Air Traffic Management Standards Office (ATMSO)
ATMSO is responsible for ensuring that a high standard of safety in the provision of air navigation services in Hong Kong is established, achieved and maintained.
Safety Oversight Activities
ATMSO conducted regular audits and safety inspections on the Air Traffic Management Division (ATMD) and Air Traffic Engineering Services Division (AESD). During the year, a total of 28 audits and safety inspections were conducted.
The safety inspections included Air Traffic Management (ATM) and Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) activities in operations, procedures, training, examinations, Safety Management System (SMS) implementation, ATC equipment/systems, safety occurrences investigations, maintenance arrangement, internal audits and follow-up actions arising from safety recommendations.
As part of its duties, ATMSO participated in the preliminary investigations of all ATC incidents jointly with ATMD investigators to determine the category and severity of the incident. During the year, ATMSO conducted safety review of ATC incidents and joint reviews with ATMD. ATMSO also joined the Accident Investigation Team to participate in the investigation of three serious incidents.
Through the Air Navigation Services Standards Coordination Meeting and the Air Traffic Safety Assessment Committee, ATMSO also regularly reviewed in collaboration with air navigation service provider and the safety personnel of other stakeholders, e.g. Flight Standards and Airworthiness Division, major local airline operators and Government Flying Service, etc., issues pertinent to safety occurrences, the implementation of SMS and safe air navigation service provisions to promote continual development and improvement.
Documentation
ATMSO reviews and updates existing regulatory documents periodically to ensure that they remain accurate, valid and up-to-date. In the report year, the ATMSO had issued amendments to the ATMSO Document Holders List and an Air Navigation Services Information Notice.
ATC Personnel Licensing
In accordance with the standards in ICAO Annex 1 and the requirements of Air Navigation (Hong Kong) Order 1995, ATMSO processed 171 initial awards of ATC Licences, ATC Ratings and Certificates of Competency, as well as 199 renewals of Ratings and Certificates.
Safety Promotion
For safety promotion, ATMSO conducted periodic briefings and issued safety promotion information to the air navigation service providers and the staff of the maintenance services provider on safety culture and SMS to reinforce safety oversight and safety management concepts. In addition, ATMSO regularly published regulatory information and safety management materials on the intranet for convenient access by all air navigation services staff.
