THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG LIBRARIES Hong Kong Collection gift from Dr. Kan Lai Bing
Aeronautical Communication Services in the Civil Aviation Department Aeronautical communications is one of the essential services in civil aviation. To ensure a safe and efficient air transportation, a high quality communication service is indispensable. The Telecommunications Unit of the Civil Aviation Department is responsible for the exchange of the aeronautical information with the pilots on the aeroplane and the aeronautical communication centres of other airports. The Telecommunications Unit operates with three communication centres, namely the Aeronautical Fixed Centre, the Aeronautical Mobile Centre and the Message Preparation Centre. The services provided in these three centres are mainly supported by the staff of the Aeronautical Communications Officer Grade. In their course of work, the Aeronautical Communications Officers (ACO) are required to make use of various sophisticated equipment such as computers, transmitters and receivers in the commuriication centres to conduct point-to-point communications with adjacent airports, radiotelephony communication with aircraft in flight and broadcast of meteorological information significant to flight operation. S5.EZ3.XC. The Aeronautical Communications Officer Grade ij?!^l2 E' : The ACO Grade comprises the following ranks : Chief Aeronautical Communications Supervisor (Master Pay Scale Pts. 40-44) Senior Aeronautical Communications Supervisor (Master Pay Scale Pts. 34-39) Aeronautical Communications Supervisor (Master Pay Scale Pts. 30-33A) Aeronautical Communications Officer I (Master Pay Scale Pts. 23-29) Aeronautical Communications II (Master Pay Scale Pts. 11-22) Student Aeronautical Communications Officer (Training Pay Scale Pts. 5-6) PurHof^ CACS SACS ACS ACO I ACO II SACO Note : Salaries in 1995/96 figures are on page 4.
To Start as a SACO A person who wishes to join the professional Aeronautical Communications Officer Grade should start his/her career from the rank of Student Aeronautical Communications Officer (SACO), which is a trainee rank. A SACO requires an average 1 1/2 years of training to become an Aeronautical Communications Officer n (AGO II) qualified to perform the basic duties in the communication centres. The pay scales for SACO and AGO H are IPS Pts 5-6 and MPS Pts 11-22 respectively, Le. $8,210 - $8,750 and $13,230 - $23,080 with reference to figures of 1995/96. Entry Requirements (a) (b) Grade E or above in 5 subjects, including English Language (Syllabus B) and Chinese Language in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education, or equivalent; and ability to speak clear and fluent English and Cantonese. Main Duties SACO is a trainee rank. Each SACO undergoes training in the Aerofixed and Aeromobile Communications Centres at the Airport. After satisfactory completion of training, a SACO v/ill be promoted to the AGO II rank. Required to work shifts. Training for SACQ The training for a SACO is divided into two phases each composed of classroom and on-the-job training. The phase I training focuses on the Aeronautical Fixed Service whereas the phase 2 training focuses on the Aeronautical Mobile Service and Aeronautical Broadcasting Service. During the classroom training, both theoretical and practical subjects are covered. Students will be taught the procedures and practices adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), operational computer knowledge, radiotelephony skills as well as broadcasting techniques. Students have to pass the examination of the classroom training before undertaking the on-the-job training in various operating positions in the communication centres. Successful students will be promoted to the rank of Aeronautical Communications Officer II (AGO II).
Training for AGO Grade Staff Because of the professional nature, AGO grade staff are required to go through various training at different stages throughout their career path. Apart from the training based in the Department and local universities and tertiary institutes, the ACOs may be required to attend overseas training and familiarisation or duty visits, which are valuable opportunities for officers to broaden their views and receive advanced technical knowledge in the field of telecommunication. Promotion Prospect for AGO Grade Staff There are good promotion opportunities in the AGO Grade. Ranged from the student rank of SAGO to the senior rank of SACS, professional qualification is the key factor in determining the promotion prospect of an AGO Grade staff member. Starting from the SAGO rank, each staff member of the AGO Grade can go through various training, pass professional examinations and make himself/herself qualified for promotion. The quicker he/she passes the examinations and obtains the professional qualifications, the quicker he/she will be promoted to the higher ranks. In other words, an AGO Grade staff member who passes the examinations earlier than his colleagues in the same rank will have a greater chance of promotion than his colleagues. On the other hand, the Department also finances its AGO Grade staff to attend some relevant part-time degree and diploma courses in local universities and tertiary institutes to obtain the qualifications required for the purpose of further advancement. Enquiry telephone number: 2769 6257-3 -
DPS/MPS w.c,f. 1.2.1996 Civil Aviation Department AGO Salary Scales Point D2 Dl MPS 49 MPS 48 MPS 47 MPS 46 (44B) MPS 45 (44A) MPS 44 MPS 43 MPS 42 MPS 41 MPS 40 MPS 39 MPS 38 MPS 37 MPS 36 MPS 35 MPS 34 (33 A) MPS 33 MPS 32 MPS 31 MPS 30 MPS 29 MPS 28 MPS 27 MPS 26 MPS 25 MPS 24 MPS 23 MPS 22 MPS 21 MPS 20 MPS 19 MPS 18 MPS 17 MPS 16 MPS 15 MPS 14 MPS 13 MPS 12 MPS 11 TPS14 TPS13 TPS12 TPS11 TPS6 TPS5 Salary 101,450 98,550 95,550 85,400 82,850 80,450 72,195 69,690 67,270 64,915 62,665 60,475 58,370 55,965 53,660 51,440 49,315 47,135 45,060 43,035 41,120 39,300 38,210 36,490 34,855 33,290 31,805 30,365 29,005 27,705 26,460 25,305 24,165 23,080 22,035 20,985 19,990 19,045 18,145 17,270 16,450 15,660 14,905 14,055 13,230 14J875 14,210^ 13,345 12,235 8,750 8,210 CAC3 SAC3 ACS ACOI ACOH SACO
XlbEMQfib? HKP 629.1366023 C271 A25 A Career in aeronautical communication Hong Kong : Government Printer, [1996]. Date Due