Air Traffic Management

The Air Traffic Management Division (ATMD) is responsible for the provision of air navigation services to civil aircraft operating within the Hong Kong Flight Information Region (HKFIR). These services include air traffic services, and search and rescue (SAR) co-ordination. With a mission of providing safe, reliable and sustainable air navigation services, and maintaining efficient and orderly air traffic operations within the HKFIR, the ATMD is also responsible for training air traffic control (ATC) personnel, providing aeronautical telecommunication services and designing ATC procedures.

As air traffic gradually recovers from the pandemic, the ATMD will continue to closely monitor traffic growth and provide safe and efficient ATC services in a dedicated and professional manner.

Air Traffic Operations

During this financial year, there were a total of 373 675 aircraft movements at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) handled by the ATMD. In addition, the division handled 346 014 overflights transiting the HKFIR (57 253 of which were flights into and out of Macau International Airport). The number of aircraft movements and overflights increased by 20.22% and 19.76% respectively year on year.

Runway Capacity

With the commissioning of the Three-runway System (3RS) at the HKIA, the ATMD will progressively increase the runway capacity to meet the air traffic demand of Hong Kong as an international aviation hub.

Validation and Revalidation Examinations of ATC Officer Ratings

Flight safety is of paramount importance in the ATC field. To ensure that the CAD maintains the safety standard, the ATMD's Training and Safety Section administered validation examinations for the issuance of initial ATC qualification to Student Air Traffic Control Officers (SATCOs) through a well-established mechanism. The ATMD's Operations Section also conducted regular revalidation examinations to verify the standard and competencies of rated Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs). In the past year, a total of 237 validation and revalidation examinations were conducted across the four ATC streams, i.e. Aerodrome Control, Approach Control, Terminal Control and Area Control. Additionally, the ATMD conducted examinations for other ATC-related qualifications and issued certificates to those who attained these qualifications, such as ATC Meteorological Reporter Certificates, On-the-job Training Instructor Certificates and Flow Control Certificates.

Recruitment and Training of ATC Staff

Recruitment of Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs) and Air Traffic Flight Services Officers (ATFSOs)

To identify suitable candidates with potential in ATC and ensure they receive proper training, the ATMD's Training and Safety Section has established a comprehensive recruitment procedures and training plan for ATC staff. During the 2024-25 financial year, a total of 24 SATCOs were recruited and joined CAD in batches. The next round of recruitment exercises will be launched in the upcoming financial year, with a target of recruiting approximately 30 SATCOs and ATFSOs III in total.

In addition, the ATMD periodically reviewed relevant tests used in recruitment exercises for various posts to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of recruitment operations. Since 2023, a new computerised recruitment tool has been deployed to speed up the SATCO recruitment process.

As at March 31, 2025, there were 349 ATCO grade and 138 ATFSO grade established posts in the CAD.

Training of SATCOs

To equip SATCOs with the required aviation knowledge, a series of well-designed training will be arranged for them after they have joined the ATMD. They are required to complete a training programme comprising a number of modules at different stages. This will enable them to perform operational ATC duties independently upon completion of the programme. SATCOs will have to undergo induction training to acquire basic aviation and ATC knowledge first. They will then attend courses on basic ATC and flying knowledge as part of their professional training.

The basic ATC course aims to impart fundamental ATC knowledge and skills to SATCOs through both theoretical and practical training, in order to meet the training requirements set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Over the years, the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy of the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has been providing local Basic ATC Courses for the SATCOs. As of the end of March 2025, a total of 72 SATCOs have completed this local course. Courses on basic flying knowledge will also be arranged to broaden SATCOs' exposure to various aspects of ATC operations from the perspective of airspace users and enhance their understanding of the basic principles of aircraft operations. As of the end of March 2025, a total of 58 SATCOs have completed the basic flying knowledge training, which included ground lectures and simulator flying, provided by a local organisation.

To attain the ATC professional qualifications, SATCOs will then attend specialised ATC rating courses. In addition to classroom learning, there are practical simulator exercises in the ATC Surveillance Simulator or the Control Tower Simulator. Subject to satisfactory performance in the simulator practice, SATCOs will be given on-the-job training at operational working positions. During the training, SATCOs must meet the required standards to perform the ATC duties independently before they can be recommended for initial qualification checks.

