View source for Government Flying Service

{{Short description|Department of the Hong Kong Government}}
{{for|the Slovak state carrier|Slovak Government Flying Service}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox government agency
| agency_name     = Government Flying Service
| logo            = File:Hong Kong Government Flying Service insignia.svg
| logo_width      = 
| logo_caption    = 
| image           = 
| image_caption   = 
| formed          = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1993|4|1}}
| preceding1      = [[Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force]] (RHKAAF)
| jurisdiction    = {{HKG}}
| headquarters    = [[Hong Kong International Airport]]
| employees       = 335
| motto           = {{ubl|{{lang|la|Semper Paratus}}|Always ready}}
| budget          = HKD 577.6 million (2016-17)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.budget.gov.hk/2016/eng/pdf/head166.pdf |title=Government Budget Head 166 |website=[[Government of Hong Kong]]}}</ref>
| minister1_name  = [[Chris Tang]]
| minister1_pfo   = [[Secretary for Security]]
| chief1_name     = Captain West WU
| chief1_position = Controller
| parent_department = [[Security Bureau (Hong Kong)|Security Bureau]]
| child1_agency   = 
| website         = {{url|http://www.gfs.gov.hk/}}
}}
{{Chinese
| t = 香港政府飛行服務隊
| s = 香港政府飞行服务队
| j = Zing<sup>3</sup> fu<sup>2</sup> fei<sup>1</sup> haang<sup>4</sup> fuk<sup>6</sup> mou<sup>6</sup> deoi<sup>6</sup>
| y = Heung Gong Jing fú fēi hàahng fuhk mouh deuih
| p = Xianggang Zhèngfǔ Fēixíng Fúwù Duì
}}

The '''Hong Kong Government Flying Service''' ('''HKGFS''') is a [[disciplined service]] and paramilitary flying organisation of the [[Government of Hong Kong]].

The service has its head office in, and operates from, the southwestern end of [[Hong Kong International Airport]] at [[Chek Lap Kok]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gfs.gov.hk/eng/contact.htm |title=Contact |publisher=Government Flying Service |access-date=2020-10-08 |quote=Government Flying Service 18 South Perimeter Road Hong Kong International Airport Lantau Hong Kong |archive-date=19 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919032242/https://www.gfs.gov.hk/eng/contact.htm }}</ref> Before the opening of the Chek Lap Kok airport in 1998, it operated from the old [[Kai Tak Airport]], the former Hong Kong International Airport. GFS patrols as far as {{convert|700|nmi|km|adj=on}} to the south, to include the Hong Kong [[Flight Information Region]] and the Hong Kong Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre area of responsibility, which covers most of the [[South China Sea]] basin.

== History ==
The Government Flying Service was established on 1 April 1993, when Hong Kong was under [[Colonial Hong Kong|British rule]].<ref name="Facts"/> It then took over all the non-military operations of the [[Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force]] (RHKAAF), which was an auxiliary unit of the United Kingdom [[Royal Air Force]]. After Hong Kong was [[transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong|handed over]] to the People's Republic of China in 1997, the GFS remained as a government unit of the [[Special Administrative Region (People's Republic of China)|Hong Kong Special Administrative Region]], and is responsible for [[search and rescue]] (SAR), [[air ambulance]], [[firefighting]], and police operations.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://hongkongfp.com/2020/12/22/us-blacklists-hong-kongs-govt-flying-service-citing-human-rights-abuses-and-national-security-concerns/ |title=US blacklists Hong Kong's Gov't Flying Service, citing human rights abuses and national security concerns |date=22 December 2020}}</ref>

Starting in 2012, the GFS operates from the HKCEC heliport, adjacent to Golden Bauhinia Square.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Government Flying Service - News - The HKCEC Heliport will be put into service starting from 28 May 2012 2012-05-28 |url=https://www.gfs.gov.hk/en/publication-press-release/news/index-id-9.html |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=www.gfs.gov.hk}}</ref> The site is also open to commercial traffic.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Civil Aviation Department - Heliports and Helicopter Services |url=https://www.cad.gov.hk/english/commercial_helicopter.html |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=www.cad.gov.hk}}</ref>

In August 2020, a GFS Bombardier Challenger 605 maritime patrol aircraft was believed to have assisted Chinese authorities in intercepting 12 Hong Kongers who were attempting to flee to [[Taiwan]] due to increasingly onerous conditions in Hong Kong and enhanced exit controls. The Hong Kong government denied that they had cooperated with Chinese authorities.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Griffiths |first1=James |last2=Cheung |first2=Eric |title=Hong Kong government accused of colluding with China to surveil and catch fugitives fleeing for Taiwan |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/09/asia/hong-kong-china-fugitives-intl-hnk/index.html |website=www.cnn.com |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=9 October 2020}}</ref> On 21 December 2020, the United States Bureau of Industry and Security amended the Export Administration Regulations by adding a new 'Military End User' (MEU) List, as well as the first tranche of 103 entities, which includes 58 Chinese and 45 Russian companies. Government Flying Service was added as one of 103 entities to the MEU List.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://2017-2021.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2020/12/commerce-department-will-publish-first-military-end-user-list-naming.html/ |title=Commerce Department Will Publish the First Military End User List Naming More Than 100 Chinese and Russian Companies |website=[[U.S. Department of Commerce]]|date=14 January 2021 }}</ref>

