The Civil Aviation Department yesterday launched the New Air Traffic Management System.
Upon full commissioning by November, it will be able to handle 8,000 flight plans per day and simultaneously monitor 1,500 air or ground targets, representing five times and 1.5 times the existing system.
The capacity makes it fully capable of coping with air traffic growth under the future Three-Runway System at Hong Kong International Airport.
The department said the system is designed to meet the latest international standards on technical, safety and operational requirements.
It has conducted stringent acceptance tests on the new system on a par with international aviation safety management standards.
The independent consultant, UK-based National Air Traffic Services, confirmed the system engineering is safe, stable and reliable, and on a par with good practice in air traffic management centres in other jurisdictions, such as the UK and Singapore.
Secretary for Transport & Housing Prof Anthony Cheung said: "In launching the New Air Traffic Management System, the primary concern of the Government is aviation safety.
"The new system can enhance the Civil Aviation Department's capability in air traffic management and handle the projected air traffic increase to be brought by the development of the Three-Runway System of the Hong Kong International Airport in future."
