Titles of CAD Senior Management
to Change
December 31, 2000
To align with the internationally accepted
protocol and to properly reflect the status, duties and
responsibilities of the senior management personnel of the
Civil Aviation Department (CAD), the English titles of 11
directorate officers in the Department will be changed with
effect from tomorrow (January 1, 2001).
Director of Civil Aviation (DCA) and Deputy
Director of Civil Aviation (DDCA) will be retitled Director-General
of Civil Aviation and Deputy Director-General of Civil Aviation
respectively. Title of the five Assistant Directors in the
Department will be changed to Assistant Director-General,
while the four Deputy Air Traffic General Managers will
be renamed Chief Air Traffic Control Officers.
"As the Head and Deputy Head of CAD,
DCA and DDCA are the key officers representing Hong Kong
in liaison with other aeronautical authorities, the International
Civil Aviation Organisation and other civil aviation related
agencies. In the conduct of business with these bodies,
CAD's experience is that the existing post titles of DCA
and DDCA do not properly reflect their status, duties and
responsibilities.
"This is so because many aviation
administrations use the titles 'Director-General of Civil
Aviation' and 'Deputy Director-General of Civil Aviation'
for their heads and deputy heads respectively, whereas the
titles of Director and Deputy Director are often used for
their division heads. This misrepresentation of titles affects
the smooth conduct of business, such as attendance at international
conferences, panel meetings and ceremonies.
"The aviation administrations of over
60 places are already headed by Directors-General of Civil
Aviation. These include the more prominent ones such as
the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Japan, as well as
Hong Kong's neighbouring authorities including the Mainland,
Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam. Hong Kong is an international
and regional centre of aviation. The adoption of the new
titles will better reflect the status of Hong Kong in the
international aviation community," a spokesman for
the Department explained.
As for the Chinese titles of the Head and
Deputy Head of CAD, they will remain the same.
UK Experts: HK Air Traffic Operation
Safe
December 8, 2000
The air traffic control operation (ATC)
in Hong Kong is safe and of a high standard, a team of experts
from the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (UKCAA)
concluded after conducting a four-day review of the ATC
system in Hong Kong.
"The air traffic controllers at the
Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) have been doing a
remarkable job since the opening of the airport. As in the
case of other major airports, the HKIA has experienced some
ATC incidents. However, in our judgement the rates of ATC
incidents at the HKIA are comparable with what could be
expected from the ATC operations at similarly sized international
airports.
"We have reviewed all the incident
reports and conclude that they were mainly technical losses
of standard separation which posed no risk to safety. We
also conclude that there is no discernible pattern that
would indicate problems with the competence of the air traffic
controllers or the safety of the ATC system. The Director
of Civil Aviation encourages the reporting culture and requires
every significant incident to be reported and investigated.
"In our discussions with the airline
operators who fly in and out of the HKIA it was evident
that they were satisfied with the standard of ATC operations.
"We are impressed by the state-of-the-art
equipment and the comprehensive training facilities at the
HKIA. We are of the view that the improvement measures being
taken by the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) are appropriate
and effective," Mr John Dancer, Head of Air Traffic
Services Standards Department of the UKCAA said today (December
8).
The three-member team led by Mr Dancer
has reviewed the management and organisation of CAD's Air
Traffic Management Division, the ATC incidents investigation
procedures, the ATC training and operations during their
stay in Hong Kong.
They have provided a number of constructive
recommendations in the above four areas with a view to further
enhancing operational safety and ensuring a high quality
of service. These include strengthening the organisation
structure, enhancing standards and competence, improving
the training package, and simplifying the ATC incident investigation
procedures.
"We welcome the recommendations made by the UKCAA experts
and are pleased with their confirmation that the ATC operation
at the HKIA and in Hong Kong airspace is safe. We will study
the full report to be submitted by the experts within one
month thoroughly and consider the improvement measures,"
said Mr Albert Lam, Director of Civil Aviation.
UKCAA is the regulatory authority for all
the air traffic services providers in the United Kingdom
and has the required knowledge and expertise for the ATC
review. CAD commissioned the UKCAA experts to review the
ATC system in Hong Kong several months ago as it believed
that it was opportune that a review be undertaken to ensure
that Hong Kong is well prepared for the challenges brought
about by the anticipated traffic growth in the forseeable
future.
PLA & US Military Join CAD
in Search and Rescue Exercise
December 6, 2000
Expert units from the Hong Kong Garrison
of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) joined forces with
the United States military specialists during a short range
search and rescue (SAR) demonstration organised by the Civil
Aviation Department to the south of Lamma Island today (December
6).
"The demonstration was part of an
annual search and rescue exercise (SAREX) to provide continuation
training and familarisation in SAR technique for SAR qualified
air traffic controllers, aircrew and other units likely
to be involved in such operations. A total of 11 units participated
in the SAREX this year," a spokesman for the Department
said.
Today's exercise involved aerial search
demonstration by a Z9 helicopter from the PLA, which also
provided a naval ship to serve as a winching platform. In
addition, there was rescue demonstration of a simulated
casualty by a HC130 aircraft from the United States Air
Force (USAF) Air National Guard, followed by water winching
demonstrations by a S70 helicopter from the Government Flying
Service (GFS) and a HH65 helicopter from the United States
Coast Guard (USCG).
The demonstration was observed by more
than 100 SAR experts. They included representatives from
the Mainland, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the
Philippines, Vietnam and local observers from the Airport
Authority Hong Kong, the Civil Aid Service, the Fire Services
Department (FSD), the Hong Kong Police Force (Marine Region)
and a number of airlines.
Before the activation of this short range
demonstation, the SAR aircraft involved in this year's SAREX
were on display at the Hong Kong International Airport this
morning. They included one HC130 aircraft from the USAF,
one P3 aircraft from the United States Navy (USN), as well
as a Jetstream J41 aircraft and a S76 helicopter from the
GFS. Also on display was the diving equipment of the FSD.
"As part of the annual event, a long
range SAR exercise will be held tomorrow (December 7) to
test the alerting procedures, coordination and communication
facilities of the various participants.
"It will be activated this evening,
simulating an aircraft in distress about 100 nautical miles
to the south of Hong Kong. A PLA search vessel, a USCG Cutter
and several search aircraft will be dispatched to the area
tomorrow morning to search and locate the targets (represented
by basketballs tied together) in the South China Sea,"
the spokesman added.
Apart from the PLA, this exercise will
also be participated by the USAF, the USCG, the USN and
the GFS.