In 2022, a new site at the southernmost corner of the former Kai Tak airport was opened, featuring one landing/takeoff pad, two parking pads, one repair hangar for the new Airbus H175 helicopter and an operations/office building.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Mak |first1=George |last2=Lo |first2=Jeffrey |last3=Lam |first3=Rom |date=2023-02-01 |title=Delivering a new helicopter base at Kai Tak for the Hong Kong Government Flying Service |url=https://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/doi/10.1680/jcien.22.00117 |journal=Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Civil Engineering |language=en |volume=176 |issue=1 |pages=33–39 |doi=10.1680/jcien.22.00117 |issn=0965-089X|url-access=subscription }}</ref> The site had been earmarked since 2007 and planning permission was given in 2017 as part of the area's redevelopment,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Task Force on Kai Tak Harbourfront Development, Harbourfront Commission |author-link=Development Bureau |date=5 April 2017 |title=Amendments Incorporated in the Draft Kai Tak Outline Zoning Plan No. S/K22/5 |url=https://www.hfc.org.hk/filemanager/files/TFKT_07_2017.pdf |access-date=28 April 2024 |website=Harbourfront Commission}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Harbourfront Commission |author-link=Development Bureau |last2=Ove Arup |author-link2=Ove Arup |last3=Civil Engineering and Development Department |author-link3=Civil Engineering and Development Department |date=8 April 2017 |title=Proposed Establishment of Government Flying Service Kai Tak Division |url=https://www.hfc.org.hk/filemanager/files/TFKT_20170908ppt_item6.pdf |access-date=28 April 2024 |website=Harbourfront Commission}}</ref> as well as limitations of new high rise buildings in the [[Tung Chung]] area near the existing base affecting marginal weather operations. The possibility of opening the base to commercial cross-boundary traffic has been raised since 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Task Force on Kai Tak Harbourfront Development, Harbourfront Commission |author-link=Development Bureau |date=3 August 2011 |title=Cross-boundary Heliport in the Kai Tak Development Area |url=https://www.hfc.org.hk/filemanager/files/TFKT_16_2011.pdf |access-date=28 April 2024 |website=Harbourfront Commission}}</ref>

== Operations ==
GFS consists of five divisions:

* Operations Division – all emergency response and operational matters (i.e. search and rescue)
* Training and Standards Division – professional standards and development
* Corporate Safety Division - safety-related initiatives and cross-section safety management matters 
* Engineering Division – maintenance of GFS aircraft and ground-support equipment in accordance with the [[Civil Aviation Department (Hong Kong) |Civil Aviation Department]] standards
* Administration Division – general administration, personnel support services

Helicopters can land on five highways in Hong Kong to attend to road related recovery operations. For long-range search and rescue operations, the GFS initially use fixed wing aircraft which then guide helicopters to the location.<ref name="Facts">{{cite web |url=http://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/flying_service.pdf |title=Government Flying Service |author=[[Information Services Department]]. Government Flying Service |publisher=[[Government of Hong Kong]] |date=March 2016 |access-date=2017-06-05}}</ref>

*Air ambulance service response time (type A+/A) – 20 minutes (within island zone) / 30 minutes (outside island zone)
*Search and rescue callout time 0700-2159 -(within 50&nbsp;nm/92.5&nbsp;km of GFS HQ) – 1hr / 1hr 40m (with additional/specialized equipment)
*Search and rescue callout time 2200-0659 -(within 50&nbsp;nm/92.5&nbsp;km of GFS HQ) – 2hr
*For SARs outside 50&nbsp;nm / 92.5&nbsp;km – add 30mins per 50&nbsp;nm
*Fixed Winged Aircraft 0700-2159 – (within 50&nbsp;nm/92.5&nbsp;km of GFS)- 50m, (between 50&nbsp;nm/92.5&nbsp;km to 100&nbsp;nm/185&nbsp;km of GFS)- 1hr 5m, (beyond 100&nbsp;nm/185&nbsp;km of GFS)- add 15m per 50&nbsp;nm.
The GFS operates primarily from Chek Lap Kok airport, where headquarters and all fixed wing aviation is based. Some helicopters are based in the Kai Tak division and a helipad is available in Wan Chai next to the HKCEC.

