and charter flights on licence from the Air Transport Licensing Authority, Hong Kong.
Hong Kong continues to maintain its position as an important centre for maintenance and overhaul of aircraft. The Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co., Ltd. numbers among its customers aircraft operators from India, Pakistan, Burma, Indo-China and Indonesia. It has fully equipped workshops and a staff of qualified aeronautical engineers and mechanics. Minor repair work on small aircraft is carried out by the Far East Flying Training School, which also provides training for pilots and aeronautical engineers. Examinations and the issue of licences are the responsibility of the Department of Civil Aviation.
Air traffic has shown no marked change since the cessation of air communication with China in 1949. The number of aircraft on international flights in 1951 was about 5,200, carrying 75,000 passengers to and from the Colony. In addition there was much local flying, particularly military, with a total average of some 85 aircraft movements daily.
There has been no increase in the landing and accommodation charges for aircraft, which continue to be levied in accordance with the Air Navigation (Fees) Directions of 1948. These regulations are, however, obsolescent and are in the process of being redrafted to conform with those in use by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in the United Kingdom.
Two major accidents to civil aircraft occurred during the year, both with total loss of life and both to Siamese-registered aircraft. One was a Pacific Overseas Airlines DC.4, which crashed into a hillside on Hong Kong Island in conditions of low visibility during take-off, and the second, a Siamese Airways Dakota which plunged into the sea off the east coast of Hong Kong Island when attempting to land at night in restricted visibility and low ceiling. The first accident was attributed to pilot error; the second is still under investigation.
Meteorological Services
The Royal Observatory was founded in 1883, primarily with the object of providing typhoon warnings for the Colony; this is still its most important function. Storm warning bulletins are distributed by radio to shipping and aircraft whenever a tropical cyclone is located in the northern part of the China Sea or off the China coast. the Colony itself is threatened by a typhoon, the local storm warning system is brought into use, and local warnings are distributed as widely as possible by means of visual signals, radio, telephone, and Rediffusion.
When
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