What are the impacts of aviation and railways?, Continuous heavy rainfall flights in Beijing | aspect | aviation
Beijing has been affected by continuous heavy rainfall due to typhoons recently, which has had a certain impact on transportation such as aviation and railways.
According to the noon report of CCTV News on August 1, the Beijing Meteorological Bureau reported that the rainfall in Beijing tends to weaken, and a yellow warning signal for rainstorm will be issued at 7:00 on August 1, 2023. It is estimated that from 8:00 on August 1 to 8:00 on August 2, there will be moderate rain in most areas of Beijing, local rainstorm, and short-term heavy rain with hourly rainfall intensity of more than 50 mm. Based on the flood, urban waterlogging, and geological disaster warning levels issued by departments such as water management and natural resources planning, and after comprehensive analysis and assessment of various risks by the Beijing Flood Control Command, areas such as Haidian, Fengtai, Shijingshan, Mentougou, Fangshan, Changping, Huairou, and Yanqing have maintained a red flood warning response. Regions such as Tongzhou, Daxing, Miyun, and Shunyi have been adjusted to orange flood warning responses. Regions such as Dongcheng, Xicheng, Chaoyang, and Pinggu have been adjusted to respond to yellow flood warning.
On the afternoon of August 1st, a reporter from Pengpai News called the certification staff of several listed airlines and the customer service hotlines of Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport to inquire about the impact of continuous heavy rainfall in the Beijing area on flights and the latest progress in the resumption of flight passenger transportation.
The airline company said to the surging journalists that the rainstorm rainstorm had little impact on flights and had not received the news of cancellations in large batches. The airline company has issued emergency policies and plans to ensure the safety of passengers. The airport side told the reporter from Pengpai News that the airport is still open and there are flights taking off and landing, but there are also delays and cancellations, and the overall conditions for takeoff are met. Some airports have also stated that there were no significant floods during the rainy period, and the overall operation was stable. They are increasing coordination efforts to protect passengers. In terms of railways, the official Weibo account of Beijing Railway stated that due to continuous rainfall, trains on multiple lines have been suspended and delayed. The railway department reminds passengers to pay attention to the 12306 information in order to arrange their travel properly.
On July 30th, Beijing Capital International Airport. Weibo @ Capital Airport Map
Several airlines said that rainstorm had little impact on flights, and most flights between Beijing and Shanghai were operating normally
"The rainstorm rainstorm had little impact on the company's flights, and almost no flights were canceled. However, some routes were slightly adjusted, and flights were merged according to the passenger flow." Air China's certification agent told Pengpai News that, on the whole, as long as there was no thunderstorm weather and no lightning strike, the flights would not be greatly affected.
The representative of Air China further stated that Air China is more concerned about safety issues than passengers. Whether it is the pilots or the aircraft itself, the company will determine whether it is suitable for navigation based on its performance, relevant standards, and weather conditions. At the same time, airport runways also have corresponding takeoff standards to ensure passenger safety.
"On August 1st, most of the flights on China Eastern Airlines' Beijing Shanghai line were operating normally," China Eastern Airlines' online customer service staff told a reporter from Pengpai News. Recently, flights have only taken off under the condition of ensuring safety. Flight delays or cancellations caused by non company reasons do not provide compensation to passengers, but flight delays or cancellations can be rescheduled for free or refunded in full.
"At present, some flights of China Southern Airlines' Beijing Shanghai line have been cancelled due to weather conditions, but there are still some flights operating normally. If airports are not affected, flights are basically okay." The staff of China Southern Airlines' customer service hotline told Pengpai News that China Southern Airlines strictly controls flight safety standards and considers safety issues. For flights that do not meet flight standards, the company will cancel them in advance or consider postponing them to a suitable flight time before flying. At the same time, the airport terminal will also evaluate the weather conditions, and those that are not suitable for flight will not fly hard.
According to the third-party travel data app "Flight Manager", as of 17:30 on August 1st, the cancellation rate of round-trip flights between Beijing and Shanghai was 31.8%, and the delay rate was 3.9%.
The operation status of flights between Beijing and Shanghai as of 17:20 on August 1st. Data sourced from "Flight Manager"
"Affected by the typhoon weather, the company canceled some flights, but we have not yet received the news of large batches of canceled flights. Some canceled flights will gradually resume operation after the weather conditions are suitable for flight." The Jixiang Airlines certification representative told Pengpai News that for this rainstorm, the company had issued some policies and plans to deal with relevant emergencies before the typhoon came, and at the same time, more ground staff were added to the airport to ensure the safety of passengers.
Why are there widespread flight delays and cancellations? The online customer service staff of Hainan Airlines introduced to the reporter of Pengpai News that the standards for aircraft takeoff and landing are related to many factors. Different aircraft models require different aviation conditions, and the specific safety standards set by different airlines for the same model may also vary. The captain's decisions on the current weather and trends may also vary. In addition, the flight routes and airworthiness conditions of different airlines may vary.
Beijing's two major airports: overall stable operation
According to the flight manager, as of 17:30 on August 1st, Beijing Daxing Airport had 390 inbound flights and 343 cancelled flights, with a cancellation rate of 30.76% and a delay rate of 7.89%. There were 586 inbound flights and 102 cancelled flights at Beijing Capital Airport, with a cancellation rate of 8.88% and a delay rate of 10.7%.
