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CONFIDENTIAL# 2
MEMO
To
Secretary for Economic Services Political Adviser
m
Director of Civil Aviation
Ref.............. .in.
BILAT/132/1C
5-282424 E. 21
Tel. No.
Date.
1st December, 1977
Your Ref.
.in.
7/926119
dated
CAAC Live Crab Flights
Clearance was given for the operation of six of the above flights between Canton and Hong Kong (on November 13th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 19th and 20th) but the last two flights were cancelled because the supply of crabs was exhausted, apparently by heavy shipments to the Japanese market.
2.
The flights were operated by the same crew throughout and consisted of three Captains, two Navigators, one Flight Engineer and two Radio Officers; an unusually large crew, presumably to gain experience.
3.
Some air traffic control difficulties were experienced with the first flight, as the radio-telephony was somewhat sub-standard. When the aircraft was instructed to take a heading of 190 degrees,
"descend to the radio operator read back the instruction twice as flight level 90" (i.e. 9,000 feet). Subsequently the crew failed to understand the instructions "make 360 degree turn" and "orbit"; instead the term "circle" had to be used to make the aircraft carry out an orbit in order to delay its approach to fit into the traffic pattern. As the flights had been restricted to the slack period in the morning and were especially carefully handled by ATC, no risk or delays to other aircraft occurred.
4.
A taxiing difficulty arose on the second flight on the 15th November when the aircraft was marshalled under its own power onto Bay 43 on the freight apron. This operation took approximately 8 minutes due to the apparent apprehension of the Captain in manoeuvring his aircraft in close proximity to the building structure. For subsequent flights, aircraft positioning on the bay reverted to tow in/push back as used on the first flight and no further difficulties were met.
5.
As indicated in previous memoranda on this subject (112 and 119 in this series), it can be expected that the China Resources Co. will ask permission for additional non-scheduled flights to take place beyond (and possibly before) the end of the year limit presently specified in order to carry various commodities as the demand arises throughout the
year.
6.
Under the Air Transport (Licensing of Air Services) Regulations the Director of Civil Aviation is the statutory authority for permitting such flights, and the conditions under which permission is granted are contained in the Facilitation Section of the Hong Kong Aeronautical Information Publication. Copies of relevant pages of these documents
are enclosed.
7.
Approval is normally given to non-scheduled flights which comply with the requirements, the main exception being flights from politically sensitive countries. Permits are issued specific to each individual flight but on the understanding that a series of flights will
It is not be permitted provided there is no breach of the requirements. normal to specify any limiting period, but in the case of a new operator or type of operation a limited period to evaluate the operation is
CONFIDENTIAL #8
機
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SAFE CARE
REGIS
2878
- 2 DEC 10
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G.F. 73C