The Civil Aviation Department (CAD), together with the Chinese People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison, the Rescue and Salvage Bureau of the Ministry of Transport (RSB) and the Marine Department (MD), the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) and the Government Flying Service (GFS) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, jointly conducted a long-range Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) today (December 12) at a location approximately 50 nautical miles east of Hong Kong in the South China Sea.

     The exercise simulated a passenger aircraft departing from Hong Kong International Airport and disappearing from radar screens. Having assessed the situation, the CAD immediately initiated the established search and rescue (SAR) procedures and co-ordinated with the relevant units to carry out the SAR operation at the most probable areas in search of the aircraft.

     The simulation took place outside Hong Kong waters. Against this backdrop, apart from a helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft of the GFS, a helicopter and two vessels were also deployed by the Garrison and the RSB to take part in the SAR operation.

     About 130 representatives from relevant units participated in the exercise. The exercise began at 9am and lasted for about four hours. The MD and the HKO also rendered help in issuing maritime navigational warning messages and providing weather forecasts respectively.

     In accordance with the requirement of Annex 12 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, a contracting state/administration is obliged to provide SAR services within its designated SAR region. The CAD organises SAREX operations from time to time to strengthen co-operation and co-ordination with other SAR units in SAR operations.

     The CAD will continue to conduct SAR exercises with relevant government departments, organisations and stakeholders to provide pilots, air traffic controllers, air crew and other related units likely to be involved in such operations with continued training to refresh their SAR techniques, so as to ensure quick and effective SAR response in case of an emergency.

Ends/Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:46

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