Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao held regular ATC meeting to study on driving forward the PRD Region Air Traffic Management Planning and Implementation

To improve the coordination work for the air traffic management in Pearl River Delta (PRD) Region and to drive forward the PRD Region Air Traffic Management Planning and Implementation, the aeronautical authorities of mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao met in Macao on 18 June 2012 for the 7th Supervisory Working Group Meeting in which the delegates reviewed the working papers for the study of a unified QNH (barometric pressure adjusted to sea level) and a unified measurement for air traffic management in southern PRD, the optimization of the aircraft approach and departure at Macau International Airport, and the information interchange network and the technical implementation of the unified clearance for multi-airports and so on.

In accordance with the direction for a unified standard, the three places wish to eliminate the discrepancies in the measurement units adopted by mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao so as to minimize the calculation work in conversion and the coordination among the air traffic management entities in carrying out the conversion. Therefore, the three places have set up a working group who has then conducted the study of implementing a unified QNH and a unified measurement in southern PRD. The study results indicated that the implementation was feasible.

Influenced by the surrounding conditions on the flight route in Macau International Airport, the present aircraft approach and departure procedures for our airport are restricted by the fact that Runway 34 is always used as the main runway for the procedures. The meeting discussed about the optimization of the flight procedures for the Macao airport, including adjusting the aircraft approach procedures for Runway 16. This will elevate the usage of Runway 16 and concurrently reduce the heavy dependence of air traffic control on Runway 34. The optimization plan will enhance the entire PRD air space usage.

To effectively drive forward the information interchange network and the multi-airport unified clearance system in PRD so as to rationalize the clearance sequence for the departure flights and enhance the efficiency of the air space usage, for the ultimate purpose of reducing flight delays in the airports, the three places have identified the construction direction for the information platform which in the long term, the high-speed broad band information transmission network for the PRD will be constructed. In addition, the three sides have also identified the different-phased construction plan for the multi-airport unified clearance system.

The rapid economic development in the PRD has boosted the air transport demand in the PRD. Despite this, the Region is facing difficulties such as the airports locating close to each other, the air space being limited and the flight procedures for one airport affecting those in other airports. In order to improve the environment for the air traffic management in the Region such that it can cope with the future development of the air transport market, the Air Traffic Management Bureau of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the Civil Aviation Department of Hong Kong SAR and the Civil Aviation Authority of Macao SAR completed in 2006 the drafting of the “PRD Region Air Space Planning and Implementation” targeting for the year 2020. In different phases and based on a unified plan and a unified standard, the three sides aim to gradually set up a rational air space structure, with facilities that are guaranteed to be sufficient, and in the operation mode that can be carried out smoothly, for the air traffic management system in this Region.

The Air Traffic Management Bureau of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the Civil Aviation Department of Hong Kong SAR and the Civil Aviation Authority of Macao SAR met on 18 June 2012 in Macao for air traffic management tripartite discussions to coordinate among themselves on the optimization of the PRD air space resources.