SAREX 2000 began yesterday and will last
until December 8 (Friday).
UK Experts to Review HK Air Traffic
Control System
December 3, 2000
A team of experts from the United Kingdom
Civil Aviation Authority (UKCAA) commissioned by the Civil
Aviation Department (CAD) to review its air traffic control
(ATC) system will conduct the exercise in Hong Kong starting
from tomorrow (December 4) till Friday (December 8).
"The purpose of the exercise is to
conduct an independent assessment on various aspects of
the system, including organisation structure, operational
procedures and manning, training and standards, as well
as investigation of ATC incidents. The objective is to further
enhance operational safety and ensure a high quality of
service.
"Hong Kong's ATC system has gone through
a period of significant changes consequent upon the relocation
of the airport. Having settled down in its present mode
of operation since the opening of the new Hong Kong International
Airport, it is opportune that a review be undertaken to
ensure that it is well prepared for the challenges brought
about by the anticipated traffic growth in the foreseeable
future.
"CAD is committed to providing ATC
services of the highest standard, in order to ensure safe,
efficient and orderly air traffic within Hong Kong's Flight
Information Region. The review will help the Department
achieve this objective," a spokesman for the Department
said.
UKCAA is the regulatory authority for all
the air traffic services providers in United Kingdom, and
has the required knowledge and expertise for the task. The
review team will be led by the Head of Air Traffic Services
Standards Department of the UKCAA, with two other members
from the Air Traffic Services Regulation and Licensing Departments
of the same institute.
CAD investigates air traffic control
incident
November 28, 2000
In response to press enquiries today (November
28) on an air traffic control (ATC) incident which happened
on November 15, a spokesman for the Civil Aviation Department
confirmed the occurrence and said that there was no risk
of collision between the two aircraft involved in the incident
and an investigation was being conducted to establish the
causal factors.
"Safe operation is always the prime
objective of the Department. Air traffic controllers are
requested to continue to maintain a high level of vigilance
and take every possible step to ensure flight safety,"
the spokesman said.
The incident occurred around midnight on
November 15 at approximately 36 nautical miles south-southeast
of the Hong Kong International Airport. There was a loss
of standard separation between a departing Airbus 330 aircraft
and an arriving Boeing 737 aircraft. When the two aircraft
were 11 nautical miles apart the air traffic controller
involved had noticed the possible conflict and ordered corrective
actions accordingly. The pilots of both aircraft had the
other aircraft in sight all the time during the incident
and had resorted to corrective actions to avoid each other.
There was, therefore, no risk of collision involved.
At their closest, the two aircraft were
1.4 nautical miles apart and the vertical distance was 500
feet instead of the standard separation of five nautical
miles or 1,000 feet.
"The Department is committed to providing
ATC services of the highest standard and will ensure a safe,
orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic. It has taken
and will continue to take all necessary steps to prevent
recurrence of such incidents. Measures already implemented
include strengthening of staff supervision, recurrent training
for licensed controllers using the simulator, enhancing
traffic monitoring and rationalising the workload of air
traffic controllers," the spokesman added.
The air traffic controller involved in
the incident has been withdrawn from operational duties
whilst the investigation is in progress.
Air Traffic Controllers Essential
to Aviation Achievements
November 22, 2000
About 100 air traffic controllers from
17 civil aviation authorities in the region attended the
17th Asia Pacific Regional Meeting of the International
Federation of Air Traffic Controller's Associations (IFATCA)
held in Hong Kong today (November 22). Bearing the theme
of "Air Traffic Control into the Future", the
meeting will last until Friday (November 24).
Ms Sandra Lee, Secretary for Economic Services
said at the opening ceremony of the Meeting that it was
a great honour for Hong Kong to host the 17th Meeting. She
noted that the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) had
now recorded strong growth in both passenger and cargo throughputs
after a year of downturn as a result of the Asian financial
turmoil, and the HKIA had been the world's busiest international
cargo hub since 1996. She said these impressive performances
owed no small part to our air traffic controllers, who were
in the heart of our airport operations.
"Hong Kong is well placed to continue
to be an international and regional aviation centre. Hong
Kong is blessed with a favourable geographical position
and is also a gateway to China. With China's imminent entry
into the World Trade Organisation, Hong Kong stands to gain
tremendously from the expected increase in air travel and
air freight in the region.
"Hong Kong is committed to progressive
liberalisation of Hong Kong's air services market to expand
our aviation network and promote competition. We also have
a first-class airport and a team of high-calibre and dedicated
air traffic control (ATC) staff. We will continue to invest
in their recruitment and training, and the provision of
equipment to enable them to make the full use of their expertise,"
Ms Lee said.
She added that the Hong Kong Civil Aviation
Department (HK CAD) had embarked on a number of projects
to improve the provision of ATC services, and this demonstrated
the importance Hong Kong accorded to aviation safety and
efficiency.
Talking about those projects, Mr Albert
Lam, Director of Civil Aviation and one of the officiating
guests at the opening ceremony, noted that the construction
of the Backup Air Traffic Control Complex (BATCX) at the
HKIA was completed in August 1999, and the associated equipment
was installed and successfully tested in December 1999.
Following the completion of a thorough training and familiarisation
programme, the BATCX is now available for contingency use.
Apart from serving as an operational backup, the facilities
are also used for ATC training.
"We have also installed a Precision
Runway Monitor, which has been thoroughly tested and was
accepted in March this year. Operational evaluation is in
progress. We expect to commission the equipment for operational
use early next year to optimise the benefits of dual runway
operation.
"Moreover, in line with global developments,
HK CAD is undertaking a project on Communications, Navigation,
Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) Systems. It
is a big project of major operational significance and is
expected to take some 20 years to complete. Trials are now
being conducted on some elements of the systems. We are
dedicated to moving forward and working hard to be one of
the forerunners amongst civil aviation authorities in the
world in the implementation of the new systems," he
said.
Finally, Mr Lam noted that he was pleased
to see the Hong Kong Air Traffic Control Association had
taken the initiative to host the Meeting in Hong Kong. He
added that it is important for HK CAD's air traffic controllers
to maintain contact with their counterparts in other countries
to ensure that Hong Kong maintains its position as a key
international and regional aviation centre.
CAD Well Prepared for Safety Audit
November 12, 2000
The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) has
been well prepared for the Safety Oversight Audit to be
conducted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation
(ICAO) in Hong Kong between November 17 and 24, a spokesman
for the Department said today (November 12).
