Hong Kong has selected Thales and regional provider DAS to implement a new instrument landing system to support the expansion of Hong Kong airport.

Six sets of instrument landing systems (ILS) will be installed at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) to support the Three-Runway System (3RS) expansion. An ultra-wide aperture localiser array with 32-element localiser antenna will provide guidance signals to aircraft approaching and landing on the runway in all weather conditions, allowing for improved aircraft landing at HKIA while requiring less equipment safeguarding area.

The new ILS will also support selected runways with Category III operations including Low Visibility Operations (LVO) under foggy/heavy rain conditions. The whole Thales solution has already been deployed at Istanbul New Airport and Ankara Esenboga Airport in Turkey as well as Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport in France.

DAS is responsible for the project liaison and coordination with various stakeholders, overall logistic support, and on-site installation of the ILS project. Both companies have previously cooperated on several aviation projects in the region.

French firm Thales has three joint ventures and employs 2,100 people with offices located in seven cities in China. Thales has established R&D centres and Innovation Hubs in Beijing, Dalian and Hong Kong to develop advanced technology for the Chinese market.

“We are proud to have been selected by the Civil Aviation Department under global open tender as the supplier of new ILS for the HKIA, which is one of the key systems with proven international reference and reliability performance to support operations on the runway. This new selection strengthens our position as a proven airspace solutions provider in Asia and makes HKIA a world reference in terms of navigation aids equipped airport. I am sure the knowledge and experience that Thales is bringing to the project will ensure smooth and reliable operations at the HKIA during aircraft landing,” said Mr Kais Mnif, Navigation and Non-radar Surveillance Global Business Director, Thales.

“We are also delighted to work together with Thales as the local partner for the ILS solution. This project will leverage the strength and expertise of both companies to jointly deliver a world-class critical air navigation service equipment to CAD at the Hong Kong International Airport,” said Angel Cheung, General Manager, Dah Chong Hong – Dragonair Airport GSE Service Ltd.