China's aviation administration will strictly limit the operation
of passenger jets that are not equipped with a second-generation
airborne collision avoidance system (ACASII) starting Friday.
The measure aims to decrease the possibility of jet collisions
following the tragic collision last week in southern Germany
between a cargo plane and a passenger jet.
A
document from the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China
(CAAC) said passenger jets without the ACASII system are not
allowed to take off or land between 8 am and 9 pm at major domestic
airports including Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou and
Shenzhen beginning July 12.
Such jets will also be forced to fly below the attitude of 8,400
meters (27,559 feet) along some busy air routes.
The ACASII system alerts pilots to the presence of any
transponder-equipped aeroplane in the vicinity and provides
assistance in the detection and resolution of potential
conflicts.
The equipment is designed to operate independent of ground-based
systems used by air traffic controllers for the prevention of
collisions.
The CAAC document said planes have increased dramatically in recent
years and such conditions pose great difficulties to air traffic
regulation.
The ACASII system would help correct the errors neglected by ground
radar systems, and avoid possible collision tragedies, the document
reads.
Statistics at CAAC show that most domestic airline fleets have the
collision avoidance system, though some need to be upgraded. Some
small planes, which operate for short distances, are still not
equipped with ACASII.
China had promised in December 2001 that domestic commercial jets
would be equipped with ACASII before 2004 to strengthen aviation
safety, and had announced a concrete implementation schedule for
it.
From January 2002, all turbine-powered aeroplanes that have a
maximum certificated take-off mass in excess of 15,000 kilograms
(33,069 pounds) or that are authorized to carry more than 30
passengers, must be equipped with an ACASII system.
Starting January 1, 2004, all turbine-powered aeroplanes that have
a maximum certificated take-off mass in excess of 5,700 kilograms
(12,566 pounds) or that are authorized to carry more than 19
passengers should follow suit.
(China
Daily July 9, 2002)