Intense concentration is the name of the game for the team of air traffic controllers on duty at Chek Lap Kok
Nothing provides a more vivid illustration of Hong Kong's claim to be a city that never sleeps than the airside operations zone at Chek Lap Kok. Long after midnight intercontinental passenger flights await clearance for takeoff, cargo-laden freighters hurtle down the runways and private jets whisk late-departing celebrities or business tycoons off on another overseas jaunt.
Even between 3am and 4am there can be 10 to 15 movements an hour and, as dawn approaches, the pace really starts to pick up. From 5am onwards the first of the day's scheduled long-haul arrivals are making their final approaches and, soon after, early-bird shuttles and regional short-hauls are beginning to taxi out, ready for departure.
It is a scene of near-constant activity and, of course, one which requires expert monitoring and precise choreography. And two nights out of every 10, as dictated by his department's standard roster, responsibility for that falls to Carl Modder. A senior air traffic control officer with the Civil Aviation Department and, more specifically, aerodrome supervisor at Hong Kong International Airport, Mr Modder has reached a point where the routines associated with the overnight shift have become almost second nature. He was quick to emphasise though that, day or night, the job itself is never less than demanding.
It takes intense concentration and a sense of calm authority to oversee the movements on two runways, while remaining fully aware of the weather, changing schedules and the overall traffic situation. Climbing to the control tower therefore means entering a high-pressure work environment, where every decision is important and every instruction has to be clear and concise. Specifically for the night shift, Mr Modder explained, there are 16 controllers on duty, fewer than the 36 for mornings and 32 for afternoons in view of the comparative traffic volumes.
They are divided into specialised teams. Those in the tower supervise take-offs and landings on the two runways, monitoring each flight on screen and by line of sight. The others are on approach control and short-range radar, or area control and long-range radar. Taken together, this covers the full extent of Hong Kong's airspace up to the northern boundary with the mainland and about 360km towards the neighbouring sectors overseen by Taipei, Manila and Sanya.
