HK aviation chief elected chairman of ICAO Asia Pacific air navigation regional group

Director General of Hong Kong's Civil Aviation, Norman Lo, was elected Chairman of the Asia Pacific Air Navigation Planning and Implementation Regional Group under the UN specialized agency ICAO at the group's annual meeting, Hong Kong's Civil Aviation said Thursday in a statement.

The annual meeting was being held at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Asia and Pacific regional office in Thailand's Bangkok this week.

Under China's membership, Lo was the first Hong Kong representative to be elected to chair this high-level ICAO regional group, which signified international recognition of Hong Kong's leading position in the field of air navigation in the region, said the statement.

Lo's tenure is three years.

"I am very honored to be elected to this important position. The future growth of the global economy also depends upon a robust and sustainable air transport sector. In Hong Kong, we have just hit a record of handling an average 880 arrival and departure flights per day at the Hong Kong International Airport during the month of August 2010," said Lo.

"In the region, the main challenge is to develop a seamless airspace environment to facilitate the continued growth of air traffic in a green, safe, and efficient manner. In parallel, I shall also make every effort to promote the development and implementation of new satellite air navigation systems in the Asia Pacific region during my chairmanship," he added.

The Asia Pacific Air Navigation Planning and Implementation Regional Group was set up in 1991 under the auspices of the ICAO. Currently, it has a membership of 39 Asia Pacific countries and regions.

The group's mandates are to ensure continuous and coherent development and effective implementation of the Asia Pacific Regional Air Navigation Plan and oversee members' observance of international civil aviation safety, regularity and efficiency.

The International Civil Aviation Organization codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth.

Lo joined Hong Kong's Civil Aviation Department in 1977. He was appointed Chief Inspector of Accidents and Director-General of Civil Aviation in April 2004.

Source: Xinhua