ENG-2002 — Page 326

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TRANSPORT

Yangon and Hong Kong, in January. Airfreight Express suspended its scheduled all- cargo services between London and Hong Kong in February. Crossair took over the operations of Swiss Air in April and the airline was later renamed Swiss International Airlines, in August. In October, Japan Airlines took over the operations of Japan Air System in Hong Kong.

Air Traffic Control

The overall air traffic control (ATC) equipment systems continued to perform in a stable and reliable manner during the year. To further enhance the operational efficiency and increase the data processing capacities so as to handle effectively the projected increase in air traffic movements in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta area, a number of major ATC equipment systems underwent an enhancement programme. The enhancement programme is due to be completed in March 2003.

The contract to replace the Route Surveillance Radar (RSR) at Mount Parker, a long-range primary radar, was awarded in May with a ready-for-service target of end- 2003. The refurbishment works began in September.

Under the auspices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a new initiative known as the Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) programme was adopted by Hong Kong and its neighbouring Flight Information Regions (FIR) as well as the Sanya Area of Responsibility with effect from November 1. The RVSM reduced the vertical separation minimum between aircraft operating between altitudes of 29 000 feet and 41 000 feet from 2 000 feet to 1 000 feet. As a result, the ATC can provide aircraft with more choices of cruising levels to achieve better fuel economy and reduce ground delay as well as to enhance airspace capacity and optimise operational efficiency.

To strengthen the ability of the Air Traffic Management Division (ATMD) to cope with the anticipated increase in the volume and complexity of air traffic operations within the Pearl River Delta, the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) appointed the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority to conduct a detailed review in December 2000 of ATC operations in the Hong Kong FIR. Pursuant to the recommendations of the review, the ATMD had reorganised its structure and established a Safety and Quality Section, the primary roles of which were to develop a Safety Management System (SMS) and to oversee its implementation in ATC operations and associated activities in accordance with safety management principles.

To ensure the provision of efficient ATC services in the Pearl River Delta area, the CAD continued to maintain close liaison with the civil aviation authorities of the Mainland and Macau. In 2002, a series of tripartite meetings on ATC operations were held to refine the flight procedures of airports in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Macau, and to enhance ATC coordination among these airports.

Satellite-based Communications, Navigation and Surveillancel Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) Systems

The CAD plans to convert the current ground-based ATC systems to satellite-based Communications, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) systems by around 2016. Given the scale and complexities of the CNS/ATM systems, the work is being implemented in three phases as follows:

Study Phase Trial Phase

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Systems Study and Analysis (1999–2005)

CNS/ATM Trial and Evaluation (2000-2008)

Implementation Phase - CNS/ATM Implementation and Transition (2001-2016)