=== Current inventory ===
[[File:Hong Kong Government Flying Service Eurocopter EC-155B-1; B-HRU@HKG;04.08.2011 (6260084063).jpg|thumb| A GFS [[Eurocopter EC155]] in flight]]

{| class = "wikitable"
! style = "text-align:center; background:#acc;"|Aircraft
! style = "text-align: center; background:#acc;"|Origin
! style = "text-align:l center; background:#acc;"|Type
! style = "text-align:left; background:#acc;"|Variant
! style = "text-align:center; background:#acc;"|In service
! style = "text-align: center; background:#acc;"|Notes
|-
! style = "align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="6" | [[Military transport aircraft|Transport]]
|-
| [[Bombardier Challenger 600 series|Bombardier Challenger 600]]
| Canada
| [[Surveillance aircraft|surveillance]] / [[Search and rescue|SAR]]
| [[Bombardier Challenger 600 series#Challenger 604/605/650|CL-605]]
|2<ref name="Government Flying Service">{{cite web |url=https://www.gfs.gov.hk/eng/aircraftmenu.htm |title=Government Flying Service |publisher=gfs.gov.hk |year=2021 |access-date=12 November 2021 }}</ref>
|
|-
|[[Diamond DA42]]
|Austria
| surveillance / patrol
|[[Diamond DA42#Variants|DA42 NG]]
| 1<ref name="Government Flying Service"/>
|
|-
! style = "align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="6" | [[Helicopters]]
|-
| [[Airbus Helicopters H175|Airbus H175]]
| France
| [[Search and rescue|SAR]] / utility 
|
| 7<ref name="Government Flying Service"/>
| 
|-
|[[Eurocopter EC155]]
| France / Germany
|[[Search and rescue|SAR]] / [[Air medical services|air ambulance]]
|
|4<ref name="Government Flying Service"/>
|
|-
|[[Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma|Eurocopter AS332]]
| France / Germany
|[[Search and rescue|SAR]] / [[Aerial firefighting|fire suppressor]]
|
|3<ref name="Government Flying Service"/>
|
|-
! style = "align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="6" | [[Trainer (aircraft)|Trainer aircraft]]
|-
| [[Zlín Z 42]]
| [[Czech Republic]]
| basic trainer 
| 
| 1<ref name="Government Flying Service"/>
|
|}

== Equipment and gear ==
[[File:GFS Super Puma on USS Mobile Bay.jpg|thumb|A GFS [[Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma|Super Puma]] landing on the deck of the [[USS Mobile Bay]], April 2006]]
Standard equipment for GFS personnel is:
* [[Flight suit]] or [[jumpsuit]]
* Special operations vests (SOVs) – consists of a small oxygen tank (3 minutes of oxygen), life jacket, small survival/first aid kit.
* [[Helicopter helmet]]
* [[Walkie-talkie]]
* SABRE 7 (BE549) [[personal locator beacon]]
* Gloves

== Personnel ==
GFS employs 335 personnel:<ref>{{cite web |title=About GFS |url=https://www.gfs.gov.hk/eng/aboutgfs.htm |access-date=27 May 2021}}</ref>

* 235 commissioned/disciplined personnel
* 100 civilian personnel

Most of the pilots in the GFS were localised prior to the handover in 1997, as former [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] and other British military personnel departed Hong Kong.

The GFS is led by a Controller, who reports to the Secretary for Security. The current Controller is Captain West WH WU.

Other senior officers of the GFS are:

* Departmental Secretary
* Chief Pilot (Operations)
* Chief Pilot (Training and Standards)
* Chief Pilot (Corporate Safety)
* Chief Aircraft Engineer
Medical doctors and nurses also serve in the GFS under the 'GFS Air Medical Officer Programme'.<ref name="HK">{{Cite journal |last=Leung |first=Lancelot Hei Lok |last2=Kwok |first2=Anthony Yunda |last3=Wong |first3=Eponine Kate |last4=Cheung |first4=Arthur Chi Kin |last5=Rainer |first5=Timothy Hudson |date=2025 |title=The Hong Kong emergency medical services system: A scoping review |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/hkj2.70025 |journal=Hong Kong Journal of Emergency Medicine |language=en |volume=32 |issue=4 |article-number=e70025 |doi=10.1002/hkj2.70025 |issn=2309-5407|doi-access=free }}</ref>

== Uniform ==
Operations uniforms:

* green [[Jumpsuit]] or separate [[Flight jacket]] and pants - pilot and aircrew<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gfs.gov.hk/eng/departmental1.htm |title=Pilot Grade |website=Government Flying Service |access-date=2017-06-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gfs.gov.hk/eng/departmental2.htm |title=Air Crewman Officer Grade |website=Government Flying Service |access-date=2017-06-05}}</ref>
* blue jumpsuit or separate Flight jacket and pants - mechanics and engineers<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gfs.gov.hk/eng/departmental3.htm |title=Aircraft Engineer Grade |website=Government Flying Service |access-date=2017-06-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gfs.gov.hk/eng/departmental4.htm |title=Aircraft Technician Grade |website=Government Flying Service |access-date=2017-06-05}}</ref>