The audit team will assess the effectiveness
of Hong Kong's civil aviation safety oversight system in
ensuring the implementation of the ICAO provisions in personnel
licensing, operations of aircraft and airworthiness of aircraft
through local legislation, operational regulations and safety
inspection/audit programmes.
"To adequately prepare for the audit,
CAD set up a specific Working Group about a year ago to
carry out an intensive review of the existing safety oversight
system. Primary aviation legislation, policy documents,
operational regulations and procedures were thoroughly scrutinised.
"An internal audit and an industry
briefing were also completed in May and August 2000 respectively,
the result of which indicated that our preparation for the
audit was satisfactory," the spokesman said.
Safety oversight is a function by which
ICAO Contracting States ensure the effective implementation
of the safety-related Standards and Recommended Practices
and associated procedures contained in the Annexes to the
Convention on International Civil Aviation and other guidance
documents published by ICAO.
Through the audit programme, ICAO aims
at determining the degree of compliance of a Contracting
State in implementing ICAO Standards; assessing a Contracting
State's adherence to the ICAO Recommended Practices, associated
procedures, guidance material and safety related practices;
and determining the effectiveness of a Contracting State's
implementation of a safety oversight system, through the
establishment of legislation, regulations, safety inspection
and auditing capability.
Among the 185 ICAO Contracting States,
89 of them have been audited to date since the audit programme
came into effect on January 1, 1999. Although Hong Kong
comes under Mainland China as an ICAO Contracting State,
it was agreed amongst ICAO, the Mainland authorities and
the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government that
a separate audit would be conducted in Hong Kong.
Titles of CAD Senior Management
to Change
November 10, 2000
To align with the internationally accepted
protocol and to properly reflect the status, duties and
responsibilities of the senior management personnel of the
Civil Aviation Department (CAD), the English titles of 11
directorate officers in the Department will be changed with
effect from January 1, 2001, the Gazette announced today
(November 10).
Director of Civil Aviation (DCA) and Deputy
Director of Civil Aviation (DDCA) will be retitled Director-General
of Civil Aviation and Deputy Director-General of Civil Aviation
respectively. Title of the five Assistant Directors in the
Department will be changed to Assistant Director-General,
while the four Deputy Air Traffic General Managers will
be renamed Chief Air Traffic Control Officers.
"As the Head and Deputy Head of CAD,
DCA and DDCA are the key officers representing Hong Kong
in liaison with other aeronautical authorities, the International
Civil Aviation Organisation and other civil aviation related
agencies. In the conduct of business with these bodies,
CAD's experience is that the existing post titles of DCA
and DDCA do not properly reflect their status, duties and
responsibilities.
"This is so because many aviation
administrations use the titles 'Director-General of Civil
Aviation' and 'Deputy Director-General of Civil Aviation'
for their heads and deputy heads respectively, whereas the
titles of Director and Deputy Director are often used for
their division heads. This misrepresentation of titles affects
the smooth conduct of business, such as attendance at international
conferences, panel meetings and ceremonies.
"The aviation administrations of over
60 places are already headed by Directors-General of Civil
Aviation. These include the more prominent ones such as
the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Japan, as well as
Hong Kong's neighbouring authorities including the Mainland,
Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam. Hong Kong is an international
and regional centre of aviation. The adoption of the new
titles will better reflect the status of Hong Kong in the
international aviation community," a spokesman for
the Department explained.
As for the Chinese titles of the Head and
Deputy Head of CAD, they will remain the same.
Civil Aviation (Insurance) Order
(Commencement) Notice 2000
November 3, 2000
The Secretary for Economic Services has
appointed December 15, 2000 as the day on which the Civil
Aviation (Insurance) Order shall come into operation. The
appointment is effected by the Civil Aviation (Insurance)
Order (Commencement) Notice 2000, which is published in
the Gazette today (November 3). The Notice will be tabled
before the Legislative Council on November 8, 2000.
"When the Order comes into operation
on December 15, all civil aircraft, whether operating commercial
or non-revenue flights, will be required to have a combined
single limit (CSL) insurance cover for liabilities in respect
of five items, namely third party, passenger, baggage, mail
and cargo liabilities. This will provide greater protection
for third parties, passengers and shippers," a Government
spokesman said.
For many years, the Government has implemented
an administrative requirement under which aircraft engaged
in commercial flights must carry insurance for third party
liability, although their insurance may cover other liabilities.
Aircraft engaged in non-revenue flights, such as private
or corporate aircraft, are not subject to the requirement.
The Order will provide a more solid enforcement
framework to cover the five items concerned. It will also
extend the insurance requirement to cover aircraft engaged
in non-revenue flights since an aircraft, whether engaged
in commercial or non-revenue flights, may cause damage in
the event of an accident.
Under the Order, the minimum levels of
CSL under the existing administrative requirement (ranging
from US$25 million to US$1 billion depending on aircraft
weight) will continue to apply. The only change is the addition
of a US$15 million minimum CSL level for light aircraft.
This new level is to ensure adequate insurance cover while
not imposing an excessive burden on light aircraft operators.
The Order was made by the Chief Executive
in Council on May 16, 2000. It is to come into effect on
December 15, 2000, in order to provide a grace period for
aircraft operators to comply with the new requirements.
Before the Order was made, the Government had consulted
the Legislative Council Panel on Economic Services, the
Aviation Advisory Board, the International Air Transport
Association and the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers. All
of them consider the new insurance requirements acceptable.
Increased passenger and cargo services
offered by airlines
November 3, 2000
The Director of Civil Aviation, Mr Albert
Lam today (November 3) showed several Members of the Legislative
Council (LegCo), most of whom are members of the Panel on
Economic Services, the air traffic control (ATC) operation
at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and the state-of-the-art
equipment used in training Air Traffic Control Officers
(ATCOs) to ensure a safe and efficient flow of aircraft
movements in and out of Hong Kong.
Mr Lam also took the opportunity to explain
to the Members the comprehensive training programmes offered
to the ATCOs. "All of them are required to be properly
licensed for discharge of their duties. Their training is
adequate and up to international standards. Refresher training
through the use of simulator has also been arranged for
radar controllers," Mr Lam said.
"To further enhance operational safety
and ensure a high quality of service, the Civil Aviation
Department (CAD) has recently engaged the United Kingdom
Civil Aviation Authority (UKCAA) to carry out a review on
the Hong Kong's ATC system in December. The purpose of the
exercise is to conduct an independent assessment on various
aspects of the system, including organisation structure,
operational procedures and manning, training and standards,
as well as investigation of ATC incidents," Mr Lam
told the LegCo Members.
