Our Team
DAVID Stanek
DAVID is one of our adaptive paragliding tandem pilot & instructor. With nearly three decades of experience in paragliding instruction and tandem piloting, David Stanek has been a passionate advocate for the sport since 1995. His journey began with a love for free flying and a deep desire to share its exhilaration with others. Having spent years managing a high-rise glazing company, David eventually decided to focus his time and energy on creating opportunities for individuals facing adversity to experience the magic of flight. As an adaptive paragliding specialist, David is dedicated to breaking barriers and making the skies accessible to all. His mission goes beyond teaching; he aims to inspire and uplift through the empowering freedom of soaring flight. Whether guiding first-timers or mentoring experienced flyers, David combines technical expertise with a heartfelt commitment to helping others discover the joy of flight.
CHI Lam
CHI Lam (Rio) is the founder of AeroClub Charity Foundation and a passionate advocate for adaptive paragliding. With over eight years of paragliding experience, Chi serves as an adaptive tandem pilot and instructor, inspiring others to experience the freedom of flight. His flying adventures span five continents, with footprints in countries such as Albania, Canada, France, Greece, Japan, Lebanon, Macedonia, Mainland China, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam, Malaysia and the USA. Chi holds an advanced paragliding pilot (P4) and tandem advanced instructor (T3) rating from the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (USHPA). Additionally, he is a certified paragliding repair and maintenance technician accredited by the Association of Paragliding Pilots and Instructors (APPI). Dedicated to fostering inclusivity and community, Chi combines his technical expertise with a heartfelt mission to make paragliding accessible and empowering for all, especially those facing unique challenges.
Lai CHI WAI
Chi Wai is our adaptive advisor. He is a renowned Hong Kong athlete, motivational speaker, and an inspiring advocate for adaptive sports. A former world-class rock climber, Lai Chi Wai's career took an extraordinary turn after a car accident in 2011 left him paralyzed from the waist down. Undeterred by his physical challenges, he emerged as a symbol of resilience, scaling new heights in both sports and life. In 2016, he made headlines by climbing 250 meters up Lion Rock, a Hong Kong landmark, in his wheelchair, raising awareness and funds for spinal cord injury patients. His passion for breaking barriers extends to paragliding, where he trains with a vision to champion adaptive sports and inclusivity. As the Adaptive Advisor for ACCF, Lai Chi Wai brings invaluable insights and a personal commitment to empowering individuals through adaptive sports. His role supports the foundation's mission to inspire and enable everyone, regardless of ability, to reach their full potential.
CHRIS Santacroce
CHRIS Santacroce is a master instructor & program advisor. Chris has been a full-time paragliding professional since 1992 and spent 13 of those years as a Red Bull athlete traveling the world to showcase free flying sports in general. He flies everything from airplanes to powered and unpowered hang gliders – paragliders, paramotors and has hundreds of sky dives and BASE jumps. In 2000-something Chris suffered a life altering spinal cord injury which resulted in him spending some time in a wheelchair. As good fortune would have it, he made a 120% recovery but was left with a different view of the world and an improved view of life. He went from a wholehearted "look at me and look what I can do" sort of attitude to a world where the only question was, "What can I do for you?" Chris answered that question by devoting his life to taking everyone flying, with no exception. Project Airtime was born and now it is his life's focus.
Dr MICHEAL Wong
Dr MICHEAL Wong is ACF's medical advisor. Dr. Wong, a distinguished Emergency Medicine specialist, brings extensive expertise to the AeroClub Charity Foundation as our Medical Advisor. He holds an MBBS from The University of Hong Kong and multiple postgraduate diplomas, including Infectious Diseases, Child Health, and Practical Dermatology. With over 25 years of experience, primarily at North District Hospital, Dr. Wong has trained extensively in emergency and pediatric medicine, disaster management, and infectious disease control. He has contributed to multiple medical publications and served as the Medical Director for the 17th Asian Cross Country Championships, underlining his commitment to health and safety in diverse settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
We take to the skies from flying sites in Hong Kong, i.e. Ma On Shan, Shek O, and South Lantau Island. But we will also be happy to come to a flyable location near to you.
Introductory Adaptive Tandem Flights
Our free-of-charge adaptive tandem flights offer an unforgettable experience, soaring high above the valley and creating memories that last a lifetime.
Adaptive Flying Solo Pilot Lessons
For those who dream of enjoying the freedom of flying solo, we provide Adaptive Paragliding Flying introduction lessons as well as complete paragliding pilot certification courses. Our teaching and training techniques are custom tailored to each participant’s individual needs. Again, these lessons are free-of-charge for adaptive solo pilots.
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We understand that most of our passengers rely heavily on the support of family, friends and care-takers, and we will provide one or two of these supportive folks the opportunity to experience free-flight also. While not always possible, we strive to get both the adaptive flight and the foot-launch support person flying together.
We do encourage you to visit our Donate page to assist with supporting our cause.
We’re always looking for people or organisations willing to volunteer their time, skills, or become sponsors. If you have a skill you think would be of service to the team, please email us at [email protected].
We’re looking for individuals with expertise in partnerships, promotions, and fundraising, though all support is welcome.
In order to adapt the sport of paragliding to be inclusive and accessible to everyone, we need financial help for provide our tandem pilots and solo students with specialized flying gear, lessons and transportation / access to our flying sites.
If you like our mission, we kindly request a donation to help people with adversity experience the joy of flight! Your support will enable us to continue providing opportunities for people to soar.
Our mission is to provide adaptive tandem instructional flights FREE OF CHARGE, as well as provide solo instruction and cover the cost of providing the wheelchairs to solo pilots.
However, this endeavor is not free of costs: In order to adapt the sport of paragliding to be inclusive and accessible to everyone, we need financial assistance to provide our tandem pilots and solo students with specialised flying gear, comprehensive lessons tailored to diverse needs, providing accessible transportation to and from our flying sites, and improved access to those sites to ensure safety and convenience for all participants.
As a guide, typical foot-launch tandem flights (non-adaptive) generally cost HK$2,000 to cover the cost of transportation, gear, and pilot time.
Become a volunteer
Join us for a better life and beautiful future
We’re always looking for people or organisations willing to volunteer their time, skills, or become sponsors. If you have a skill you think would be of service to the team, please email us at [email protected].
We’re looking for individuals with expertise in partnerships, promotions, and fundraising, though all support is welcome.