Hong Kong Regulations

AIR NAVIGATION (HONG KONG) ORDER 1995 - SECT 46

Exits and break-in markings

Caution: This is a past version. See the current version here.

(1) This Article shall apply to every public transport aircraft registered in
Hong Kong.

(2) Whenever an aircraft to which this Article applies is carrying passengers,
every exit therefrom and every internal door in the aircraft shall be in
working order, and during take-off and landing and during any emergency, every
such exit and door shall be kept free of obstruction and shall not be fastened
by locking or otherwise so as to prevent, hinder or delay its use by
passengers: Provided that-

   (a)  an exit may be obstructed by cargo if it is an exit which, in
        accordance with arrangements approved by the Governor either generally
        or in relation to a class of aircraft or a particular aircraft, is not
        required for use by passengers;

   (b)  a door between the flight crew compartment and any adjacent
        compartment to which passengers have access may be locked or bolted if
        the commander of the aircraft so determines, for the purpose of
        preventing access by passengers to the flight crew compartment; and

   (c)  nothing in this paragraph shall apply to any internal door which is so
        placed that it cannot prevent, hinder or delay the exit of passengers
        from the aircraft in an emergency if it is not in working order.

(3) Every exit from the aircraft shall be marked with the words

"Exit" or "Emergency Exit" in capital letters.

(4) (a) Every exit from the aircraft shall be marked with instructions in
English and with diagrams, to indicate the correct method of opening the exit;

   (b)  The markings shall be placed on or near the inside surface of the door
        or other closure of the exit and, if it is openable from the outside
        of the aircraft, on or near the exterior surface.

(5) (a) Every aircraft to which this Article applies, being an aircraft of
which the maximum total weight authorized exceeds 3600 kg, shall be marked
upon the exterior surface of its fuselage with markings to
show the areas (in this paragraph referred to as "break-in areas") which can,
for purposes of rescue in an emergency, be most readily and effectively broken
into by persons outside the aircraft.

   (b)  The break-in areas shall be rectangular in shape and shall be marked
        by right-angled corner markings, each arm of which shall be 10
        centimetres in length along its outer edge and 2.5 centimetres in
        width.

        (c)	The words "Cut Here in Emergency" shall be marked across the 
centre of each break-in area in capital letters: Provided that this paragraph
shall not apply to helicopters.

(6) On every flight by an aircraft to which this Article applies, being an
aircraft of which the maximum total weight authorised exceeds 5700 kg, every
exit from such an aircraft intended to be used by passengers in an emergency
shall be marked upon the exterior of the aircraft by a band not less than 5
centimetres in width outlining the exit.

(7) The markings required by this Article shall-

   (a)  be painted, or affixed by other equally permanent means;

   (b)  except in the case of the markings required by paragraph (6) of this
        Article, be red in colour, and in any case in which the colour of the
        adjacent background is such as to render red markings not readily
        visible, be outlined in white or some other contrasting colour in such
        a manner as to render them readily visible;

   (c)  in the case of the markings required by paragraph (6) of this Article,
        be of a colour clearly contrasting with the background on which it
        appears; and

   (d)  be kept at all times clean and unobscured.

(8) If one, but not more than one, exit from an aircraft becomes inoperative
at a place where it is not reasonably practicable for it to be repaired or
replaced, nothing in this Article shall prevent that aircraft from carrying
passengers until it next lands at a place where the exit can be repaired or
replaced: Provided that-

   (a)  the number of passengers carried and the position of the seats which
        they occupy is in accordance with arrangements approved by the
        Governor either in relation to the particular aircraft or to a class
        of aircraft; and

   (b)  in accordance with arrangements so approved, the exit is
fastened by locking or otherwise, the words "Exit" or "Emergency Exit" are
covered, and the exit is marked by a red disc at least 23 centimetres in
diameter with a horizontal white bar across it bearing the words "No exit" in
red letters.