Civil aviation authorities are close to finalizing an air traffic
control plan to handle the expected surge of tourist arrivals
during the Beijing Olympic Games and deal with any contingencies.
The color-coded plan - green, blue, yellow, orange and red -
reflects various air traffic scenarios.
Daily air traffic in and out of Beijing during the Games is
expected to surpass that of some of the busiest airports in the
world including London's Heathrow and Paris' Charles De Gaulle.
Beijing Capital International Airport will be "challenged" by
the highest ever number of flights, said Zhang Yuehua, who is in
charge of drafting the scheme.
"An average of 1,150 flights take off and land at the airport
every day now. But during the Games, the number will be between
1,700 and 2,000," said Zhang, deputy director of the operation
management center of the air traffic management bureau affiliated
to the General Administration of Civil Aviation (CAAC).
The air traffic peak will be three days before the Games'
opening ceremony and three days after the closing ceremony, with an
average of 1,900 flights per day, he forecast.
With the third runway expected to be ready next March, Zhang
said the capital airport will have "no problem" handling 1,500
flights per day under the green scheme.
"When the daily movement reaches 1,700 or the capital airport
encounters thunderstorms that last less than an hour, we will
launch the blue scheme, under which additional air routes will be
opened."
If the traffic continues to increase and hit 1,900, or a co-host
city has bad weather, the yellow scheme will be activated.
"Flights that are not related to the Olympic Games will be
suspended, and we will consult with the military to open direct air
routes," he said.
The orange scheme is for situations when the airport encounters
bad weather for several hours.
The air traffic control department will then ask flights to land
in neighboring airports, including Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, Taiyuan,
Hohhot and Dalian, he said.
The red is for unlikely events such as when planes are hijacked
or a terrorism incident.
Besides, the bureau will allot special slots for planes carrying
athletes, officials and Olympic partners every hour; and extend the
operating hours of the airport.
(China Daily July 12, 2007)
