A new automatic control center will replace the existing manual flight guidance system meant for Shanghai's airspace. This will ensure safe and efficient aviation services.

Yesterday, the center's control system passed the on-site assessment test. This indicates the completion of the Shanghai center, one of the country's three newly chartered regional air traffic control centers, the Oriental Morning Post reported.

The system, to begin its operation by the end of this year, will reduce the frequency period between flights and expand the flight volume as well as ensure safe service, officials with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said.

The Shanghai center, with an investment of 692 million yuan (US$84 million), occupies an area of almost 200,000 square meters.

Adopting the Eurocat system with the France-based Thales Group, it will be able to handle 1,500 flights, thrice the existing manual guiding system's capacity. Its radar system will cover the entire control region, with the ability of  receiving information from 24 radars.

In addition to the previous CAAC's east China region, the six air control regions in Shanghai, Jinan, Hefei, Xiamen, Nanchang and Qingdao will be integrated with the new Shanghai-based regional control center.

Along with the other two centers in Beijing and Guangzhou, the Shanghai center will cover 70 percent of China's middle and high airspaces.

(Shanghai Daily October 28, 2004)