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The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) has completed its investigation on the loss of standard separation incident between an A330 and a B777 that occurred on September 18, 2011. The report has been accepted by the Air Traffic Safety Assessment Committee, which comprises air traffic safety experts from the aviation industry.
The report indicates that operations at the airport were generally manageable, but inclement weather in the Terminal Area airspace was causing flights to deviate and enter the Terminal West Sector airspace. Under the complicated airspace usage, flight operations and weather conditions, the Sector was overloaded and all usable flight levels were occupied within a short time. As a result, the A330 and B777 were assigned the same level to enter the Sector airspace. While the air traffic controller was busy handling priority aircraft deviation calls and requests for approach due to the bad weather, level change for the two aircraft was not effected in time and the controller had to issue avoiding turn instructions to both aircraft for separation. The airline reports indicated both flight crews had identified the other aircraft visually and normal turns were made without the need for a higher turn rate or bank angle. The report confirmed that there was no danger of collision.
The report makes a number of recommendations in respect of air traffic operations, air traffic procedures, flight crew and airline operations, weather forecast and communication with airlines under inclement weather. The CAD has thoroughly reviewed the required improvements and coordinated with airlines and the Hong Kong Observatory in taking actions on the recommended improvements. Among other improvements, new holding airspaces have been established, and enhanced aviation weather forecasts and flow management measures notifications are issued twice daily - in early morning and afternoon - so that airlines will have a better understanding of weather conditions and air traffic arrangements to and from Hong Kong International Airport for planning their flight operations.
Ends/Friday, July 13, 2012
Issued at HKT 11:15
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