"Periodic review of the ATC systems
is a practice adopted by many advanced countries. Now that
Hong Kong's ATC system at the new airport has been in operation
for over two years, it is opportune to undertake a review.
This will help us to ensure the provision of a high standard
of ATC service," he added.
Mr Lam also briefed them on the work of
CAD in other areas apart from the provision of ATC services.
These include the issue of an Aerodrome Licence to the Airport
Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) for the management and operation
of the HKIA, the certification of Hong Kong registered aircraft,
the monitoring of airlines on their compliance with bilateral
Air Services Agreements, and the regulation of general civil
aviation activities.
Before the Members visited CAD's Air Traffic
Control Complex, they were briefed by Mr Billy Lam, the
Chief Executive Officer of AAHK on current achievements
and future developments of the HKIA. They also visited the
Airport Emergency Centre and the Baggage Handling System
at the HKIA.
The LegCo Members who joined today's visit
included the Hon James Tien, Chairman of the LegCo Panel
on Economic Services, the Hon Leung Fu-wah, the Hon Kenneth
Ting, the Hon Henry Wu, and the Hon Howard Young.
Increased passenger and cargo services
offered by airlines
November 1, 2000
An addition of 64 scheduled passenger and
12 scheduled cargo services to and from Hong Kong are offered
by airlines on a weekly basis in the winter season of 2000/01
(October 29 to March 24), a spokesman for the Civil Aviation
Department said today (November 1).
In the new season, 103 more scheduled passenger
and cargo services are offered per week, but 27 services
are also suspended, thus making the net increase to 76.
Most of the new passenger services operate between Hong
Kong and cities in the Asia-Pacific Region and in the Mainland.
At present, a total of 63 airlines offer
passenger and cargo services from Hong Kong to over 130
destinations worldwide. The total number of flight movements
handled by air traffic controllers has increased to more
than 3,600 per week.
Air Traffic Control Standards Well
Maintained
September 14, 2000
Subsequent to the remarks made by the Director
of Civil Aviation on the recent air traffic control incidents
during a press session at an air traffic safety seminar
today (September 14), the Civil Aviation Department (CAD)
reiterated that air traffic control (ATC) services provided
at the new Hong Kong International Airport remained at a
very high level, and that it would uphold its principle
of recruiting and promoting only the most competent people
to the respective positions in the Air Traffic Management
Division.
"We attach paramount importance to
air traffic safety and every air traffic control incident
is looked into thoroughly, and improvement measures are
implemented with a view to preventing the recurrence of
similar incidents in future.
"If the techniques of individual air
traffic controllers are found to be unsatisfactory, a comprehensive
evaluation of their performance will be made to ascertain
the type of refresher training they have to undergo before
they are allowed to resume operational duties. They will
also be put under very stringent supervision to ensure their
performance is up to the required level.
"With the air traffic controllers
accumulating more experience at the new airport and the
stepped-up monitoring of their performance by senior staff,
we are confident that the standard of ATC services provided
by CAD, which has all along been maintained at a very high
level, will be further enhanced," a spokesman for the
Department said.
CAD Strives to Ensure Maximum Air
Safety
September 14, 2000
Mr Albert Lam, the Director of Civil Aviation
said today (September 14) that the highest standards of
training and operational procedures must be maintained to
ensure maximum air safety.
The above remarks were made by Mr Lam when
he delivered the opening address at the International Federation
of Air Line Pilots' Associations (IFALPA) Asia and Pacific
Air Safety Seminar. Hosted by IFALPA in Hong Kong, the seminar
was attended by over 40 representatives from IFALPA, the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), civil
aviation authorities, the International Air Transport Association,
and airline operators.
"We are all aware of the technological
advances achieved in the modern day cockpit in areas such
as flight management systems and electronic centralised
aircraft monitoring system. These advances have, under certain
conditions, reduced the pilot's workload which is a major
positive factor. However, the 'complacency' generated by
these advances is a subject worths discussing," Mr
Lam said.
Another major discussion item at the seminar
was the Satellite-Based Communications, Navigation and Surveillance/Air
Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) Systems, a subject that is
in the forefront of Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department's
(HKCAD) commitments.
"The CNS/ATM has immense benefits
in enabling aircraft to operate more frequently within their
most optimum flight envelop, while minimising airspace constraints,
and reducing traffic congestion. It also commensurates with
achieving a marked increase in flight safety.
"The further objectives of the CNS/ATM
project are aligned with the government's commitment of
protecting the environment, in that the implementation of
CNS/ATM offers an effective means of reducing fuel burn
and avoiding unnecessary emission from aircraft engines,"
Mr Lam said.
He added that in order to fulfil HKCAD's
international commitment to CNS/ATM, the Department had
coordinated actively with ICAO and other aviation authorities
in the Asia Pacific region in developing new operating procedures
for regional as well as global implementation of the CNS/ATM
technology.
Mr Lam noted that air safety did not only
relate to safety in the air, but also to safety on the ground.
"No matter how advanced the technology becomes, we
must maintain the highest standards of training and operational
procedures to ensure maximum air safety, and, furthermore,
adapt to the changes," he said.
Other discussion items at today's seminar
included runway capacity enhancements, air traffic route
structure and accident analysis.
On closing, Mr Lam said that he looked
forward to future cooperation with all the attendees of
the seminar in other areas of mutual concern, which would
enable Hong Kong, and the Asia Pacific region, to maintain
the highest standards of air safety.
CAD Investigates Air Traffic Control
Incident
August 11, 2000
In response to press enquiries today (August
11) on an air traffic control incident which happened on
August 8, a spokesman for the Civil Aviation Department
said that flight safety was not compromised in the incident
and an investigation was being conducted to establish the
cause.
"Safe operation is always the prime
objective of the Department. Air traffic controllers are
requested to continue to maintain a high level of vigilance
and take every possible step to ensure flight safety, "
the spokesman said.
The incident occurred at about 7:30 pm
on August 8 at about 10,000 feet and at approximately 20
kilometres south-southwest of the Hong Kong International
Airport. There was a loss of separation between two departing
aircraft, both destined for airports in the Mainland. One
of them was an Airbus 321 while the other was a Boeing 757.
