How our new CISACC competition gets young people excited about aviation
Most people wouldn’t know the maximum certified passenger capacity of an Airbus A330, or the newest private jet with a range of more than 8,000 nautical miles – but for a special group of youngsters, these questions are as easy as “A, B, C”. We’re referring to the Hong Kong students who made it to our very first Cathay Pacific Inter-School Aviation Challenge Cup (CISACC).
“As Hong Kong’s home carrier, we feel responsible for supporting the future of the aviation industry in this important global hub,” says Marc Fancy, Head of Community Engagement at Cathay Pacific. “We came up with this competition in collaboration with the Hong Kong Youth Aviation Academy (HKYAA) to provide a platform for teenagers who are interested in aviation to shine and to encourage them to pursue their dreams in this fascinating industry.”
How the CISACC competition works
Our inaugural edition of CISACC kicked off in June 2025 with the AeroQuiz. Hong Kong students enrolled in Form 2 to Form 6 were invited to sign in to our online test platform using their school email and answer a new aviation-themed multiple-choice question daily for one month, with points awarded for speed and accuracy. The 16 schools with the highest average student scores qualified for the CISACC tournament this January, where the teams were tested on their aviation knowledge, problem-solving skills and teamwork over a series of tense question rounds.
Challenges designed by pilots and aviation professionals
“It’s amazing how much the students know about niche topics like aeronautics and airport operations,” says Fancy. “The tournament is also designed to be exciting for both the participants and the audience. The challenges were devised by our pilots and other aviation professionals who volunteer with the HKYAA – so they’re tough. And points get deducted for each incorrect answer, so there’s a nail-biting sense of jeopardy and the scores keep fluctuating.”
Winning teams and aviation career opportunities
We were delighted to crown Christian Alliance SC Chan Memorial College as the champion of our first CISACC. Members of the winning team were awarded places on our highly competitive I Can Fly Youth Academy, an aviation training programme that includes a trip to Adelaide for top-performing participants. Runner-up prizes included round-trip tickets to any Cathay Pacific destination in Asia and a fun flight simulator experience. Meanwhile, the 12 teams that didn’t make it to the final got to participate in a plate competition, for which the students were asked to design, build and test-fly a model aircraft.
“CISACC supports Cathay Pacific’s I Can Fly youth development programmes, centring on Education, Discovery and Exploration,” Fancy says. “We’re committed to giving Hong Kong students the necessary exposure and skills to succeed in pursuing an aviation career – opening up a whole world of possibilities.”