Hkg Atc
Dear Dragair 69
The responses that you have prompted clearly shows that there are many simmering frustrations amongst HK ATC that only need a little stir to become a boiling cauldron of anger and irritation. However we are all professionals and I agree we should not allow such issues to affect our operational performance.
To return to the original post concerning your ‘valid inquiry’. Now that you have provided some more information I hope I can provide you with rational and logical reasons/excuses/alibis as promised.
Are you aware of Hong Kong AIP Supplement A04/06 Introduction of Final Approach Radar Director Service at Hong Kong International Airport (or more likely, has your company told you about it) ? This states that Hong Kong Director (119.5) will closely monitor arriving traffic on intermediate and final approach and apply speed control to ensure the required spacing is achieved to maximize runway utilisation. Then look at the RWY 25L/25R ILS chart - the speed control is to cross 5 DME not less than 150 kt. Therefore the Director may retain arrivals until they have passed 5 miles from touchdown to ensure correct spacing and wake turbulence separation. On a good day with room to spare, the Director may transfer arrivals to the tower at 6 or 7 mile final.
Therefore your inquiry at 5 / 6 miles (different posts have different distances), the controller’s reply, then a transfer to tower a couple of seconds later, could be explained thus: the approach controller wanted to keep you on his frequency to maintain spacing with preceding or following traffic until ATC speed control was no longer applicable, at which time he transferred you to the tower. (Please note that this is one possible reason – there are many other scenarios involving dodgy winds, GFS or flight check aircraft.)