At their closest, the vertical distance
between the two aircraft was 500 feet instead of the standard
separation of 1,000 feet. Both pilots had the other aircraft
in sight. The two air traffic controllers involved have
been withdrawn from operational duties pending further investigation.
"The Department is committed to providing
air traffic control services of the highest standard in
order to ensure a safe, orderly and expeditious air traffic
control service. It has taken and will continue to take
all necessary steps to prevent recurrence of such incident,"
the spokesman reiterated.
New Aircraft Descent Procedure
Reduces Noise
August 9, 2000
The Civil Aviation Department today (August
9) announced that all aircraft on approach to the Hong Kong
International Airport from the northeast will be encouraged
to adopt a new descent procedure starting from tomorrow
(August 10) to reduce aircraft noise.
The new procedure, named the Continuous
Descent Approach (CDA), will be used between 11 pm and 7
am by aircraft approaching from the northeast, which typically
fly over Sai Kung, Ma On Shan and Shatin.
"Unlike the conventional approach
procedures, aircraft on CDA will be arranged to approach
from a higher altitude and descend continuously to join
the final approach flight path for the runway being used.
"As aircraft on CDA will fly higher
and normally in a low power/low drag configuration, noise
experienced on the ground will be lowered, and a maximum
noise reduction of about three to six decibels could be
achieved in areas under the flight path such as Sai Kung
and Ma On Shan," a spokesman for the Department said.
Prior to its implementation, extensive
trials on CDA involving aircraft from Cathay Pacific Airways
Limited initially and all other airlines in the final phase
have been conducted with successful results.
"The Civil Aviation Department will
continue its efforts to reduce aircraft noise impact on
the community," the spokesman added.
Improved Helicopter Services Between
Hong Kong and Macau
May 30, 2000
Operational efficiency of helicopter services
between Hong Kong and Macau has been enhanced since the
implementation of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) routes and
procedures from the beginning of May 2000, a spokesman for
the Civil Aviation Department said today (May 30).
"Hong Kong and Macau are amongst the
few places in the world with established IFR routes and
procedures for helicopters serving the two cities,"
the spokesman added.
Before the implementation of IFR routes
and procedures, helicopter services between Hong Kong and
Macau were operated only when weather conditions satisfied
the Visual Flight Rules. Flights were sometimes delayed
or even cancelled due to inclement weather.
"With the implementation of the IFR
procedures, pilots can utilise signals from ground navigation
aids and fly along the designated IFR routes even when the
visibility precludes visual flights. The regularity of the
helicopter service between Hong Kong and Macau is therefore
improved," the spokesman said.
Both the IFR and VFR routes and procedures
are now implemented by Helicopters Hong Kong Limited and
East Asia Airlines, which provide helicopter services between
Hong Kong and Macau. Their applications for implementing
IFR routes and procedures were approved by the Hong Kong
Civil Aviation Department and the Macau Aviation Authority
last month. The IFR routes were checked by the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) and the General Administration of Civil
Aviation of China (CAAC) flight check aircraft before approvals
were granted.
The total number of passengers flying helicopters
between Hong Kong and Macau was over 72,000 last year, which
represented an increase of about 40 per cent when compared
with the figure in 1998.
Three-day Regional Conference on
Aviation Held in Hong Kong
May 24, 2000
The International Air Transport Association
(IATA) Millennium Asia and Pacific Regional Technical Conference
is held in Hong Kong for three days starting from today
(May 24). Over 120 representatives from airlines, international
and airline organisations, the aviation industry and air
traffic services providers attend the Conference.
The Conference is held in two parts, the
first is a business session to meet the governance requirements,
and the second is a symposium for a wider audience. The
symposium, bearing the theme topic of "Exploitation
of the Capabilities of Modern Transport Aircraft",
explores the capability of modern aircraft to enhance safety
and increase operational efficiency.
"Many airline operators have upgraded
their fleets to enable advantage to be taken of the operational
and safety improvements offered by the Satellite-Based Communications,
Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM)
Systems.
"To achieve the maximum benefit of
these capabilities, it is clearly essential that the enhancements
provided by the manufacturers and funded by the operators,
are matched in tandem by air traffic control authorities
through the timely provision of up-to-date air route systems,
associated infrastructure and the corresponding ground elements
of CNS/ATM.
"Through the strenuous efforts of
the International Civl Aviation Organisation (ICAO), IATA,
the airline operators and air traffic services providers,
various trials on the CNS/ATM systems have been conducted.
The Asia Pacific region is one of the most active regions
in the world implementing these new initiatives, "
Mr Albert Lam, the Director of Civil Aviation said at the
opening ceremony of the Conference.
CNS/ATM systems will minimise airspace
constraints and reduce traffic congestion, and this will
enable aircraft to operate within their most optimum flight
envelope, commensurate with achieving a marked increase
in flight safety. In addition, by operating on more direct
routes, a reduction in aircraft fuel consumption is also
feasible. Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department is now conducting
a study and trial of the system for implementation and transition
in 2003-2016.
Mr Lam also urged the attendees of the
Conference to give support and encouragement in maintaining
the present momentum to achieve a safe, economic and expeditious
movement of aircraft around the world.
"We will fully support this aim and
are committed to maintain Hong Kong as a regional and international
aviation centre," he added.
IATA requires that, at two yearly intervals,
Technical Conferences are held in each of the regions. The
guests who attended today's opening ceremony include Captain
Yang Yuanyuan, Vice Minister of the General Administration
of Civil Aviation of China.
CAD Competent to Administer Flight
Time Limitations Scheme
April 7, 2000
In response to recent press reports on
the Flight Time Limitations (FTL) Scheme and criticisms
on the Civil Aviation Department (CAD)'s competency to deal
with aviation issues, a spokesman for the Department said
today (April 7) that the Director of Civil Aviation (DCA)
does have a wealth of experience in aviation administration.
In addition, he is advised by a number of pilots within
CAD's Flight Standards and Airworthiness Division.
Some of these pilots are Flight Operations
Inspectors. They are currently practising pilots, maintaining
their flying recency with both Cathay Pacific and Dragonair
- they hold Hong Kong Airline Transport Pilot Licences,
in addition to the United Kingdom Airline Transport Pilot
Licences and Australian Airline Pilot Licences.
These Inspectors have thousands of flying
hours which include many hours on the very latest Boeing
and Airbus aircraft, in addition to many years experience
in senior management positions with major international
airlines. They have for many years been extensively involved
in Ultra Long Range (ULR) flying, and are currently involved
in ULR flying. Consequently they are eminently qualified
to advise on all pilot matters including crew fatigue.