Upon passing the initial qualification check, a SATCO will progress to an ATCO III. To become a fully-qualified air traffic control officer, i.e. an ATCO II, further specialised ATC rating training is essential. It normally takes around five to seven years for a SATCO to become an ATCO II.

Continuous Training for ATC staff

To ensure an uninterrupted supply of qualified ATC manpower, the ATMD has developed a well-crafted training programme for ATC personnel. The training programme is reviewed regularly to ensure operational needs are fulfilled and the anticipated air traffic growth can be coped with.

During this financial year, the ATMD conducted 31 professional ATC training courses and issued 120 ATC ratings or professional ATC qualifications.

Furthermore, advanced training in various aspects, including SAR, quality management, safety management and air traffic flow management, was also arranged for the ATC staff to equip them with the requisite knowledge for specialised duties.

Given the importance of air traffic controllers' abilities to handle high volume of traffic and emergency situations, the ATMD arranged regular refresher simulator training in the year to ensure the competencies of controllers and trainees under on-the-job training in handling various situations.

New ATC and Flight Procedures

ATC Operational Procedures for the Three-runway System

In preparation for the commissioning of the 3RS operations, ATC operational procedures in support of 3RS operations were further refined and incorporated into the comprehensive Conversion Training Programme for ATC personnel, which were completed in October 2024. The transition to 3RS operations on November 28, 2024 was smooth and seamless, and 3RS operations have been safe and efficient so far.

Application of Approach and Departure Path Monitoring to Support future 3RS Operations

The use of Approach Path Monitoring (APM) and Departure Path Monitoring (DPM) by the CAD to detect departures and arrivals at the HKIA that deviate from the pre-defined flight paths has been very effective in preventing controlled flight into terrain since their implementation in 2019. New APM and DPM parameters for new flight procedures in support of 3RS operations have been deployed alongside the 3RS system implementation in November 2024 to monitor flights into and out of the HKIA.

Deployment of Digital Tower Facilities to Enhance Safety and Efficiency in the HKIA

Digital Tower Facilities (DTF) were launched in the ATC Towers at the HKIA in July 2022. Equipped with ultra-high resolution cameras strategically positioned throughout the HKIA, the DTF provide real-time panoramic views to the ATC personnel supplemented with augmented features such as correlation of flight data with aircraft and vehicle images. The inclusion of high-performance panoramic views in the DTF has significantly improved situational awareness for the ATC personnel, particularly in challenging conditions such as low-light and adverse weather scenarios. As a result, this enhancement has effectively bolstered the safety and efficiency of the ATC operations at the HKIA.

To support 3RS operations, additional cameras offering real-time views for the Centre Runway and the associated taxiways were introduced to provide full coverage of the HKIA.

Based on 3RS operational experience and feedback collected, several adaptive adjustments had been deployed to improve the overall performance of the system. Together with the introduction of the new Runway Monitor Indicator (RMI) function, runway safety has been further enhanced.

Design and Validation of Instrument Flight Procedures for 3RS

In preparation for the commissioning of 3RS operations in November 2024, the ATMD collaborated with local airline operators to complete a series of ground validations on the new instrument flight procedures (IFPs), including flight simulator evaluation and safety risk assessment workshops. The flight validation of the full set of 3RS IFPs, which was also successfully completed in September 2024, marked a crucial milestone in the readiness of the new IFPs to support 3RS operations.

The 3RS was officially commissioned on November 28, 2024. The commissioning ceremony held on that day was highlighted by three planes taking off from and landing on the three runways simultaneously. In particular, the staged inaugural pair of departures taking off from the Centre Runway and South Runway simultaneously garnered public attention. It not only showcased that the new IFPs was meticulously designed to achieve operational safety and efficiency, but also symbolised that airport capacity was increased to meet the growing demand in air transport.

