On 30th January 2023, as invited by Macau Geophysical and Meteorological Bureau (DSMG), Macau International Airport Company Limited (CAM) coordinated with various airport entities to join the professional exchange online meeting with Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) together with DSMG for the discussion on aviation meteorological equipment, information collection, and related technologies in both Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and Macau International Airport (MIA), focusing on the application for air traffic control and airport operations. Four meteorological experts from HKO attended the exchange meeting. There were altogether 16 professional representatives from Macau side including Civil Aviation Authority (AACM) of Macao, DSMG, CAM, Air Macau and CTM. The main purpose of the meeting is to enhance aviation meteorological information sharing and experience learning, reduce the safety risks brought by severe weather to operations, ensure smooth and efficient airport and airspace operations, and guarantee flight safety.

Weather plays a very important role in ensuring aviation safety and operation, the detection and timely acquisition of weather information and quick notification to air traffic controllers and pilots are crucial for ensuring flight operation and safety. During the meeting, experts from HKO introduced relevant meteorological equipment and facilities around the new third runway of HKIA, they also shared some professional experiences. Upon the request from CAM, HKO also introduced in detail the Global Reporting Format (GRF) implementation and aerodrome thunderstorm warning procedures of HKIA, the system and web page for dissemination of weather information to air traffic service units, etc. Finally, experts from HKO specially thanked MIA for the great assistance in utilizing MIA as the service base of Flight Inspection Center for the flight inspection mission of new equipment and systems for HKIA third runway during the difficult period of the epidemic in Hong Kong in March last year. This laid a good foundation for the timely completion of the test and trial operation of the third runway.

CAM representative Mr. Hoover Hu, Senior Head of ATS Division of Airport Operations Department thanked DSMG for providing high-quality meteorological services to MIA over the years and for providing this opportunity to conduct professional exchanges in aviation meteorology with Hong Kong Observatory. He shared in the meeting the impact of aerodrome thunderstorms and wind shear to the operation of MIA, and expressed that HKO’s sharing was very worthy for MIA as a good reference, especially in the coverage of zoning in airport thunderstorm warning, automatic lightning detection and related safety protection arrangements. CAM would like to discuss with DSMG further in order to revise the relevant operational procedures and reduce the bad impacts of adverse weather on airport operation.

The meeting lasted for two hours with active discussion among all participants. It was a very successful professional exchange meeting and all expected more similar meeting could be conducted in the future!