In addition to the above, there is an accusation
that DCA did not follow the statements made in court by
the Counsels of the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association
and CAD. This is totally incorrect. DCA has followed exactly
the statements made by both Counsels.
Aviation Industry Thoroughly Consulted
on Aircrew Fatigue Rules
April 5, 2000
In response to press enquiries today (April
5) on the Flight Time Limitations (FTL) Scheme, a spokesman
for the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) said that the capability
of today's aircraft to support Ultra Long Range (ULR) operations
had necessitated new guidelines to be developed to help
avoid the onset of fatigue in aircrew, and that the views
of the aviation industry would be fully considered before
the guidelines issued under the Scheme were finalised.
"In order to ensure flight safety
the CAD has been active in promoting new safety requirements
relating to the avoidance of fatigue in aircrews and to
this end, the Flight Time Limitations Working Group (FTLWG)
was established in 1997. The objective of the Group is to
review the existing standard provisions of the FTL Scheme
and frame any necessary requirements to cover ULR operations.
The Group comprises representatives from CAD, locally registered
airlines, the Hong Kong Airline Pilots Association and the
Flight Attendants Union, as well as aviation medical experts.
It meets regularly to monitor the progress of the FTL Scheme.
"Through the efforts of the Group
the new guidelines CAD 371 on the avoidance of fatigue in
aircrews has been substantially agreed. The Group has proved
to be a very useful forum for the aviation industry to examine
the relevant provisions under the Scheme. It will be meeting
again on April 20 to discuss remaining issues," the
spokesman said.
Increased passenger and cargo services
offered by airlines
March 25, 2000
One hundred and forty-seven more scheduled
passenger and cargo services to and from Hong Kong will
be offered by airlines on a weekly basis in the summer season
of 2000 (March 26 to October 28), a spokesman for the Civil
Aviation Department said today (March 25).
In the new season, 162 more scheduled passenger
and cargo services will be offered per week, but 15 services
will also be suspended, thus making the net increase to
147. Most of the new passenger services will operate between
Hong Kong and cities in the Asia-Pacific Region and in the
Mainland.
A new carrier Pakistan International Airlines
will operate scheduled passenger services in the summer
season of 2000 to Karachi, which is a new destination. Starting
from the new season, a total of 63 airlines will offer passenger
and cargo services from Hong Kong to nearly 130 destinations
worldwide.
"With the additional number of scheduled
services offered by airlines, the total number of flight
movements at the Hong Kong International Airport will rise
to more than 3,400 per week. The number of flights handled
by our air traffic controllers per hour will go up from
40 to 45 at the same time to cope with the higher volume
of traffic," the spokesman said.
No Air Traffic Incident Reported
in HK on March 6
March 13, 2000
A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Department
(CAD) today (March 13) said that the air traffic incident
reported in today's Apple Daily was totally inaccurate.
"Contrary to what the newspaper suggested,
there was no unusual event recorded in the Hong Kong Flight
Information Region at 10 pm on March 6.
"Flight calibration work was conducted
at Macau Airport on the night but air traffic in Hong Kong
airspace was not affected. Neither was any helicopter flying
between Hong Kong and Macau affected by such activities.
"Flight safety is always the prime
objective of CAD. The Department takes every step to ensure
a safe, orderly and efficient air traffic control service
is provided," the spokesman said.
Investigation into Air Traffic
Control Incident of January 22 Completed
March 3, 2000
The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) has
conducted a detailed investigation into the air traffic
control (ATC) incident of January 22, 2000, which involved
two civil aircraft operating within the Hong Kong Flight
Information Region (FIR) at approximately 110 nautical miles
east of Hong Kong.
"The Department attaches great importance
to the need to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents
in future even though the investigation concludes that there
was no risk of collision in that incident.
"The investigation reveals that the
radar controller concerned had a satisfactory record of
performance and that this was an isolated incident resulting
from her shortcomings in operating technique. She has been
removed from operational duties and re-deployed to an office
post. She will be placed under close supervision for assessment
of suitability and be required to undergo intensive simulator
training before undertaking operational duties again at
a later date," the spokesman said today (Friday).
Following the occurrence of the incident,
a reminder has been issued to all ATC staff reiterating
that extreme caution and vigilance must be exercised in
handling air traffic. In addition, the Department will organise
refresher training exercises for all radar controllers utilising
the radar simulator to enhance their technique in the handling
of various emergency scenarios. Such exercises will be conducted
on a regular basis to strengthen their expertise.
CAD has also reviewed its ATC systems and
procedures, and confirmed that they are operated in accordance
with the standards and recommended practices of the International
Civil Aviation Organisation. Moreover, the occurrence of
these incidents has nothing to do with the location or design
of the airport. In fact the new equipment and facilities
at the airport have enabled it to operate with world-class
safety standards and efficiency.
The rates of occurrence of loss of separation
incidents for the airport at Chek Lap Kok (0.0029%) and
the Kai Tak airport (0.0023%) are comparable. They are both
relatively low compared with the high aircraft movement
volume here.
"The Department has a well-structured
and comprehensive training programme for ATC staff. In addition,
a stringent proficiency checking system is in place to ensure
a high level of competency and proficiency. In order to
cope with the steady increase in traffic, it will continue
to place great importance on the enhancement of ATC operations,
training, standards and supervision.
"It is the prime objective of CAD
to provide a safe, orderly and efficient ATC service,"
the spokesman stressed.
The two aircraft involved in the incident
were an Airbus A320 aircraft from Singapore to Xiamen and
an Airbus A330 from Kaohsiung to Hong Kong. Both aircraft
were on descent under the control of an Area Radar Controller.
Since the controller concerned did not positively apply
vertical separation between the two aircraft or take prompt
recovery action when they came close to each other, a loss
of standard separation occurred. However, there was no risk
of collision.
Hong Kong Aviation Sector Experienced
Smooth Rollover to February 29
February 29, 2000
Hong Kong's aviation sector experienced
smooth local and CoordinatedUniversalTime rollovers to February
29, 2000, a spokesman for the Civil Aviation Department
(CAD) said today (Tuesday).
"All of the Department's air traffic
control systems/equipment such as radars, communications
facilities and navigation equipment have been functioning
normally since the rollovers. No computer glitches are reported
by the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), the Hong Kong
Air Cargo Terminals Limited, the Hong Kong based airlines
and AAHK's business partners," the spokesman said.