Air Traffic Services

Co-ordination with Local Airspace Users

To promote flight safety, the Hong Kong Sector Flight Safety Committee comprising local airspace users continued to meet regularly to co-ordinate flight safety issues in the local low-level airspace. These local airspace users include fixed wing operators and rotary wing operators (the Government Flying Service, the People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison (the Hong Kong Garrison), Sky Shuttle Helicopters Limited, Heliservices (Hong Kong) Limited and the Aviation Club of Hong Kong, China), Hong Kong Paragliding Association and private aircraft owners.

To ensure that all aviation stakeholders were well-informed of and adequately prepared for the transition to 3RS operations in November 2024, a number of Stakeholder Engagement Briefings were conducted by the ATMD before the commissioning of the 3RS. Relevant aeronautical information was published around five months prior to the commissioning. Subsequently, a series of briefing sessions were conducted to engage aviation stakeholders, including local and foreign airline operators, as well as key aviation organisations such as the Airline Operators' Committee and the International Air Transport Association. These briefing sessions provided detailed information of the 3RS operations to aviation stakeholders, ensuring their clear understanding of the transition timeline, new IFPs and operational expectations.

Aeronautical Search and Rescue (SAR) Co-ordination

The China Rescue and Salvage of Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China, the CAD and the Air Accident Investigation Authority signed a new Tripartite Agreement on Search and Rescue and Salvage of Crashed Aircraft on August 12, 2024. This new agreement, which was jointly amended and updated by the three parties, would effectively strengthen co-operation on SAR and salvage of crashed aircraft, and improve communication and technical information exchange among the three parties.

The ATMD continued to provide regular training opportunities for SAR-qualified ATCOs through tabletop SAR exercises to maintain their expertise in this area. Additionally, SAR procedures had been updated with the application of the Location of an Aircraft in Distress Repository (LADR). The LADR serves as a crucial component of the Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System (GADSS) and requires participation from all members of ICAO. These initiatives demonstrated the ATMD's commitment to advancing aviation safety and air accident response capabilities on a global scale.

Aeronautical Information Management

The Aeronautical Information Management Centre (AIMC) is responsible for the provision of aeronautical information to the aviation community in the form of aeronautical information products necessary for the safety, regularity and efficiency of air navigation. Aeronautical information products provided by the AIMC include Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP), AIP Amendment, AIP Supplement, Aeronautical Information Circular, Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) and aeronautical charts. The AIMC is also responsible for processing flight plans for flights departing from the HKIA. All aeronautical information products are available on Hong Kong Aeronautical Information Services website (www.ais.gov.hk).

In the year, the AIMC handled 1 140 184 NOTAMs and 201 956 flight plans.

Telecommunications Services

The Aeronautical Network Centre (ANC) offers reliable, high quality and efficient telecommunication services for the exchange of air traffic service (ATS) and operational meteorological messages in support of air navigation services. In addition, the ANC provides a 24-hour aeronautical broadcasting service by means of voice and digital dispatch to aircraft in flight for acquiring latest weather information necessary for flight operation. To ensure safe network security of the ATC systems, the ANC monitors firewall systems in real time and provides a 24-hour network security alerting service.

With the continuous growth in air traffic, the number of ATS message exchanges had also increased. The number of messages handled by the ANC was 98 195 484, representing a 14% increase over the previous year. On aeronautical broadcasting service, the number of operational meteorological messages handled by the broadcasting system and dispatched to aircraft in flight was 356 476.

For the implementation of the Common Aeronautical Virtual Private Network (CRV), the ATMD further expanded its network infrastructure. In March 2025, the existing legacy point-to-point circuit connected to Macao was migrated to the CRV. Alongside the existing CRV circuits with Beijing, Bangkok and Manila, etc., the overall efficiency and reliability of the Aeronautical Fixed Service have been further enhanced.

Air Traffic Flow Management for Asia-Pacific Region

The CAD has been actively participating in harmonising the Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) with other Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) in the Asia-Pacific region. Working hand in hand, the CAD and the relevant authorities in Singapore, Thailand and the Chinese Mainland jointly developed the Distributed Multi-nodal ATFM network, a concept of Common Operational Procedure (COP) for the ATFM applicable to the Asia-Pacific region. The ICAO also adopted this concept in establishing a framework of cross border ATFM in the Asia-Pacific region with the participation of many Asia-Pacific countries, such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia and Korea.