On July 30th, Beijing Daxing International Airport. Weibo @ Beijing Daxing International Airport Map
"At present, there are flights taking off, landing, and delays at Daxing Airport, but there is no way to confirm when they will be fully restored." Daxing International Airport customer service hotline told Pengpai News on the afternoon of August 1st that the airport's subway line is still operating normally, but some buses have stopped.
"The airport is open today and has the conditions for takeoff, but there are also delayed/cancelled flights today. The specific flight situation depends on the airline." The customer service hotline of Capital International Airport told Pengpai News on the afternoon of August 1st. As the airport has not been closed and has been open, it is impossible to verify when all flights are expected to resume. The fast rail near the airport has not received any suspension at present, and other indoor subways cannot help confirm.
"During the entire rainfall period, there was no obvious flood at the Capital Airport, and the operation was overall stable. The rainfall showed the characteristics of long duration and heavy rainfall, which had a significant impact on flight operations. On the evening of August 1st, the reporter from Pengpai News learned from the Capital Airport that the airport plans to guarantee 1111 flights today, transport 148900 passengers. As of 17:00, 644 flights have been executed, and 37 flights have been cancelled due to special weather conditions at various airports and routes.".
On July 31st, staff at Beijing Daxing International Airport. Weibo @ Beijing Daxing International Airport Map
During this period, Capital Airport, North China Air Traffic Control Bureau, and multiple airlines continued to conduct real-time consultations and adjustments based on actual situations, striving to ensure smooth takeoff and landing of flights. In addition, in order to improve the travel experience of passengers in rainy weather, Capital Airport has deployed additional staff in the terminal to ensure on-site service. And extended the operating hours of catering and commercial stores to ensure the dining and shopping needs of passengers. In terms of ground transportation, Capital Airport maintains close communication with the Beijing Municipal Transportation Commission, increases capacity coordination, and ensures smooth arrival and departure of passengers from Capital Airport.
The relevant person in charge of Capital Airport further reminds that currently, in addition to being affected by rainfall, there are frequent thunderstorms and other special weather events in various parts of the country, and some airports and routes outside the city also have thunderstorm weather that affects flights. Capital Airport hereby reminds passengers to carefully check their flight information before traveling, closely monitor weather changes and flight dynamics at their destination, and arrange their travel plans reasonably.
The railway department reminds passengers to pay attention to the 12306 information in order to arrange their travel properly
Under the continuous rainfall in Beijing, in addition to flight delays and cancellations, railway passenger transportation has also been affected to some extent.
According to the official Weibo account of Beijing Railway on August 1st, some trains at Beijing West Station and Beijing Fengtai Station have been suspended due to rainfall. Temporary closure measures were taken on some lines, resulting in delayed operation of some trains.
The railway department reminds passengers to pay attention to the information on China Railway 12306 website or station announcements in a timely manner, and make proper arrangements for travel.
In addition, on the morning of August 1st, according to CCTV news, due to the impact of this round of heavy rainfall, on July 31st, Beijing's Fangshan, Mentougou and other areas suffered serious water damage, causing three trains on the way to be trapped and completely blocking road traffic in some areas. In order to effectively respond to the danger and ensure the basic living and medical needs of the trapped personnel, on the morning of August 1st, a certain land aviation brigade of the 81st Army Group fully invested in flood control and rescue missions, carrying out airdrop rescue missions.
Under the leadership of team leader Liu Yajun, 29 party members and assault team members of China Railway Beijing Bureau fearlessly faced landslides, mud, and water accumulation along the way. They stepped on multiple areas of mud with a thickness of over 30 centimeters, carrying portable food and drinking water and other daily necessities. At around 10 o'clock today, they first arrived on the K1178 train parked at the Yanhe City Railway Station. Weibo @ Beijing Railway Map
According to a news released by the official Weibo account of Beijing Railway on August 1st at around 3pm, 29 party members and assault team members of China Railway Beijing Bureau, led by team leader Liu Yajun, fearlessly faced landslides, mud and water accumulation along the way. They walked on multiple areas of mud with a thickness of more than 30cm, carrying portable food and drinking water and other daily necessities. Around 10pm today, they first arrived on the K1178 train parked at the Yanhe City Railway Station. At the same time, the railway department organized more than 500 emergency personnel to follow closely, continuously delivering daily necessities to train K1178 and assisting train staff in delivering 6000 portions of food and drinking water to stranded passengers, ensuring their safety and safety.
Affected by continuous heavy rainfall in the North China region, the water level of the Yongding River continues to rise. In order to ensure the safety of bridges and lines, the railway department organized two trains of 93 large vehicles to cross the Yongding River No. 5 railway bridge on the Beijing Guangzhou line, using a "heavy vehicle pressure beam" method to ensure the safety of the bridge. Weibo @ Beijing Railway Map
What are the impacts of continuous rainfall on railway operations? A person close to the inside of the railway system told the surging news reporter on August 1 that the continuous rainstorm would directly cause the railway track signal failure, and the secondary disasters caused by the rainstorm, such as debris flow, flash flood, rock fall, could also lead to line break, line washout, ground collapse, bridge collapse or displacement even though it did not collapse. Based on this, the railway would usually be delayed and shut down in this weather.
The above person further added that if the rainstorm did not cause line failure or signal failure, there would also be delays, mainly due to the rainstorm. In order to ensure safe operation, the train slowed down and the original train diagram was disrupted, resulting in a large backlog of trains.
