The inaugural Cathay Inter-school Aviation Challenge Cup (CISACC) provides participants with a launchpad into the exciting world of aviation

The inaugural Cathay Inter-school Aviation Challenge Cup (CISACC) officially concluded on 25 January 2026, bringing together 16 top-performing secondary schools in Cathay’s first-ever live aviation-themed competition. A decisive victory was claimed by Betsy, Marco, and Moses from Christian Alliance S.C. Chan Memorial College, followed by the first runner-up team from Stewards Ma Ka Ming Charitable Foundation Ma Ko Pan Memorial College. The second runner-up title was shared between St. Francis’ Canossian College and HKBU Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School, marking an unforgettable conclusion to the inaugural event.

CISACC underscores Cathay’s commitment to nurturing future aviation talent, serving as a platform to build knowledge and curiosity amongst young people. “Cathay has collaborated with the Hong Kong Youth Aviation Academy (HKYAA)  for many years to see how we can share more about aviation with our young people,” said Cathay General Manager Corporate Affairs Andy Wong, “But ultimately, we just wanted them to have fun. Having the two schools share the title was a very last-minute call, but seeing their excitement made it all worthwhile.”

“Whether it be establishing HKYAA or even AeroQuiz itself, our goal has always been to connect youth to the dynamic world that is the Hong Kong aviation industry,” said Chairman of HKYAA Captain Patrick Lau. “There is a lot of strength in the next generation of Hong Kong, but what they lack is the opportunity to cultivate their own talents.”

The final round of the competition included both multiple-choice and buzzer-round questions, covering topics from engineering to communications to mathematics. “This competition really surprised me,” said Betsy, who is studying to become a pilot. “First of all, it’s an aviation competition for secondary school students. The level of difficulty increases as you progress, which is almost like taking a course. And since this is a local competition, it also includes a lot about Hong Kong’s own aviation history – something you wouldn’t usually learn when you’re just studying aviation.”

To celebrate the promising talent shaping the future of aviation, the winning teams were rewarded with prizes such as round-trip tickets within Asia, and flight simulator experiences. As the very first CISACC champion, the Christian Alliance S.C. Chan Memorial College team not only received priority to participate in the Cathay I Can Fly Youth Academy, but will also embark on a trip to Adelaide to further deepen their aviation knowledge.

For Marco and Moses, this will be their first trip to Australia with the Cathay I Can Fly Youth Academy. Marco, who has a deep interest in World War II planes, expressed his excitement for his first solo trip to learn more about cross-cultural aircraft design. His teammate Moses, who aspires to become a commercial pilot, also shares his excitement. “You don’t really learn much about aviation at school, so it’s very rare to have an opportunity where someone teaches you how to fly a plane,” Moses said.