In the wee hours of September 8, China civil aviation successful completed at BCIA the first demonstration test flight using HUD for low visibility take-off with a Runway Visual Range (RVR) of 150 m. It's expected that popularization of this technology will achieve improved take-off performance in low visibility condition, and enhance flight operational efficiency and regularity. CAAC Deputy Administrator Li Jian was present throughout the demonstration test flight.

At 0:43 and 0:48 am in the morning of September 8, one Boeing B737 operated by Shandong Airlines and one Airbus A320 operated by China Eastern Airlines departed respectively from T3 and T2 at BCIA, and taxied along standard taxi routes to Runway 01 and 36R before the two aircraft conducted test flights and returned back to the apron respectively at 1:16 and 1:24 am. The test flights, which lasted respectively 33 and 36 minutes, demonstrated the feasibility of using HUD for take-off at BCIA with a RVR of 150m, low visibility procedures, ATC command, ground taxiing guidance and support capability.

Li Jian spoke highly of the far-reaching significance of this successful demonstration test flight for China civil aviation. He indicated that this technology, which is a result of more than 8 years of strenuous efforts by the industry, will contribute not only to the improvement in both operational efficiency and regularity, but also to the more widespread application of new navigation technologies, signaling the entry into a whole new stage in terms of the application of new technologies. As of now, enormous progress has been achieved by various entities in their awareness of new technologies, and he expected that various stakeholders would coordinate their efforts to further promote the application of new technologies. In the near future, continued efforts shall be made to speed up subsequent activities, in a bid to make bold attempts at the application of new technologies and new standards based on risk evaluation and control; relevant CAAC departments and bureaus shall proactively make research on the effective means applicable to operational certification and oversight in low visibility condition, while airlines shall ramp up research and pilot training related to low visibility operation. In addition, more efforts shall be made in international exchanges and cooperation, as well as in the promotion and demonstration of the new technology, in an attempt to improve flight regularity and operational efficiency via the application of the new technology, thus providing passengers with more comfortable travel experience.

In recent years, weather-related factors have an ever-increasing impact on flight regularity. In 2016, weather-related factors accounted for 56% among all the factors influencing flight regularity, in particular in the winter and spring season when the low visibility weather in the form of fog and faze accounted for a very large proportion. Take BCIA as an example, the statistic data of 2008-2015 showed that there were 44 days when RVR was less than 200 m, 31 days with RVR less than 150 m and 9 days with RVR less than 90 m. In recent years, to further improve flight regularity, CAAC has been relentlessly moving ahead with the development of new navigation technologies with HUD as a typical one, to boost the role of science and technology in supporting aviation industry development.

Utilizing computing technology, HUD can achieve an integrated display on the head-up display of flight information (such as flight parameters, attitude, navigation information) and alert information (such as tail strike allowance, attack angle limitation), allowing pilots to be aware of these parameters and operate as per relevant guidance while at the same time maintaining visual observation of the external environment. Experience reveals that the use of HUD can produce obvious results in alleviating the decisive role of weather and improving flight regularity. Citing BCIA as an example, person in charge at CAAC Department of Flight Standard said, when the RVR is 150m, highway will be closed, with the traffic travelling at a speed limit of 20km/h, whereas aircraft operated by the airlines with HUD operational certificates can successfully take off at BCIA by breaking the RVR200m take-off standard. As of now, a total of 585 transport aircraft are equipped with HUD in China, accounting for 18.9% of the total. The Roadmap for the Application and Development of HUDs released in August of 2012 by CAAC showed that 50% of the transport aircraft will have been equipped with HUD by 2020. It's estimated that with the number of HUD-equipped aircraft increasing each year, HUD will make an ever increasing contribution to flight regularity.

Representatives from relevant CAAC departments and bureaus, CAAC North China Regional Administration and CAAC East China Regional Administration laid out requirements and made comments on this demonstration test flight, while representatives from China Eastern Airlines, Shandong Airlines, North China ATM Bureau and BCIA reported on the preparation and implementation of activities for the demonstration flight, ATM support, ground support, technical support, etc.

In the next step, CAAC will publish the standards governing the use of HUD for taking-off with a RVR of 150m at Qingdao Airport, Ji'nan Airport, etc., and make preparation for the use of HUD for taking-off with a RVR of 90m at BCIA, in an effort to further improve flight regularity by making aircraft take-off and landing more precise.