Rapid growth in Hong Kong helicopter use continues

[Heliport]

Extract from China View report
HK to promote helicopter services

HONG KONG, Dec. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government is in search for a permanent heliport site to meet the high demand, as domestic helicopter service in Hong Kong has been witnessing a rapid growth in the past 10 years.

The volume of helicopter movements for tourism purposes increased 20 percent each year in the past 10 years and the helicopter movements in the first 10 months this year reached 4,000, 30 percent up over last year's same period.

Secretary for Economic Development and Labor Stephen Ip Shu-Kwan says the government is collaborating with the Chinese mainland to discuss the landing and taking off fee in hope of widening the service over the border.

Ip made the remarks at the inauguration ceremony of the new West Kowloon Heliport Sunday.

A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Department said "it is believed that the development of domestic helicopter services will enhance Hong Kong's role as a regional and international aviation center."

Full report here. (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2003-12/08/content_1219700.htm)

[Flying Lawyer]

Is the newly opened West Kowloon Heliport on the site of the old Kai Tak Airport? I can't think where else they'd put it on Kowloon side.
The end of the old runway used to jut out into the harbour - it would be a good location as well as giving spectacular views.

[moosp]

The new heliport is on the reclamation to the West of Tsim Sha Tsui peninsula, so west of the Star Ferry. It is to replace the much more convenient Central helipad which is being closed to allow even more harbour reclamation. (South China Morning Post passim).

Glad that someone in Government has come out and noticed that HKG needs a heliport. 60 million population of the Pearl River Delta is a great catchment area for short range transport.

Now all we need is to get immigration to stop charging like a stuck pig for any business aviation out of HKG. Progress is slow, but it is progress.

[cl12pv2s]

I would be grateful if someone flying in Hong Kong would email me priavately.

I am coming out to Hong Kong soon and would love to get in touch. Any contact details for any operators would be appreciated.

Also, would be interested in getting a handle on employment prospects for someone with permanent ID card and quite a few hours.

Cheers

[Captain Lai Hai]

The two commercial operators are

1.Heliservices
2.Heli HongKong

All the info for both operators available on the net.
Don't know what the prospects for full time employment are like at the moment.

The costs for cross border flights are as Moosp advised a little on the high side
We recently quoted a client HK$60,000.00.
Hong Kong to Shenzhen or somewhere in that vicinity a maximum of about 30 minutes flight time including the return.
Of that HK$55,000.00 was goverment charges
(both sides) customs immigration ground handling etc etc.

Hong Kong has only one approved commercial rooftop helipad located on the Peninsula Hotel.
http://www.heliservices.com.hk/bank/jpgs/pen_pad.jpg

There was no consideration given for a permanent helipad at HK
Chek Lap Kok International airport in its design and planning stages.
Instead operators have to use the Business jet facility which is about a five to ten minute drive from the terminal requiring the pax to go through security again etc and pay charges intended for the handling of business jets that are high and completely unnecessary for Helicopters.

The New West Kowloon Heliport is more remote and much more difficult difficult to access for local clients and tourists alike.

And the pollution is getting increasingly worse the last 3 days have been special VFR less than 3000m visiblity caused by industrial pollution politely referred to as haze from the adjoining Guongdong province.



Hope you don't mind the added pic. We could do with some more pics of Hong Kong - hint. ;)Heliport