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CX WORLD<br />
Karen Yung<br />
Network gets ready for B-KOO<br />
People across the Cathay network help<br />
Hank Cheng achieve a life-long dream<br />
• A seven-year journey culminates in a three-month round-the-world<br />
trip for Captain Hank Cheng and the Inspiration team<br />
• Plane to visit several Cathay ports, including San Francisco<br />
Inspiration – Hong Kong’s first home-built and locally registered singleengine<br />
aircraft – made history in November as it took to the skies above<br />
HKIA. The Van’s RV8 is about to embark on the journey it was built for: a<br />
three-month round-the-world trip.<br />
“We’re very happy that the Hong Kong CAD issued Inspiration a<br />
Permit to Fly so that we can circumnavigate the world using the B-KOO<br />
registration,” says Captain Hank Cheng.<br />
B-KOO was temporarily de-registered while it was conducting the<br />
necessary flight testing in Australia. After 40 hours of flight, Inspiration<br />
was piloted back to Hong Kong via Bali, Kota Kinabalu and Clark, where<br />
staff were happy to offer their expertise and assistance to the RV8 team.<br />
Henry Ming, our Engineer in Bali, says: “Some of<br />
our staff came into the office on their day off<br />
just to see Inspiration’s arrival. They wanted to<br />
show their enthusiasm!”<br />
The local teams went beyond their call<br />
of duty to help this Cathay people project,<br />
organising security permits and other<br />
engineering needs by liaising with local<br />
authorities.<br />
Bali Airport Services Manager Yaniarti<br />
Yaniarti said: “We’re very happy to see<br />
this aircraft! After seven years of work, big<br />
congratulations go to this excellent team!”<br />
“We’re super thankful for the help that each<br />
outport is offering,” says Hank. “In fact, there are many<br />
Cathay people in Hong Kong who are supporting this endeavour.”<br />
Gary Tat, the first engineer to join Hank on the Inspiration<br />
project, adds: “The Inspiration Operations Centre in Cathay City follows<br />
the plane in real time to make sure both Hank and the aircraft are safe.<br />
Our team came in on their days off or even on their birthday to volunteer!”<br />
“It was wonderful to see the passion that our people have for planes,”<br />
says Assistant Manager AV Unit & Photographer Karen Yung, who was<br />
there to see Inspiration’s arrival in Bali. “RV8 bonds our people around<br />
the network and people are building a good rapport around this great<br />
project!”<br />
Inspiration begins its journey on 28 August and will fly to approximately<br />
50 destinations, many of which are Cathay or Dragonair ports. Stay<br />
tuned to IntraCX, Yammer and CX World for more Inspiration updates.<br />
55,000km in distance<br />
466L fuel tank capacity<br />
>50 destinations including Greenland &<br />
Hawaii<br />
HK$3 million is required for the<br />
trip (visit inspiration.bkoo.hk to buy<br />
merchandise in support of this trip)<br />
Red Bull and Energy Bars are the<br />
meals served onboard<br />
Immersion suit will be worn on journeys<br />
over water<br />
Clockwise from top: Hank landed at<br />
HKG on his homecoming journey from<br />
Australia; the Bali team was excited<br />
to see Inspiration on its approach to<br />
DPS; Inspiration with Kota Kinabalu’s<br />
Cathay team; CE Ivan Chu charts the<br />
beginning of Inspiration’s journey.<br />
Watch out for a video featuring our people<br />
collaborating with the Inspiration team on Yammer and IntraCX!<br />
One minute with... Chris Kempis, General Manager Flying<br />
1. How did you get involved in the annual pedal<br />
kart race?<br />
I was a First Officer at the time and one of the Captains<br />
I flew with was a keen cyclist. He invited me to<br />
attend a Pedal Kart selection trial in early 1996 …<br />
the rest is history!<br />
2. What has kept you motivated for more than<br />
20 years?<br />
Like many people, I find it gratifying to do something<br />
that is both exciting and meaningful. Pedal<br />
kart grows on you the more you participate.<br />
3. What makes the event so exciting?<br />
Very few of us in the competitive teams can claim<br />
to ‘enjoy’ the intensity of the 30 minute stints<br />
we do, but the atmosphere, camaraderie and<br />
fantastic support we receive all make the event<br />
something I love being part of.<br />
4. How many trophies have you won through<br />
the years?<br />
My regular team, the Cathay Jumbos, has won at<br />
least one trophy every year. The “heavyweight”<br />
trophies are Winning Team and Fastest Lap, which<br />
the Jumbos have won on several occasions - and<br />
I’m sure would have done without me!<br />
5. How are you preparing for the race?<br />
I train by cycling a lot. Close to the race I spend<br />
some time on the recumbent cycle in the gym as<br />
well.<br />
6. What is your practicing route?<br />
I cycle from my home to Bride’s Pool Rd, where<br />
many cyclists train; alternatively, I do a circuit of<br />
some part of the New Territories. I count myself<br />
lucky if I get out twice in a week so I target 60-<br />
90km on each ride.<br />
7. What is your fastest lap by far?<br />
I don’t consider myself to be the ‘fast guy’. I leave<br />
that to the younger sprinters. I aim for very quick<br />
changeovers and consistent lap times.<br />
8. Does the Cathay team have any specific tactic?<br />
Our main aim is to keep going for 24 hours, avoid<br />
crashes and minimise technical problems. We are<br />
extremely fortunate to have outstanding support<br />
from pit crews and helpers.<br />
9. Any expectation for this year’s race?<br />
It’ll be another win for the men – and I’ll be supporting<br />
the women as they defend their championship.<br />
10. Do you take part in other sports?<br />
A hike or gentle run on one of the trails near my<br />
home in Tai Po Kau is high on my favourites list.<br />
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