Reports from the International Civil Aviation
Organisation's Regional Y2K Coordination Unit at Bangkok,
Thailand indicated that smooth rollovers were also experienced
in the Asia Pacific Region. Air traffic operations and regional
traffic flows remain normal.
CAD's Y2K Coordination and Control Centre
was opened at 10 pm yesterday to liaise with the neighbouring
air traffic control authorities on the regional rollover
status, and to oversee and monitor the transition to February
29, 2000 for the aviation sector of Hong Kong.
Between midnight and 8.30 am today, there
were 43 flight movements, 19 arrivals and 24 departures,
at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). A total of
467 scheduled flight movements are expected at HKIA today,
being the same as the usual daily traffic.
CAD Explains Air Traffic Control
Issues
January 26, 2000
In response to a press report today (Wednesday)
on the Aeronautical Information Data Base System and the
signing of the Letter of Agreement between Hong Kong and
Shantou Air Traffic Control Units, the Civil Aviation Department
would like to make the following explanations.
The Aeronautical Information Data Base
system (AIDB) is a computer system used by the Civil Aviation
Department to process aeronautical information for use by
air traffic control staff. One of the functions is to check
automatically the air routes flown by flights operating
within Hong Kong airspace.
During Y2K transition period from December
31, 1999 to January 1, 2000, the International Civil Aviation
Organisation (ICAO) had implemented contingency routes in
the Asia Pacific Region. In order to validate these special
routes flown by aircraft, the AIDB system was put on manual
checking mode to ensure that flights were accepted in accordance
with the contingency arrangement.
The AIDB system has been switched back
to the automatic mode after the Y2K rollover and it has
been functioning smoothly since then.
A new Letter of Agreement (LOA) signed
between Hong Kong and Shantou Air Traffic Control Units
will come into effect on February 1, 2000. A LOA between
two air traffic control units specifies the coordination
procedures between them. These include handover position(s),
cruising levels available, separation between aircraft,
communication equipment and coordination requirements, etc.
The LOA between Hong Kong and Shantou has
been in existence for many years. As a result of the enhanced
radar capability in Shantou, improvements to the existing
procedures are now possible and a new LOA has been concluded.
The enhancements include the provision
of more cruising levels between Hong Kong and Shantou, the
reduction of longitudinal separation between aircraft at
the same level from 15 to 10 minutes, and the provision
of more airspace for aircraft requiring weather deviation
to the north on the air route east of Hong Kong. These improvement
measures will increase the capacity as well as operating
efficiency on the air route along the coast of the Mainland.
The air traffic control system in Hong
Kong is ready to cope with all these improvement measures,
while the air traffic controllers have also been thoroughly
briefed to adopt these new procedures.
A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Department
stressed that flight safety is always the prime objective
of the Department, and every possible step is taken to ensure
this is achieved. An extra 12.5 per cent will be deployed
to work in the Air Traffic Control Centre and the Air Traffic
Control Tower during the peak traffic period of the Chinese
New Year to ensure safe, smooth and efficient air traffic
operations.
CAD Investigates Air Traffic Control
Incident
January 25, 2000
In response to press reports today (Tuesday)
on an air traffic control incident on January 22, a spokesman
for the Civil Aviation Department said that contrary to
what was reported in some newspapers, initial findings indicated
that the radar controller attempted to carry out corrective
actions when the conflict was evident.
The incident happened at 4.59 pm on January
22 at about 110 nautical miles east of Hong Kong. It involved
a Dragon Airlines flight HDA437, an Airbus A330 from Kaohsiung
to Hong Kong, and a Silkair flight SLK928, an Airbus A320
from Singapore to Xiamen. The two aircraft were descending
on converging tracks under radar control. At their closest,
they were about 1.3 nautical miles laterally and 900 feet
vertically apart with SLK928 passing behind HDA437.
Prior to the incident the Conflict Alert
system of the Air Traffic Control Radar Data Processing
System sounded, serving to warn the radar controller that
a situation of inadequate separation was imminent. The radar
controller reacted to the warning and attempted to carry
out corrective actions immediately.
"During the course of the incident,
the duty Air Traffic Control Centre supervisor was also
alerted by the Conflict Alert System and he immediately
attended to the situation," the spokesman said.
At the same time the pilots of the two
aircraft were also receiving alerts from their airborne
Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) equipment. The
pilot of HDA437 then reported that his aircraft was clear
of SLK928.
"Based on the relative positions of
the aircraft, the initial finding of the investigation is
that there was no risk of collision," the spokesman
added.
After the incident, the Civil Aviation
Department immediately issued instructions reminding air
traffic control officers of radar control techniques and
requested them to continue to be vigilant and to take every
possible step to ensure flight safety.
The Civil Aviation Department is conducting
a thorough investigation into the incident. The radar controller
concerned has been suspended from operational duties pending
further investigation. The investigation is expected to
take three to four weeks to complete.
Number of Daily Flights to Peak
at Lunar New Year
January 20, 2000
Nearly 600 flight movements are expected
to take place at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA)
on February 4 (Friday), the day preceding Lunar New Year's
Day. This will be an all-time high in the total number of
flights HKIA handles in a single day.
"The number of flight movements expected
on the peak traffic day represents an increase of nearly
30 per cent when compared with an average of 460 movements
a day," a spokesman for the Civil Aviation Department
said today (Thursday).
As at today, 27 airlines have submitted
slot requests to operate 936 additional scheduled and ad-hoc
charter flights during the two-week period from January
29 to February 13, with most of the applications falling
on the period of February 3 to 11. All the requests received
so far have been accepted.
"We are able to cope with such a significant
increase in air traffic because both the South and North
Runways at the HKIA are now in operation. Since the opening
of the North Runway, the number of flights that can be handled
by our air traffic controllers has increased to 40 per hour.
"It is interesting to note that the
record high for the former Kai Tak airport was 483 flight
movements in a single day, which occurred on February 5,
1997. Obviously, the round-the-clock service of the Chek
Lap Kok airport and the availability of two runways can
accommodate a significantly higher air traffic volume,"
he added.
To ensure smooth air traffic operations,
CAD will deploy 12.5 per cent extra staff to work in the
Air Traffic Control Centre and the Air Traffic Control Tower
from February 3 to 11.
Those airlines that have already submitted
slot requests plan to operate flights to 24 destinations
in Mainland China, 11 destinations in Southeast Asia, nine
destinations in Northeast Asia, four destinations in Australia
and New Zealand, and two destinations in the Middle East
and Europe.
