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). The services include air traffic services, and search and rescue coordination. With the mission of providing reliable and sustainable air navigation services, and maintaining efficient and orderly air traffic operations within the HKFIR, the ATMD is also responsible for the training of air traffic control (ATC) personnel, provision of aeronautical telecommunication services and design of ATC procedures.
In a dedicated and professional manner, the ATMD continued to provide safe and efficient ATC services, and meet the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic in the year. In light of the reduction of global air traffic, the ATMD seized the opportunity to augment the training programmes, ATC procedures, and collaboration with neighbouring air navigation service providers to make ready for air traffic recovery. The ATMD also actively participated in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) meetings through online platforms to keep abreast of the latest global aviation development.
Air Traffic Operations
During this financial year, there were a total of 131 211 aircraft movements at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) handled by ATMD. In addition, the division handled 83 710 overflights transiting the HKFIR (8 599 of which were flights into and out of Macao International Airport). Due to the persistence of the pandemic, the aircraft movements at the HKIA and the number of overflights handled by the ATMD had decreased year-over-year by 65.4% and 86.9% respectively. Despite a reduction in total aircraft movements at the HKIA, the number of cargo flights has increased by 24.0% compared with 2020.
Runway Capacity
With the introduction of Enhanced Wake Turbulence Separation between certain aircraft pairs on final approach, the runway capacity at the HKIA increased to a maximum of 69 movements per hour since the end of March 2021.
Validation and Revalidation Examinations of ATC Officer Ratings
Safety is of paramount importance in air traffic control. To ensure that safety standard is maintained, the ATMD’s Training and Safety Section administered the validation examinations for the issuance of initial ATC qualification to Student Air Traffic Control Officers (SATCOs) according to a well-established mechanism. The ATMD’s Operations Section also conducted regular re-validation examinations to verify the standard and competency of rated Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs). In the year, 229 validation and revalidation examinations were conducted in the four ATC streams, i.e. Aerodrome Control, Approach Control, Terminal Control and Area Control. On top of that, the ATMD also conducted examinations and issued certificates for officers who had attained other ATC-related qualifications, such as Assistant Controller Certificates, 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 the ATC aspects and to ensure they are properly trained, the ATMD’s Training and Safety Section has a comprehensive recruitment process and training plan for the ATC staff. A total of 5 ATCOs III were recruited and the ATFSO III and another round of ATCO III recruitment exercises were launched in the 2020-21 financial year. In the coming year, a new round of recruitment exercise for SATCO will also be kick-started, with a target to hire over 20 SATCOs in total.
The ATMD periodically reviewed relevant tests in recruitment exercises for various posts to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of recruitment operations.
As at 31 March 2021, there were 350 ATCOs and 138 ATFSOs established posts in the Civil Aviation Department (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 joined the ATMD. They are required to complete the training programme, which comprises a number of modules at different stages, so as to perform operational ATC duties independently. To start with, SATCOs are provided with induction training to acquire basic aviation and ATC knowledge. They will then attend basic ATC and overseas flying training as part of their professional training.
The basic ATC training aims to impart fundamental ATC knowledge and skills to SATCOs through theoretical and practical training to meet the training requirements set by the ICAO. In the past, these courses were provided by overseas approved training organisations. Since 2019, the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy of the Airport Authority Hong Kong has started to provide local Basic ATC Course. Up to the end of March 2021, a total of 46 SATCOs have completed this local course.
Overseas flying training will also be arranged for SATCOs to broaden their exposure to various aspects of ATC operations from the perspective of airspace users and enhance their understanding of basic principles of aircraft operations. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic and consequential travel restrictions, the CAD suspended the overseas flying training in the year and continued to monitor the latest developments.
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 have to achieve the required standards to perform the ATC duties independently before they can be recommended for initial qualification checks. After passing the initial qualification check, a SATCO will progress to ATCO III. To become a fully qualified ATCO II, further specialised ATC rating training is indispensable. 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 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, 30 professional ATC training courses were conducted and 74 ATC ratings or professional ATC qualifications were issued.
Furthermore, advanced training in various aspects, including air traffic services supervisor, search and rescue, project risk management, coaching and counselling skills, quality management, safety management and instrument flight procedure design, were also arranged for ATC staff to equip them with the requisite knowledge to perform specialised duties.
The ability of air traffic controllers to handle high volume of traffic and unusual situations is always of utmost importance. Despite the significant reduction in air traffic volume due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ATMD arranged regular refresher simulator training in the year to ensure the competency of controllers and trainees under on-the-job training in handling various situations and to prepare for the recovery of the aviation industry.
