12 Facts About Royston Brooks

Royston Brooks was the last expatriate to serve as the commanding officer of the RHKAAF from 1988 to 1990.

Royston Brooks was promoted to the rank of squadron leader in 1985 and further promoted to the rank of wing commander upon assuming command of the RHKAAF in 1988.

Royston Brooks was responsible for large-scale capital projects including the Castle Peak Power Station.

Royston Brooks then studied engineering at Swansea Technical College and King's College, Durham University.

Royston Brooks received the Air Efficiency Award in 1981, to be followed by a clasp to the medal several years later.

Royston Brooks had served as an honorary aide-de-camp to the Governor of Hong Kong.

In January 1988, Royston Brooks took over from Wg Cdr Alistair Asprey to become the commanding officer of RHKAAF.

When Royston Brooks assumed the commanding post, the RHKAAF operated a fleet of 10 aircraft, including two twin-engined aircraft, one Britten-Norman Islander, two Scottish Aviation Bulldog trainers, two Slingsby Firefly trainers and three Aerospatiale Dauphin twin-engined helicopters.

Royston Brooks oversaw a partial replacement of the fleet as arranged by the Hong Kong Government, with a view to modernising the fleet and enhancing the flying services.

Against this background, the number of permanent staff members of the RHKAAF gradually increased from 127 in 1988 to 160 in 1990, while the number of part-time volunteers like Royston Brooks slightly increased from 171 to 195 in parallel.

On 31 December 1990, Royston Brooks retired from the post of commanding officer.

Hence, Royston Brooks was the last expatriate to assume command of the RHKAAF.