Cross-boundary heliport development in Hong Kong
香港跨境直升機場的發展
Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis
Author(s)
Detail(s)
Awarding Institution | |
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Award date | 16 Feb 2009 |
Link(s)
Permanent Link | https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/en/theses/theses(6777c2ae-1a6c-4f52-a1cf-c2c8a70673e5).html |
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Other link(s) | Links |
Abstract
The cross-boundary helicopter shuttle service between Hong Kong and Macau has
experienced continued growth since its commencement in September 1990.
Demand for the service will become increasingly acute as soon as flight paths
between Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region are available. With
continuing demand for cross-boundary helicopter services, the existing
cross-boundary heliport at the Hong Kong - Macau Ferry Terminal (HKMFT) will
soon reach its designed capacity. To keep pace with the burgeoning helicopter
service market, there is a definite need to formulate strategies and plans for the
development of cross-boundary heliports in Hong Kong. The aim of this research
is to develop a comprehensive, generic and practical implementation model for
cross-boundary heliport development and apply it to the Hong Kong situation.
There is so far scant literature available to cover the approach and implementation
model for a heliport development project. This Thesis proposed the Heliport
Development/Implementation Model, which was developed with reference to the
literature reviews on infrastructure and airport development projects and verified
by opinions of experts in the field of aviation and airport development.
There are totally six essential modules in the proposed Model, namely the
Heliport Capacity Determination, Heliport Site Selection, Heliport Facilities and
Safety Management System (SMS) Design, Environmental Impact Assessment,
Financial and Economic Analysis, and Modes of Heliport Development and
Management, which could be integrated for the implementation. Through the
implementation of the proposed Model to Hong Kong, development strategies and
plans for cross-boundary heliports have been formulated. In summary, the
short-term solution for heliport development in Hong Kong is to expand the
existing heliport at the Inner Pier of the HKMFT by adding a new
landing/take-off helipad. The Kai Tak Development Area and the Outer Pier of the
HKMFT are identified as the sites suitable for the medium-term development and
the long-term plan respectively. The heliport development project at the HKMFT is evaluated as viable from the environmental, financial and economic
perspectives. Conceptual plans for the heliport design and a TQM-based SMS
framework are proposed for the development plan, and a public-private
partnership approach is recommended as the mode of heliport development and
management in Hong Kong.
The elements of innovation in this Thesis are on the development of systematic
approaches in the heliport development process including the formulation of an
implementation Model, the development of a systematic and practical approach
for heliport capacity determination, the recommendation of a new structured
approach for heliport site selection, and the formation of a TQM-based SMS for
application in heliport environment. These aside, new and best practices in
heliport development are proposed in other individual modules of the Model. The
proposed Model is comprehensive and generic in its application. With a measure
of caution in its implementation, the Model can be applied to the development of
domestic heliports and other cross-boundary heliport development projects.
Helicopter services have become increasing popular in Hong Kong and elsewhere.
In light of this, there is a great demand for the provision of safe and efficient
heliports to cope with the rising service. The proposed pioneering model as well
as the innovative and new approaches, and best practices for heliport development
presented in this Thesis will become a set of valuable reference material for future
heliport development projects in Hong Kong and other places.
- China, Hong Kong, Heliports