New ATC and Flight Procedures
Air Traffic Service (ATS) Interfacility Data Communication (AIDC)
Hong Kong ATC Centre has now implemented the AIDC operations with a total of four adjacent ATC centres, namely Guangzhou, Sanya, Taipei and Manila ATC Centres. With the enhanced accuracy brought about by the introduction of the AIDC operation for handling of flight information transfer, air traffic is managed in a safe and more efficient manner. In addition, utilisation of AIDC messages for Transfer of Radar Identification has been adopted between Hong Kong and Taipei ATC Centre. The ATC handling capacity of surveillance operations has been immensely improved. The overall operational efficiency in air traffic management has taken a huge leap forward after the implementation of the AIDC operation.
Implementation of Minimum Safe altitude Warning (MSAW)
To effectively monitor aircraft operating in and out of the HKIA and around Lantau Island and alert ATCOs of any aircraft deviation, the ATMD launched the Minimum Safe Altitude Warning (MSAW) software, a built-in safety net of the Air Traffic Management System (ATMS), in February 2021. Audio and visual warnings will be triggered when an aircraft is at an altitude and distance deviating from the pre-defined parameters towards Lantau Island. ATCOs will then be able to provide terrain alert to the pilot concerned in accordance with the established procedure to avoid accidents.
Implementation of Enhanced Wake Turbulence Separation (e-WTS)
A joint CAD-AAHK initiative was launched in 2018 with the support of the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) to study the applicability of the Eurocontrol Wake Vortex Re-categorisation at the HKIA for enhancement of runway capacity and operating efficiency. National Air Traffic Services (UK) was engaged by the AAHK to conduct the study, with inputs from the ATMD on safety management and air navigation services aspects. The study collated data from flight data recorders, the ATC surveillance and meteorological systems, for analysis of wake vortex formation and dissipation characteristics at the HKIA.
Subsequent to the announcement by ICAO on the new proposal to introduce the e-WTS in April 2019, a review was conducted and indicated that the e-WTS is applicable at the HKIA. The study also concluded that the persistent high level of flight safety at the HKIA could continue to be maintained. According to departmental safety management procedures, the ATMD conducted the ATC staff training, the ATMS parameters adjustments and safety case workshops. Stakeholder briefings attended by over 100 participants from the International Air Transport Association, airlines and the Hong Kong Airline Pilots Association were also conducted in September 2020. On 5 November 2020, the e-WTS was implemented for flights arriving at the HKIA, amongst the first airports in Asia-Pacific to adopt the new proposal. Consequently, the HKIA two-runway system capacity was increased to a maximum of 69 movements per hour in March 2021.
Air Traffic Services
Coordination with Local Airspace Users
To promote flight safety, the Hong Kong Sector Flight Safety Committee comprising local airspace users continued to meet regularly to coordinate safety issues in the local airspace. These local airspace users include fixed wing operators and rotary wing operators Government Flying Service (GFS), Hong Kong Garrison of the People's Liberation Army, Sky Shuttle Helicopters Limited, Heliservices (Hong Kong) Limited and Hong Kong Aviation Club), Hong Kong Paragliding Association and private aircraft owners.
Aeronautical Search and Rescue (SAR) Service
The ATMD maintained close liaison with regional and international SAR authorities and continued to participate in local and international aeronautical SAR meetings. Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a SAR exercise was successfully conducted by the ATMD in December 2020 with the participation of the China Rescue and Salvage Bureau, the GFS, HKO, and Marine Department. The SAR exercise provided participants with valuable experience on the coordination and communication with relevant parties on simulated allocation of SAR resources.
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 the 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.
In the year, the AIMC handled 885 573 NOTAMs and 71 933 flight plans.
To successfully transit from Aeronautical Information Service to the broader concept of Aeronautical Information Management, the CAD will continue to follow the roadmap and guidelines provided by ICAO in a timely manner.
Telecommunications Services
The Aeronautical Network Centre (ANC) offers reliable, high quality and efficient telecommunication services for the exchange of ATS messages and operational meteorological messages to support provision of air navigation services. In addition, ANC provides 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.
In the year, the total number of ATS messages handled by the Air Traffic Message Handling System was recorded at 50 582 942, representing a decrease of 37% as compared with 2019 due to COVID-19 pandemic. On aeronautical broadcasting service, the number of operational meteorological messages dispatched to aircraft in flight was 321 702.
To comply with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices, Hong Kong has implemented the use of ICAO Meteorological Information Exchange Model (IWXXM) for the exchange of aeronautical meteorological information using advanced digital communication technologies since November 2020.
