab those opportunities.
Also, five of us from Airfield Department (me, Dicky, Tim, Issac and Katherine) had a
chat with some seniors and they were willing to share their experience to us. We knew a
lot regarding the development of Hong Kong International Airport. They also shared their
view on HKIA that we have never thought. We could learn their mode of thinking as we
would be narrow-minded sometimes. Chatting with seniors can promote my level of
maturity both personal-wise and career-wise.

Evaluation of Industrial Attachment

The most beneficial aspects in this IA would be having chances to go around the apron
and learning communication skills in the workplace. Actually, I had been absolutely
lucky to be assigned to the Airfield Department as I got more chances to go around the
apron than some of my classmates. Most of them had only gone around the apron for
once.
Going around the apron is fun, though it is not the focal point. What I would like to stress
regarding going around the apron is that we can observe the operations of the apron by
going around. We cannot imagine the whole operation process by reading notes or even
listening to lecturers explanations. First-hand experience would be a complement to let
us fully comprehend the operations of apron.
For example, I have learnt some technical terms and understand certain part of operation
process. However, I do not understand most of the operation process. First-hand
experience would help me complement the whole operation process right away.
Another beneficial aspect was to learn communication skills in the workplace. I did work
for a part-time job before, it was not formal though. I could not learn communication
skills in the workplace there. However, working in AAHK is much more formal and I can
contact more colleagues so it would help me learn communication skills in the
workplace.
Like what I mentioned previously, there could be more opportunities to let students go
around the apron. It helps me so much to better comprehend the daily operation of the
apron. Students who work for other departments might not have many chances to go
around the apron to observe the operations and so they could not deeply understand it.
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Career Aspiration
Before the internship, I wanted to work for AAHK after the graduation. However, some
colleagues told us that we had better work for other companies such as Cathay Pacific
Catering Services, Hong Kong Airport Services Ltd, AVSECO etc. before working for
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AAHK. They told us that we should gain as much experience as we can before working
for AAHK. They also shared their experiences to us. For example, one of the colleagues
worked for a ground handling agent. He told us that working for a ground handling agent
can widen our horizons as we can experience every incident no matter it is a small or
large case so as to obtain experience. They also told us that working in the office is kind
of boring and as a youth, we had better attempt different types of aviation-related jobs to
get familiar with the whole operations of an airport deeply. This would be an advantage
of working for AAHK.
I met some management trainees in this internship and they all have high education
background. Most of them were graduated from University of Hong Kong, Chinese
University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology or even
University of Cambridge. Frankly speaking, I felt I was rather negligible at the moment.
In order to have an opportunity to enter a university, I have a determination to study
harder in Semester 4 and 5 so as to strive for better results. If I successfully graduate from
a university, I would work for other aviation-related companies first to gain as much
experience as I can. Then, I would probably apply for AAHK and I believe that I would
get a senior position because of my rich experience and education background.

Conclusion
Honestly, six weeks of internship were not enough for me as Airfield Department is fun.
Colleagues in this department are all talkative and nice. They treated us so well and I do
not want to leave this department. Also, we did not have generation gap though some of
them are older than us by 40 years. Airfield Department is rather easy-going and it made
me relaxed. I thought the atmosphere of all departments in AAHK would be serious
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before I worked here. It was totally opposite. I could hear laughter almost every
moment and it precipitates me that I would like to join AAHK.
I made new friends from this internship as well. They joined the internship from June
and left in mid-August. Although we have only known each other for a month, we have
already been close. We played badminton, bowling and snooker at the time and we still
keep in touch now.
My supervisor is a kind and patient person. In spite of the fact that he was very busy, he
would still meet and chat with us. When he knew that I love aircrafts and engines, he
found a book regarding aircraft characteristics and gave it to me right away. The book
includes the length of aircrafts, maximum takeoff weight and thrust etc. of aircrafts
from different manufacturers like Boeing, Airbus and McDonnell Douglas etc. I was
absolutely surprised as I have never thought he would give me that book and I wanted
that kind of book for such a long time. I would treasure that book and put lots of effort
into the book. He also welcomes me to ask him any questions at any time.
The internship has helped me build up the network and I have grown a lot through this
placement. I would pursue my dream of working for aviation industry.

Appendices
A ULD in the Baggage Hall

13

Baggage handling system

ULDs were being loaded

14

Cargo Apron

CXs B747-8
15

SQs A380

Chargers for electric vehicle cars:

16

View from the ATC Tower:

17

Back-up workplace for Airfield Department on the Air Traffic Control Tower

A photo of me and my supervisor

18

Data for the task

Report completed:
19

Reference
20

1. 3RS Infokit
http://info.threerunwaysystem.com/pdf/en/3rs_infokit.pdf

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