A Hong Kong firing range used by China’s People’s Liberation Army poses a hazard to planes that would use the third runway at Chek Lap Kok, a government source has told the South China Morning Post.
A plane approaching the runway needs a certain amount of airspace in case it needs to abort the landing at the last minute.
Frequent firing by troops at the Castle Peak site, which sits under an escape-route flight path earmarked for the planned new runway, threatens to reduce such airspace and limit the number of planes that can land.
The skies above Castle Peak are designated a no-fly zone during security exercises, which are often held from Monday to Friday throughout the year, the Post reported. Planes will have to climb much steeper to avoid the no-fly zone, increasing the risk of the manoeuvre.