XN000022-1974-07-15 — Page 2

KONDAY, JULY 15, 1974.

KORE PARKING BAYS AT HONG KONG AIRPORT

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FOUR MORE AIRCRAFT PARKING BAYS PROVIDING A MUCH-NEEDED MEASURE OF RELIEF TO THE HECTIC TRAFFIC AT THE HONG KONG AIRPORT HAVE RECENTLY BEEN PUT INTO OPERATION.

THE ADDITIONAL BAYS FORM PART OF THE AIRPORT APRON EXTENSION PROGRAMIS.

SITUATED AT THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE APRON, THE NEW PARKING FACILITIES MAKE UP THE FIFTH ROV OF BAYS AT THE AIRPORT. THEY ARE SO DESIGNED AS TO ACCOMMODATE AIRLINERS OTHER THAN BOEING 747 'JUICO' JETS.

AT PRESENT, 'JUMBO' AIRLINERS ARE WHENEVER POSSIBLE ACCOMMODATED IN THE FIRST ROU OF DAYS WHERE, IN HOST INSTANCES, SOPHISTICATED PIERS ARE PROVIDED.

WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE EXTRA BAYS, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PARKING BAYS AT THE AIRPORT HAS BEEN EROUGHT TO 28. HOWEVER, ONLY 22 ARE ACTUALLY IN OPERATION WHILE THE COST ARE EITHER PROVISIONALLY CLOSED FOR REDEVELOPIENT OR RESERVED FOR MANOEUVR ING PURPOSES.

COMMENTING ON THE AVAILABILITY OF THE ADDITIONAL BAYS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT NOTED THAT THE NEW PARKING FACILITIES GO A LONG WAY TOUARDS EASING THE LONG-STANDING PROBLEM OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION OF THE APRON.+

THERE HAVE BEEN OCCASIONS IN THE PAST WHEN AIRCRAFT AFTER LANDING HAVE BEEN COMPELLED TO WAIT ON THE TAXIUAY UNTIL SUCH TIME AS A PARKING BAY WAS VACATED BY A DEPARTING AIRCRAFT.

THE AIRPORT APRON IS CURRENTLY UNDERCOING CONTINUING DEVELOPMENT AND IT IS ENVISACED THAT SOME 35 DAYS IN ALL VILL BE MADE AVAILABLE IN THE YEARS TO COME TO COPE WITH THE EVER- INCREASING NEEDS OF AIRBORNE TRAFFIC.

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HEANWHILE, TO COINCIDE WITH THE OPENING OF THE NEW LINK TAXIWAY CONNECTING THE TARMAC WITH THE RUNWAY - ALL APRON MARKINGS AND GUIDELINES VERE REPAINTED TO A NEW AND IMPROVED DESIGN EARLY THIS YEAR.

GUIDELINES ON THE APRON WERE WIDENED WHILE A NEW TUIN-ARC MARKING WAS INTRODUCED AT THE CENTRE LINE OF THE APRON TO FURNISH BETTER GUIDANCE AND INDICATION FOR PILOTS SEEKING PARKING.

/AT PRESENT, ................