Advanced guidance system verified in Beijing's new airport

BEIJING - China's self-developed docking guidance system has completed the first verification test in low visibility conditions at the new Beijing Daxing International Airport, according to its developer.

The docking system was developed by the No. 28 Research Institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), a state-owned electronics manufacturer. It has various functions including automatic route planning and light guiding, which will help the new airport to streamline operations by reducing controller-pilot communications and runway occupancy time.

The state-of-the-art docking guidance system will ensure safe and efficient aircraft movements for the airport, according to Mao Yongqing, director of the CETC institute.

Passenger planes from four airlines and China's homegrown regional jetliner, the ARJ21, completed a number of takeoff, landing and taxiing tests in low visibility conditions at the airport from Monday to Tuesday.

Located 46 km south of downtown Beijing, the new airport will start operation in September. It is expected to handle 45 million passengers annually by 2021 and 72 million by 2025.