Dress uniforms:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gfs.gov.hk/eng/gallery/Uniform.htm |title=Uniform |website=Government Flying Service |access-date=2017-06-05}}</ref>

* light blue shirt (short sleeve for summer and long sleeve for winter) with dark tie dress jacket and pants
* dark skirts for women
* sweaters for men 
* dark windbreaker jacket for summer
* [[Peaked cap]] - male and female variations

== Rank ==
Prior to the creation of the GFS, the ranks within the [[Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force]] were the same as the [[RAF]]. The late 1980s and early 1990s saw the transition to local staff in the RHKAAF in preparation for the civil transfer to the GFS role.

Ranking of personnel of the GFS are civilian aviation roles and are as follows:

{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
|- style="background-color:#CCCCCC; text-align:center;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armed Forces/OF/Blank}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of the Government Flying Service}}
|}

Pilot II and Cadet Pilot ranks were created in the 1990s for local pilots with less flying experience.

== Controllers ==
List of past controllers of the GFS:

* Captain Brian Cluer - former RAF fighter pilot and General Manager of Operations, [[Cathay Pacific]]
* Captain Brian Butt Yiu-ming - formerly with [[Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force]] and Chief Inspector with [[Hong Kong Police]] specializing in the counterfeit detection<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.scmp.com/article/631233/happy-landings |title=Happy landings|date=26 March 2008 | newspaper=South China Morning Post | access-date=16 August 2025 }}</ref>

== Crest ==
The current crest of the force was adopted in 1997, prior to which the Hong Kong Coat of Arms was used on GFS aircraft. The current is topped with the Hong Kong [[Bauhinia]] flower. In the centre of the crest is a navy blue (sometimes purple) and light blue roundel background. In the middle of the crest is a four bladed propeller, and a Chinese dragon in the front (similar to the [[Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force|RHKAAF]] crest). Along the bottom of the roundel are the letters GFS representing the english name of the service. Underneath the roundel are a pair of wings joined by a ribbon with the Chinese characters "政府飛行服務隊", the Chinese name of the service.

== GFS in the media ==
* The service's official theme song, ''Wishing You Well So Much'' (多想你好), was sung by [[Andy Lau]] in 2003.
* The TVB drama "[[Always Ready (TV series)|Always Ready]]" was filmed inside GFS HQ in 2005 and starred [[Ekin Cheng]].

== Incidents ==
* '''26 August 2003''' – A [[Eurocopter EC 155]] B1 crashed on a hill at [[Pak Kung Au (Islands)|Pak Kung Au]] near Tung Chung on Lantau Island killing two aircrew (Pilot Pang Fu-kwok and Airman Chan Man-tik).
* '''27 December 2010''' – One of the GFS's [[Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma|Eurocopter Super Puma Mk II]] helicopters (B-HRN) ditched in [[Shing Mun Reservoir]] after the loss of its number 2 engine. It was in the process of collecting water from the reservoir to drop on a [[wildfire|hill fire]]. None of the three [[crewman|crew members]] were injured. The [[Civil Aviation Department (Hong Kong)|Civil Aviation Department]] said on the following day it had retrieved the [[flight data recorder]]. Pending a final report, an interim bulletin issued in February 2012 reported that the number 2 engine was correctly shut down automatically by the engine control unit because the turbine had begun to overspeed, because there appeared to be no fault in the turbine or the fuel systems the overspeed was possibly the result of a disconnection of the engine from the main gearbox because of wear to the freewheel unit that connected the two.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cad.gov.hk/reports/1_2012%20Eng%20B-HRN%20Update%20Bulletin%20Report%20-%2020120209.pdf |title=Accident bulletin 1/2012. |author=Chief Inspector of Accidents. Accident Investigation Division. |date=9 February 2012 |access-date=2017-06-05}}</ref> The Helicopter was rebuilt by the engineering team after it was recovered from the reservoir.

== See also ==

* [[Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Hong Kong Government Flying Service}}
* {{official website|http://www.gfs.gov.hk/}}
* [http://www.yearbook.gov.hk/2002/ehtml/e16-12.htm Government Flying Services as described in Hong Kong Yearbook 2002]

{{Security Bureau (Hong Kong)}}
{{Law enforcement in Hong Kong}}
{{Government of Hong Kong}}
{{HKIA}}{{authority control}}

[[Category:Hong Kong government departments and agencies|Government Flying Service]]
[[Category:Aviation in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Public health and safety in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Rescue agencies|Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Air ambulance services in Hong Kong]]