The primary ATFM measure in the COP is the use of the Ground Delay Programme (GDP). It regulates the air traffic flow by allocating Calculated Take-Off Time to offset airborne delays, so as to solve the imbalance between demand and capacity of the airport and airspace caused by weather or other unexpected events. Flights could be managed in a more organised manner, thus reducing fuel consumption and environmental pollution.

The CAD continues to act as a bridge between Northeast and Southeast Asia so as to promote the air traffic flow management in the Asia-Pacific region and enhance the air navigation services for the entire region.

Air Traffic Management in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

To consolidate and enhance Hong Kong's status as an international aviation hub and to support the development of a world-class airport cluster in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), including the 3RS of the HKIA and expansion of other airports in the GBA, the CAD has been collaborating closely with the Air Traffic Management Bureau (ATMB) of the CAAC and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Macao Special Administrative Region (AACM) through the Tripartite Working Group (TWG) on ATM matters in the GBA. This collaboration aims to jointly formulate appropriate measures, with a view to optimising the operational efficiency of all airports in the region. Over the years, a number of ATM enhancement measures have already been implemented, enhancing air traffic flow and efficiency in the GBA and facilitating air traffic in the region to develop sustainably in a safe and orderly manner.

In the year, the TWG held eight face-to-face or online meetings at various hierarchical levels to continuously enhance ATM initiatives. In June 2024, the TWG held a high-level ATM meeting in Zhuhai and made key progress in various aspects, including taking forward ATM optimisation measures and laying groundwork for the future development in the GBA. The TWG reached a consensus on the planning needs of peripheral air routes, including establishment of new air routes and transfer of control points, joint construction of an airspace simulation model and assessment of airspace enhancement plans. The TWG also carried out a feasibility study on the application of advanced air navigation technologies to explore the feasibility of developing a more flexible ATM mode by utilising more precise navigation performances of modern aircraft, with an aim to maximise the use of GBA airspace resources.

The CAD will continue to take forward ATM optimisation measures and the 3RS development in accordance with the directions of the National 14th Five-Year Plan and the Outline Development Plan for the GBA to further strengthen and enhance Hong Kong's status as an international aviation hub.

Safety Management System

To mitigate and minimise safety risks during daily operations, the ATMD has implemented a comprehensive Safety Management System, with an aim to prioritise safety, enhance the safety culture within the division, and continuously improve safety performance in Hong Kong airspace. Through a risk management approach, various activities such as safety data collection and analysis are conducted in order to proactively identify potential safety issues. Appropriate risk mitigation measures and corrective actions may then be implemented in a timely manner to prevent safety related events.

The ATMD continuously monitors safety performance and compiles quarterly summaries, which are reviewed by the Air Traffic Management Standards Office, an independent regulatory office of ATM-related matters. Additionally, an internal audit programme is in place for various key functional areas of the ATMD to ensure all operations are up to standards and safety management requirements.

Upon the commencement of 3RS operations in November 2024, the ATMD will continue to uphold safety risk management principles in managing various on-going air traffic enhancement plans related to the 3RS project at the HKIA and other initiatives in the HKFIR to ensure that identified risks are mitigated properly.

Overseas Aeronautical Meetings and Conferences

Being one of the prominent ANSPs in the Asia-Pacific region, the ATMD is dedicated to maintaining continuous and close collaboration with other ANSPs in the region through active participation in a variety of conferences and workshops convened by the ICAO, the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) and other civil aviation authorities. In January 2025, the CAD and CANSO co-hosted the CANSO Asia Pacific Safety Workgroup (SWG) and the Operations Workgroup (OWG) Meetings Technology Planning Retreat at the Asia World-Expo, which brought together 90 participants from 17 international organisations and leading corporations. The Retreat focused on a wide range of technological solutions such as digital information management and implementation.

In the year, the ATMD also participated in various international meetings and forums to discuss emerging ATM initiatives such as Flight and Flow Information for a Collaborative Environment, as well as advancing significant ATM improvement initiatives like the enhanced longitudinal spacing on specific airways in the Asia-Pacific region.