LCQ22: Aviation safety
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Question:
It has been reported that a major air disaster occurred in South Korea in December last year, killing 179 passengers and crew members on board an aircraft, raising global concern about aviation safety. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) as it has been reported that Boeing 737-800, the model of the aircraft involved in the aforesaid air disaster, accounts for approximately 15 per cent of the world's passenger aircraft in service, whether the authorities have compiled statistics on the respective numbers of passenger aircraft of this model owned by the various airlines currently using Hong Kong as an operating base, and the specific information thereof (including the years of service of each aircraft, whether there have been any incidents on flights in the past, and whether safety inspections have been stepped up recently);
(2) whether it has compiled statistics on the number of bird strike warnings issued by the air traffic control towers of the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) in each of the past three years, as well as the number of reports received from flight crews regarding bird strike encounters or potential bird strike encounters; if so, of the details of each bird strike warning or report;
(3) as it is learnt that the aforesaid air disaster has aroused grave public concern about the impact of birds on the landing and take-off of passenger aircraft, what measures are currently being taken by the Airport Authority Hong Kong and the CAD to reduce the impact of birds on the aviation safety in Hong Kong's airspace; whether the authorities and relevant departments will strengthen the existing preventive measures against bird strikes on aircraft, so as to further reduce the risk of bird strikes; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(4) as it has been reported that a concrete wall located about 250 metres from the end of the runway at the airport concerned might have been one of the causes contributing to the eventual crash of the aircraft in the aforesaid air disaster, whether the authorities will consider conducting a comprehensive inspection of the runways at Hong Kong International Airport for the existence of similar potential safety hazards; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(5) as it has been reported that the aircraft involved in the air disaster had operated 13 flights in 48 hours prior to the incident, arousing public concern about whether airlines have sufficient time to conduct routine inspections and maintenance on their aircraft, whether the authorities will formulate measures to step up the monitoring of flight safety for flights to and from Hong Kong, and to ensure that the necessary safety inspections are properly conducted before each flight operation, so as to minimise navigational risks and allay passengers' concerns about aviation safety; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
As the regulatory body of civil aviation affairs, the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) has been strictly regulating the operational safety and airworthiness of all aircraft registered in Hong Kong in accordance with the Air Navigation (Hong Kong) Order 1995 (Cap. 448C) and the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
In consultation with the CAD and the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), the reply to Professor the Hon Chow is as follows:
(1) and (5) Every aircraft registered in Hong Kong is required to comply with the safety and design standards of the ICAO and the civil aviation authority of the State of Design, and must also comply with Hong Kong's airworthiness standards in accordance with Cap. 448C and those issued by the CAD. These include relevant maintenance and operational records.
Currently, there are eight Boeing 737-800 aircraft registered in Hong Kong. To ensure the safe operation of all aircraft registered in Hong Kong, including the Boeing 737-800 aircraft, the CAD will continue to monitor incidents involving various aircraft models, assess the latest developments, and take appropriate follow-up measures in a timely manner.
In addition, in order to strengthen the safety oversight of foreign-registered aircraft, the CAD will continue to conduct safety assessment inspections on foreign-registered aircraft under a risk-based principle to ensure that aircraft operating at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) comply with international safety standards.
(2) and (3) The AAHK and CAD have been closely monitoring bird strike reports and trends at HKIA. According to the Aerodrome Licensing Requirements Document, the AAHK is required to formulate procedures for bird strike hazard assessment at HKIA and implement corresponding control measures. The major bird control measures implemented by the AAHK include:
- a Wildlife Hazard Management Plan has been developed specifically for HKIA based on the ICAO guidelines to control safety risks posed by wildlife (including birds) at the airport. The AAHK also hires bird experts to regularly observe bird activities within the airport and nearby areas, collect and analyse relevant data, and assist in formulating bird control measures to reduce the risk of bird strikes;
- the Bird Control Unit has been established to implement bird control measures, including patrolling the runways and apron every day to ensure that there are no bird activities on the runways and apron and there are no creatures or objects that may attract birds. If Bird Control Unit officers find any bird near the runways or taxiways, they will drive away the birds by means of using horn, emitting strong light, firing crackers, etc. The Bird Control Unit also extends patrol hours during bird migration seasons to strengthen bird control;
- with regard to plantation species and plant maintenance, the AAHK will only grow plant species that are less attractive to birds in the airport area, and will limit the grass height within the airfield area to between 100 millimetres and 200mm to avoid attracting birds;
- contractors have been hired to clean up the garbage in the airfield area from time to time and conduct pest control regularly to avoid attracting birds to enter the airport area;
- bird scaring and deterrent devices have been installed on all runways at HKIA; and
- procedures have been established such that when air traffic controllers or airport staff receive bird strike reports, they will immediately notify relevant parties and personnel.
According to the record in the past three years (i.e. from 2022 to 2024), there was an average of only approximately one bird strike report for every 10 000 aircraft movements each year at HKIA, and none of these reported events had caused serious damage to aircraft. It demonstrated that the above measures are effective in mitigating safety risks. The CAD will continue to review the AAHK's bird control measures to ensure their effectiveness.
(4) The design of HKIA and its operations comply fully with ICAO runway design standards, including equipping each end of the runways with a runway end safety area, and there are no physical barriers near the runways. The AAHK has reviewed the equipment and installations at the runway end safety area and its extended area of HKIA, and confirmed that there are no concrete barriers in place. As for the navigation equipment and essential installations (such as meteorological instruments) that must be installed on the runways and in adjacent areas, they were designed and installed in accordance with the relevant guidance of the ICAO. The structure meets the frangibility requirement to reduce flight safety risks. The AAHK will continue to closely monitor the runways and their surrounding areas, as well as carry out maintenance works as necessary, to ensure that the pavement and surface remain smooth.
Ends/Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Issued at HKT 11:38
Issued at HKT 11:38
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