Aircraft movements totaled 3.4-M in 2006

Aircraft movements in China reached over 3.4 million in 2006, higher by 27 percent compared to 2005, according to the Air Traffic Management Bureau of the Civil Aviation Administration of China. For this year, the ATMB aims to reduce flight delays. Flight on-time performance in 2006 averaged 80.74 percent, lower by 1.12 percent compared to 2005. The bureau also aims to perfect the air traffic management service for the Olympic Games and implement the high altitude airspace radar control in east China. Among the air traffic management safety goals this year is the reduction of flight incidents below 0.15 per 10,000 flights. The ATMB will also continuously enhance civil aviation operation information network construction, and establish a national and regional flight delay coordinating operation program. It will also implement a program to reduce vertical separation in the military and civil aviation and enhance personnel training. It aims to reduce vertical separation above 8,400 meters by August 30 of this year. This year, the ATMB will begin the construction of four regional control centers in Chengdu, Xi’an, Shenyang and Urumqi, and retrofit the Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou (Zhuhai) terminal regions. Revision of 11 regulations and the establishment of aviation regulations for the 2008 Olympics will also be accomplished this year. The ATMB is also focusing on civil aviation weather work to improve air traffic management. The bureau will study the civil aviation weather management system and mechanism, establish a civil aviation weather center, enhance the organizational system of regional weather centers and airport weather stations, and expedite research on a new generation of civil aviation weather systems and the study of high plateau weather.