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Ella Lee

Stella Lee

Officials dismissed fears about crosswinds and freak gusts at Chek Lap Kok yesterday, saying it had one of the world's most advanced meteorological systems.

 Concerns that the airport's location make it susceptible to strong crosswinds and wind shear, where sudden gusts can unsettle a plane, have been renewed following Sunday's crash.

 The Observatory's assistant director, Yeung Kai-hing, said the airport had state-of-the-art meteorological systems and equipment worth $300 million.

 These included one of the world's most advanced wind-shear detection systems - the Terminal Doppler Weather Radar - which can detect wind shear associated with convective storms.

 'There are more than 40 sets of this system in the United States. But outside the US, Hong Kong is the first to have such a system,' Mr Yeung said.

 Two other detection systems were in place, including a Wind Shear and Turbulence Warning System designed and constructed for Chek Lap Kok.

 Mr Yeung said Observatory scientists at the airport gave meteorological information to air traffic controllers every minute.

 Weather details were then relayed to incoming pilots within 15 nautical miles of the airport and updated between one and three nautical miles from the runway.

 Civil Aviation Department air traffic general manager George Chao Pao-shu said: 'The pilots must decide themselves whether to take off or land in accordance with the information provided.'  The Observatory said it had not issued a wind-shear warning for Sunday evening.

 But significant northwesterly crosswinds blowing almost at a right angle to the runway were recorded at the time of the accident.

 The prevailing wind conditions at the airport that day blew from the sea, not from nearby Lantau peaks.

 There were 11 landings in the two hours before the accident, the last one six minutes beforehand. There were six missed approaches and two diversions during the same period.

 When selecting the Chek Lap Kok site, studies showed the frequency of crosswinds, and safety conditions during those times were well within the recommended guidelines of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, a government spokesman said.

 The studies found that under crosswind conditions, there was only a marginal difference between the old Kai Tak airport and Chek Lap Kok.



Meteorological equipment 'provides one of most advanced detection systems in