Technical visit to Hong Kong Air Traffic Control Complex (ATC)

By Melanie Wong and Anson Leung

On 2 April 2009, the MMNC Division’s-SIGAME organized a technical visit to the Hong Kong Air Traffic Control Complex (HKATC) at Chek Lap Kok. HKATC takes a very important role to maintain the safety aircraft operation in our sky. Meanwhile, Hong Kong annual air traffic figures continued to grow significantly. To deal with the growing air traffic, HKATC continues its efforts in maintaining a high standard, stable, and reliable ATC system to support air traffic services.

The visit began with an introduction to the ATC services. The Air Traffic Control Centre, equipped with advanced radar displays and modern communication equipment, provides approach control and area control services to traffic in the Hong Kong Flight Information Region (VHHK/FIR) and Area of Responsibility. The area covers about 276,000 km². Any aircraft entering the control area will be monitored by HKATC.

After brief introduction, we were guided to visit the Control Center and Tower. The Control Center is mainly responding the aircrafts which pass through Hong Kong and land in Hong Kong International Airport. By making use of the modern Radar Data Processing Display System and High Frequency Communications Equipment, ATC staffs provide accurate and effective information to aircrafts to monitor their speed, direction, altitude and etc. The control center is divided into two sections. One is Approach Control and Terminal Control, this section controls aircrafts which depart or approach Hong Kong. Another one is Area Control, it controls the aircrafts which fly at 250,000ft and instructs those aircrafts to contact with next Flight Information Region.

Apart from the control center, ATC have another working place, the Control Tower, which is on the top of the Air Traffic Control Complex. It monitors the aircrafts inside the airport and especially those on Runways. Aircraft taxing, flight plan, clearance for departure aircrafts, taking off and landing are all controlled there.

Here we would like to express our sincere appreciation to the ATC staffs and Civil Aviation Department for their kind arrangement of this visit and gave us valuable information on Air Traffic Control.

Participates showing great interest in the Control Tower

HKATC staff and HKIE Members