CAD responds to media enquiries concerning aircraft's burst tyre on arrival
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The CAD is committed to ensuring aviation safety and will not compromise on the matter.
A pilot of an arriving flight, while taxiing, informed the Air Traffic Control Tower at 11.34am on January 13, 2018, that another arriving flight on the taxiway, a Thai Airways aircraft, had smoke from a suspected burst tyre when it was vacating the runway after landing. Based on information gathered, CAD staff informed the Thai Airways pilot concerned that one of the tyres on the starboard side of the aircraft might have burst. The pilot confirmed that the aircraft concerned could taxi to the parking stand without any assistance.
Having assessed the situation, the CAD's professional air traffic control officer immediately informed the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) in accordance with established procedures for arranging a runway inspection. CAD staff carefully assessed all the information gathered at that time, including the tyre damage was mild with confirmation from the pilot concerned and the aircraft operation was not affected. Moreover, if there was debris, it was likely to be far away from the landing zone of the runway. Following a comprehensive assessment and based on professional judgment, CAD staff concluded that the occurrence would not affect aviation safety and there was no imminent need to close the runway concerned immediately. In accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines, CAD staff informed all flights which were about to land at Hong Kong International Airport on the essential information on aerodrome conditions, i.e. that there was possible tyre debris on the runway.
AA staff immediately conducted a runway inspection after receiving the notification from the CAD. The inspection was completed at around 11.50am and some debris was removed from the right hand edge of the runway at a considerable distance from the landing zone.
According to established procedure, it is not a must to close the runway whenever foreign object is found on the runway. It depends on the actual operating scenario, impact on flight safety and the seriousness of the incident. The decision made by the CAD was a professional one based on prevailing safety risk assessments. It conformed with the established procedures and was in full compliance with the ICAO's guidelines. Flight safety was not affected throughout the occurrence. Far from ignoring foreign objects on the runway or shifting responsibility, as alleged by an individual media report, the CAD and the AA complied strictly with established procedures and were in close communication and collaboration with each other regarding this occurrence. There is absolutely no question of facilitating air traffic flow at the expense of flight safety.
Ends/Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Issued at HKT 22:28
Issued at HKT 22:28
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