The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) was presented with the Global Safety Achievement Award by the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) today (November 7) in recognition of the significant contribution made by the CAD to improving aviation safety over the last 12 months. The Director-General of Civil Aviation, Mr Simon Li, attended the prize presentation ceremony in Sydney, Australia.

     The Chairman of the Safety Standing Committee of CANSO, Mr David Harrison, noted that the CAD's new Air Traffic Management System (ATMS), which was fully commissioned in November 2016, contained several new safety features to help improve safety and increase efficiency in the Hong Kong Flight Information Region (HKFIR). Since the commissioning of the new ATMS there has been a notable increase in the air traffic volume handled within the HKFIR and an upgrade in the reliability of the CAD's air traffic management services. In sum, Hong Kong's CAD has set new safety standards in air traffic management.

     Mr Li said, "I am glad that Hong Kong can be the laureate of this international award. It is in recognition of the safe and efficient air traffic management services provided by the CAD. In addition, the professionalism and dedication of the CAD staff as well as the safety and effectiveness of the new ATMS have been fully affirmed. The CAD owes this remarkable result to our professional air traffic control staff, engineers and maintenance staff who have been dedicated in discharging their duties and serving the public, regardless of day or night and bad weather. They have been providing us with safe, efficient and quality air traffic management services round the clock. Without them, the new ATMS would not be able to gain international recognition and acclaim within such a short period of time.

     "Air traffic has grown by leaps and bounds both in Hong Kong and the region in recent years. In light of the foreseeable growth in air traffic in the coming years and in preparation of the commissioning of the three-runway system at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), the CAD will continue to upgrade system functionalities and increase manpower to safeguard aviation safety and strengthen Hong Kong's position as an international aviation hub."  

     Since its full commissioning in November 2016, the average number of daily flight movements handled by the new ATMS (including flight movements at the HKIA and overflights) was 2 017, representing an increase of 6.7 per cent when compared with a daily average of 1 890 during the corresponding period a year earlier. The increase was especially notable during the summer holidays (July and August), with a daily average of 2 091 flight movements, representing an increase of 8.3 per cent when compared with a daily average of 1 930 during the corresponding period last year. A new single-day record of 2 341 flights was set on August 24.

     CANSO was set up in 1996 to provide support for the world's air navigation service providers and to hold regular meetings to promote knowledge sharing among the stakeholders, in order to enhance efficiency and safety in air traffic management. At present, CANSO has about 170 regulators, air navigation service providers and related service providers as its members. The Safety Standing Committee of CANSO is responsible for choosing the winner of the 2017 Global Safety Achievement Award from among five nominations in recognition of the significant safety contribution it has made in enhancing aviation safety. The other nominees this year were the United States' Federal Aviation Administration, the United Kingdom's National Air Traffic Services, Switzerland's air navigation service provider Skyguide, and the European Commission's Functional Airspace Block Europe Central.

Ends/Tuesday, November 7, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:46

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