The total flight slots allocated for the
two-week period represent a 36 per cent rise over the Chinese
New Year period in 1999. The previous record high of flight
movements in a single day was occurred on both April 2 and
6, 1999, when on each of those days 560 flight movements
took place at the HKIA.
Y2K: Deactivation of Y2K Contingency
Plans by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)
January 1, 2000
"ICAO advised that the Y2K Contingency
Plans were deactivated with effect from 11 am (Hong Kong
Time) in Asia Pacific Region west of the International Date-line
including Hong Kong and its Air Traffic Control neighbours,
Middle East Region and Europe Region," according to
a Civil Aviation Department spokesman.
"Air traffic has not been affected
by the activation of the contingency plans," he added.
Y2K: HK Aviation Sector Experienced
Smooth UTC Rollover
January 1, 2000
"All of Civil Aviation Department's
air traffic control systems/equipment such as radars, communications
facilities and navigation equipment have been functioning
normally since the Y2K rollover. No computer glitches have
been reported by the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK)
, the Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (HACTL), the
Hong Kong based airlines and AAHK's business partners,"
Mr Albert Lam, Director of Civil Aviation said today (Saturday).
Mr Lam has been staying at the Hong Kong
International Airport (HKIA) since last night to monitor
both the Local and the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)
rollover situations of the aviation sector.
"Health checks on all air traffic
control facilities after UTC rollover have been completed.
At 8.30 am, we are in the process of coordinating with our
neighbouring Air Traffic Control Centres for the deactivation
of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)
Y2K Contingency Arrangement for Air Traffic Services. The
resumption of normal services will include the application
of normal longitudinal separation of 10 minutes for aircraft
at the same level, and the cancellation of contingency ATS
route arrangement. The deactivation of the contingency measures
on the whole Asia Pacific Region will be effected through
the coordination of the ICAO Regional Y2K Coordination Unit
(RY2K-CU) in Bangkok," Mr Lam said.
Mr Lam attributed the smooth transition
to the extensive and thorough testing for Y2K compliance
of over 500 systems involved by CAD, AAHK and their business
partners such as all the Hong Kong based airlines, air cargo
operators, ramp handling operators and the aircraft maintenance
agents, etc. He thanked all the staff and parties involved
for their great efforts in ensuring the smooth rollover
of the aviation sector.
CAD spent about $2 million on the Y2K compliance
programme, mainly for the provision of portable power generators,
and contingency communication facilities including satellite
phones, portable HF/VHF transceivers, and PC-based message
switching system, etc.
More than 120 CAD staff are deployed for
Y2K-related duty yesterday and today. They are responsible
for manning the CAD Y2K Coordination and Control Centre
(CAD Y2K CCC) and the Hong Kong China Y2K Air Traffic Management
Centre (HKC Y2K ATMC).
Between midnight and 8.30 am today, there
were 13 flight movements, seven arrivals and six departures,
at the HKIA. A total of 293 scheduled flight movements are
expected at the HKIA today, a reduction of about 35 per
cent of the average daily traffic.
Y2K: HK International Airport runs
smoothly after rollover
January 1, 2000
Hong Kong's aviation sector received no
Y2K failure report since the arrival of the new millennium.
Between midnight and 4 am today (Saturday), there were six
flight movements, five departures and one arrival, at the
Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).
Six arrival movements are expected at the
HKIA from 4 am to 8 am with the next earliest scheduled
arrival at 6.20 am, a cargo flight CX/LH068 from Frankfurt.
There is no departure movement before 8 am.
All of Civil Aviation Department's air
traffic control systems/equipment such as radars, communications
facilities and navigation equipment have been functioning
normally since the Y2K rollover. No glitches are reported
by the Airport Authority Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Air
Cargo Terminals Limited.
The air traffic services Y2K contingency
measures recommended by the International Civil Aviation
Organisation (ICAO) were activated at 10 pm. These include
15-minute longitudinal separation between aircraft flying
at the same altitude and the implementation of the ICAO
Contingency Route Structure. These measures will be enforced
until health checks on all air traffic control facilities
are completed and a region wide deactivation agreement is
reached through the coordination of the ICAO Regional Y2K
Coordination Unit (RY2K-CU) in Bangkok, Thailand.
Reports from the RY2K-CU indicated that
smooth Y2K rollovers were experienced at the airports in
Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan
and Singapore in the Asia Pacific Region. Air traffic operation
in the Asia Pacific Region is maintained at present.
CAD's Y2K Coordination and Control Centre
was opened at 8 pm yesterday to liaise with the local aviation
related organisations and the relevant government departments
to oversee the Y2K transition of the aviation sector. It
will remain in operation until 3.30 pm today to oversee
the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) rollover at 8 am.
Y2K:Smooth Rollover at Hong Kong
International Airport
January 1, 2000
No Y2K failures have been reported by Hong
Kong's aviation sector since the arrival of the new millennium.
Between 10 pm yesterday (Friday) and 1 am today (Saturday),
there were nine flight movements, four arrivals and five
departures, at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).
The last movement at HKIA before the arrival
of the millennium was the departure of Cathay Pacific Airways
Limited's CX 171 to Perth in Australia at 11.08 pm, while
the first movement since the rollover was departure of CX
251 to London in England at 00.32 am.
All of Civil Aviation Department's air
traffic control systems/equipment such as radars, communications
facilities and navigation equipment have been functioning
normally since the Y2K rollover. No glitches are reported
by the Airport Authority Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Air
Cargo Terminals Limited.
The air traffic services Y2K contingency
measures recommended by the International Civil Aviation
Organisation (ICAO) were activated at 10 pm. These include
15-minute longitudinal separation between aircraft flying
at the same altitude and the implementation of the ICAO
Contingency Route Structure. These measures will be enforced
until health checks on all air traffic control facilities
are completed and a region wide deactivation agreement is
reached through the coordination of the ICAO Regional Y2K
Coordination Unit (RY2K-CU) in Bangkok, Thailand.
Reports from the RY2K-CU indicated that
smooth Y2K rollovers were experienced at the airports in
Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan
and Singapore in the Asia Pacific Region. Air traffic operation
in the Asia Pacific Region is maintained at present.
CAD's Y2K Coordination and Control Centre
was opened at 8 pm yesterday to liaise with the local aviation
related organisations and the relevant government departments
to oversee the Y2K transition of the aviation sector. It
will remain in operation until 3.30 pm today to oversee
the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) rollover at 8 am.