A report on Apple Daily's online news today (April 9) on the new Air Traffic Management System (ATMS) alleged that:

1. the aircraft symbols of more than a hundred flights turned into small "X" signs at one point and flight directions were not known;

2. the altitude information of an extremely small proportion of flights went missing;

3. the information on the radar screens could not resume normal about an hour after the hitch took place.

     The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) must set the record straight that none of the above was observed at the new ATMS between 11.28am and 11.40am yesterday (April 8). The truth is as follows:

i. none of the aircraft symbols shown on the radar screens of the new ATMS turned into a small "X" sign and the directions of flights were indicated by the aircraft symbols;

ii. during the occurrence, the radar screens of the new ATMS showed the full information of most of the flights, except for a few (eight flights) which could only show their position and altitude information. In other words, the allegation that the altitude information of an extremely small proportion of flights went missing during the occurrence was totally unfounded;

iii. the technical staff switched the ATMS to the Fallback System at 11.40am yesterday, i.e. 12 minutes after the hitch took place, according to standard procedures. The information on the radar resumed normal once the Fallback System was in operation. The information on the radar screens was in no way failed to resume normal about an hour after the hitch took place, as the report suggested.

     Although only the essential information (including their position and altitude information) were shown for eight flights during the occurrence, all flight targets were continuously displayed on the radar screens. Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs), who were all professional and well-trained, were able to keep direct voice communications with the pilots at all times and obtain all of the flight information through Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast technology to provide air traffic control (ATC) services.

     With regard to the photos carried by the Apple Daily's online news, the CAD can confirm that it was not showing the radar screens of the new ATMS. The CAD expressed regret over the fact that the photos concerned may lead to misunderstanding and undermine public confidence in the new ATMS.

Ends/Sunday, April 9, 2017
Issued at HKT 21:42

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