XN000022-1977-07-24 — Page 6

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SUNDAY, JULY 24, 1977

+AS THE FLIGHT PROGRESSES ALONG THE ROUTE (WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS AN AIRWAY), IT REPORTS ITS POSITION AND ALTITUDE OVER A SERIES OF MANDATORY REPORTING POINTS AND ALSO ITS ESTIMATED TIME OVER THE NEXT CHECKPOINT AFTER RECEIVING A POSITION REPORT, THE

COMMUNICATOR WILL DISSEMINATE IT TO THE CONTROL AUTHORITIES AND THE AIRLINE CONCERNED, HE ADDED.

THE COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE ALSO ASSISTS BY RELAYING WEATHER INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM AIRCRAFT AT SPECIFIC REPORTING CHECKPOINTS ALONG THEIR FLIGHT PATH, TO THE METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE SO THAT OTHER FLIGHTS MAY BE MADE AWARE OF POSSIBLE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS

IF CONSIDERED NECESSARY.

ANOTHER FACILITY PROVIDED BY THE CENTRE IS THE BROADCAST SERVICE, AT 30-MINUTE INTERVALS, COMMUNICATORS BROADCAST WEATHER REPORTS AND FORECASTS CONCERNING HONG KONG AND OTHER REGIONAL AIRPORTS. AIRCRAFT FLYING WITHIN 1,000 MILES OF HONG KONG ARE ABLE TO MONITOR THIS WEATHER INFORMATION.

AT PRESENT, THE COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE IS MANNED ROUND-THE-CLOCK BY A TOTAL OF 70 QUALIFIED STAFF.

+AS A COMMUNICATOR, ONE HAS TO REMAIN ALERT AT ALL TIMES AND BE QUICK TO RESPOND TO EVENTUALITIES,+ MR. CHU STRESSED.

+THIS CHALLENGING JOB NO LONGER REMAINS THE SOLE PROVINCE OF MEN HOWEVER FOR THE FIRST TIME, FOUR YOUNG WOMEN HAVE RECENTLY COMPLETED THE INITIAL ONE YEAR COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNICATIONS TRAINING COURSE, THEY ARE NOW COMPETENTLY PERFORMING IDENTICAL DUTIES TO THOSE OF THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS, + HE ADDED.

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