⚠️Guidance only — not an operational document. This page is an unofficial familiarisation aid. It is not a substitute for current charts, NOTAMs, ATIS or the AIP. Always operate to your airline's SOP and approved procedures. Verify every figure against the official eAIP before use.
Highest terrain
Know what's around you
Significant high ground sits north and south of the field. Respect MSA and cleared altitudes — do not descend below a step until established.
Tai Mo Shan
3,294 ft
Highest peak in Hong Kong — New Territories, NE of field.
Lantau Peak
3,068 ft
Highest on Lantau — close S of the runways.
TD VOR · MSA
4,300 ft
25 NM minimum sector altitude around TD VOR.
Arrival RWY
07L / 25R
North runway normally for arrivals — ATC confirms.
Briefing points
Key cautions
RT Hong Kong Director
Callsign only on first contact
When handed to Hong Kong Director, check in with your callsign only — e.g. just "ABC 123", no level or position report or say the word "callsign only". It keeps a very busy final frequency clean. Wait to be addressed before adding anything.
ALERT ILS interference
Don't engage approach mode too early
Terrain-induced ILS interference is well documented at VHHH — false captures and excessive descent rates, Boeing types especially. Fly the transition, capture LOC first, then arm the glideslope, and watch the chart notes — the ILS is split across an RNAV transition and the approach on two charts.
CAUTION RWY 07L
07L — respect the speed restriction
Expect tight speed control — typically 180 kt, then 160 kt to 4 NM (comply with ATC / the chart). A tailwind component is possible from LIMES through TUTBA, so it's easy to end up too fast and too high. Slow down and configure early — the short final leaves little room to recover an unstable approach.
CAUTION Terrain
High ground both sides of the field
Tai Mo Shan (3,294 ft) sits to the NE, Lantau Peak (3,068 ft) close to the S. Honour MSA and every step-down — never descend below a cleared altitude on the promise of the next clearance.
CAUTION Low level
Terrain-induced windshear & turbulence
Expect terrain-induced windshear & turbulence with surface wind in the 100°–220° sector — larger magnitude likely above 30 kt, especially in the last 15 NM to threshold. Brief the go-around early and expect the WTWS alerts — detail below.
CAUTION Crosswind
Crosswind through the gaps
SE winds funnelled through Lantau can push crosswind beyond limits even as a tropical cyclone departs. Fly the actual reported wind, gust and shear.
NOTE Runway allocation
Anticipate the North runway
Arrivals normally land the North runway 07L/25R; the South (07R/25L) is preferential for Departure. Don't bother requesting an alternate runway unless operationally required — ATC confirms the landing runway on first contact with Approach.
NOTE Ops
Busy TMA & overnight closures
Expect tight speed control in a congested Pearl River Delta TMA. Only one runway is normally operational — confirm the active configuration and your assigned runway on ATIS.
Weather · refer to HKO
Windshear, microburst & mountain wave
The Hong Kong Observatory is the designated aviation met authority for VHHH. Use its real-time alerts and forecasts as part of your arrival weather brief — Terminal Doppler radar at Tai Lam Chung and the LIDAR system drive the windshear & turbulence warnings.
Windshear & turbulence
Strong, gusty, terrain-driven shear on approach — especially with E/SE winds across Lantau.
Microburst
Thunderstorm-related, detected by the Tai Lam Chung TDWR. Be ready for an immediate go-around.
Mountain wave
Lee-side waves and rotor off the Lantau ridgeline in stable, strong-wind conditions.
Useful links
EAIP
Hong Kong Aeronautical Information Services
The offical aAIP, charts, AIP Supplements & NOTAM summary.
WEATHER
HKO Aviation Weather Services
Designated met authority - warnings, forecasts & observations.
HAZARD
Windshear & Turbulence Warnings
Live WTWS alerts and the windshear & turbulence service.
FORECAST
Local Aviation Forecast (VHHH)
Observation & forecast for Hong Kong International Airport.
BRIEFING
Windshear & Turbulence - for pilots
HKO's pilot booklet on Hong Kong's terrain-induced shear.
AUTHORITY
Civil Aviation
Department
CAD Hong Kong - regulations, ATIS & air traffic management.
This guide is provided for familiarisation only and carries no operational authority. It does not replace official aeronautical information, NOTAMs, ATIS, company route manuals or approved procedures. All figures must be verified against the current Hong Kong eAIP. Always operate to your airline's SOP.
Information is uncontrolled when printed or downloaded.