The Maritime and Aviation Training Fund (MATF) came into operation with a total commitment of HKD100 million on 1 April 2014 and was injected with HKD200 million in May 2019 to sustain and enhance existing training schemes and scholarships, as well as for launching new initiatives for the maritime and aviation sectors. The aim of MATF is to build up in due course a vibrant, diversified and competitive pool of professionals and technical personnel to support Hong Kong's future development in the two sectors.
The following are the aviation-related initiatives operating under the MATF:
The ProTERS aims to encourage aviation in-service practitioners to take courses offered by various academic institutions, professional or trade bodies and to take part in professional examinations so as to raise their professional competency and help them acquire relevant professional qualifications. Under the ProTERS, eligible applicants are refunded with 80% of the fees after satisfactory completion of an approved course or passing an approved professional examination, subject to a funding cap of HKD30,000 per applicant.
To encourage young people to choose specialised aircraft maintenance programmes and join the aircraft maintenance industry after graduation, the Refund Scheme provides an extra financial incentive to the eligible applicants who have completed relevant programmes offered by the Vocational Training Council, namely the Higher Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering and the Diploma in Vocational Education (Aircraft Maintenance), and join the aircraft maintenance industry with a refund of 50% of the total tuition fee, subject to a cap of HKD50,000.
The AOTIS provides a minimum monthly salary of HKD7,000 and monthly incentive allowance of HKD2,000 during the placement period for a maximum of 12 months, as well as the study allowance of HKD24,000, to the eligible applicants undertaking the Diploma in Aviation Operations offered by the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy, and joining the aviation industry after graduation.
Through the tripartite collaboration among the Government, industries, and academic institutions, the MAIS - Aviation gives the young generation early exposure to the wide spectrum of career opportunities in the aviation sector. Full-time local students studying any undergraduate or sub-degree programmes offered by local education institutions or full-time students studying any undergraduate or sub-degree programmes offered by institutions outside Hong Kong or secondary six school leavers are eligible to apply. The scheme contributes up to 75% of each intern's monthly honorarium or HKD7,000 (whichever is lower) up to three months for an internship period of at least four weeks
(i.e. 28 days).
To encourage continuous professional enhancement for the aviation sector, the Government will provide full scholarships, capped at about HKD100,000 each to selected students to complete aviation-related degrees or higher degree programmes offered by Hong Kong International Aviation Academy and other institutions. Eligible applicants are required to be registered students of the identified programmes and work in the aviation sector in Hong Kong for a period of not less than twelve consecutive calendar months, within three calendar months upon successful completion of the identified programme.