Since the successful implementation of data communication circuit on the Common Aeronautical Virtual Private Network (CRV) with Taipei in June 2020, Hong Kong continued to take active role in the CRV related tasks. In October 2020, Hong Kong has established another CRV circuit with Fukuoka, Japan. The implementation of the IWXXM and growing number of CRV circuits connected with Hong Kong marked a new milestone as one of the key elements necessary for migrating point-to-point communications to System Wide Information Management in future.
Collaborative Decision Making
Integration of Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM) to Departure Release Mechanism
To further enhance the overall operational efficiency of the A-CDM at the HKIA and to streamline the ATC procedures, departure release mechanism for the HKIA was revised on 3 December 2020to implement new system parameters .The overall operational efficiency at the HKIA was found to be improved by the enhanced predictability of flight departure time and optimised utilisation of various resources.
Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) 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 China jointly developed the Distributed Multi-nodal ATFM network, which is a concept of Common Operational Procedure (COP) for the ATFM applicable to the Asia-Pacific region and promoted it to many Southeast Asian countries, such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, etc. This concept is also adopted and established as a framework of cross-border ATFM in the Asia-Pacific region by ICAO.
The primary ATFM measure in the COP is the use of Ground Delay Programme (GDP). It regulates the air traffic flow by allocating Calculated Take-Off Time (CTOT) to offset airborne delay, so as to solve the imbalance of demand and capacity of the airport and airspace caused by weather or other unpredicted events. Flights could then be managed in an organised manner, and fuel consumption and environmental pollution could be reduced.
In the year, the CAD has already conducted several GDP operational trials with neighbouring ANSPs for system and procedure evaluation. At the same time, in order to enhance the efficiency of the ATFM through network expansion, the CAD has been actively negotiating the ATFM procedures with Northeast Asian countries such as Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK), and successfully signed an operational agreement on the ATFM cooperation with Japan Civil Aviation Bureau, while the discussion with the ROK is still ongoing. The collaboration allows the CAD to act as a bridge between Northeast and Southeast Asia so as to provide better air navigation services for the entire Asia-Pacific region.
Air Traffic Management Plan for Pearl River Delta (PRD) Region
To consolidate and enhance the status of Hong Kong as an international aviation hub, and support developing a world-class airport cluster in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), including the construction of the Three-Runway System at the HKIA and the expansion of other airports in the GBA, the CAD has been maintaining close liaison with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Macao (AACM) through the Tripartite Working Group (TWG) to discuss the phased implementation of enhancement measures as stipulated in the PRD Region Air Traffic Management Planning and Implementation Plan (the Plan) with the aim to raise operational efficiency.
Flight procedure and airspace design specialists and other technical experts from the CAD, the CAAC and the AACM continued to work together on the GBA airspace evaluation using the advanced Fast Time Simulation (FTS) software. The project aims to construct an airspace model for the evaluation of future ATC operation in the region. The FTS software could conduct computerised simulation of the GBA airspace model with high authenticity, and provide data and technical support to the expert team to design safe and effective airspace enhancement measures.
Looking ahead, the CAD will continue to follow up with the CAAC and the AACM according to the framework of the Plan in respect of tasks on airspace optimisation, airspace capacity enhancement, operational efficiency and improvement in air traffic flow management. These initiatives would help achieving the ultimate target runway capacity of 102 air traffic movements per hour under the 3RS operation at the HKIA, further strengthening the synergy in the GBA airspace and jointly building an airport economic belt with international influence.
Safety Management System (SMS)
To mitigate and minimise safety risks during our daily operations, ATMD has implemented a comprehensive Safety Management System (SMS), with an aim to prioritise safety, enhance safety culture within the division, and continuously improve safety performance in Hong Kong airspace. Under safety risk management, 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 occurrence of safety related events.
The ATMD monitors safety performance continuously and compiles quarterly summaries, which are reviewed by the Air Traffic Management Standards Office, the regulatory office of air traffic management related matters independent of the ATMD. In addition, there is an internal audit programme for various key functional areas of the ATMD to ensure all operations are up to the standards and the safety management requirements.
The ATMD will continue to apply the safety risk management principles in managing various 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 leading ANSPs in the Asia-Pacific region, the ATMD maintains continuous and close collaboration with other ANSPs in the region in order to ensure seamless integration of important air navigation services upgrades in the aviation industry, such as improvement of airspace capacity and efficiency by enhancing the longitudinal spacing requirement of air routes. In the year, the ATMD continues to actively participated in video conferences and on-line seminars organised by ICAO, the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation and other civil aviation authorities, with the aim to share valuable experience with industry partners on air traffic management matters.