Deploying robots to repaint airfield markings that guide pilots during take-off, landing and taxiing has more than halved the time needed for the job and cut cost, airport authorities said.

During a media briefing, Airport Authority chief operating officer Steven Yiu said Hong Kong International Airport is the first in the world to use robots for the task.

The machines came into use in September after a year of testing.

Yiu explained that markings across the airport's three runways, spanning more than 11 kilometres, must be repainted regularly to ensure pilot visibility.

He added that markings that come into frequent contact with planes even require maintenance on a weekly basis.

Yiu said more than half of the painting work can be assigned to the machines.

"It is a job of huge physical labour and precision. Also, the job is at nighttime and requires precision when everyone is tired. In terms of accuracy and safety, we hope that machines can assist humans," he said.

“As for how much time is reduced, for example, usually it might take us three hours to finish painting centrelines. Now it only takes one hour.

"Also, the amount of paint sprayed is very precise. Just in paint spray, we save HK$400,000 each year. We also cut working hours by roughly two-thirds."

Yiu noted that the robots are being used to paint simple, standard lines, while human staff continue to handle curves and more complex markings.

The robots, he said, were originally used to paint lines in sports stadiums and were repurposed through a joint development project with a Shenzhen technology firm.

Looking ahead, Yiu said the airport plans to deploy a total of six robots.

He also expressed hope that robotic runway painting will eventually become a civil aviation standard.




Edited by Tony Sabine