The M-750 air route from Hong Kong to Japan straddles Taiwan [Inexact map (387 kb)], crossing cities such as Dali, Taiping, Dongshi, and the 4th Nuclear Power Plant.
| County/City | Directly passes | Skirts |
|---|---|---|
| Yunlin Co. | Waisandingzhou, Kouhu, Sihu, Dongshi, Lunbei | |
| Zhanghua Co. | Zhutang, Bitou, Puxin, Yuanlin | |
| Taizhong | Dali, Taiping, Dakeng, Xinshe, Dongshi | Wufeng |
| Miaoli Co. | (Mountain area) | |
| Xinzhu Co. | ||
| Taoyuan Co. | ||
| Xinbei | Wulai, Pinglin, Shuangxi | 4th Nuclear Power Plant |
See also Routes.
In the countryside, or in the city late at night, M-750's presence is very noticeable. At least it adds to the total citizen noise exposure along its 24-hour a day route. Perhaps on days of low atmospheric pressure the sound is louder(?)
However, governments such as the USA only have regulations on noise from planes below 18000 ft. (5486 m), however planes on M-750 are mainly 30000-40000 ft. (9-12 km) high.
I don't suppose noise was a consideration when M-750 was opened in 1996. It would be best if M-750 were located instead over the sea where nobody lives.
Unlike the parallel A-1 airway, the are no navigation beacons, etc. hardware installed along M-750. If M-750 were to be realigned, it could be done all in software.
It could be said that most of M-750 is for planes just transiting Taiwan -- not in service of the Taiwan people. Indeed, much local air traffic should be absorbed by the high speed rail soon, leaving this M-750 even more obvious overhead.
M-750 and A-1 are parallel, separated by 20 nautical miles (37 km). If we take M-750 from A-1's southeast, and move it to A-1's northwest, M-750 will still have 28 nautical miles (52 km) distance from the center line of the Taiwan Strait, at minimum. Of course after so far a move, a new route number should be issued.
I asked the Taiwan CAA for statistics on this route, but they had none. One could make their own statistics though, by counting planes all day, or listening to radio: I can hear the planes check in with Taibei air traffic control as they enter the Taibei Flight Information Region at ENVAR, 117.5 E. 22 deg N. on 129.1 MHz etc. I can estimate the time they will cross me from the estimated time pilots give on the radio to reach MOLKA, 124 deg E. 26.7 deg N., as I live at the halfway point between ENVAR and MOLKA. So I just halve that estimate.
One can often hear "request 10 (nautical) miles right/left of track due to weather". This could explain the occasional plane to the east of me.
One day I might try a program to read the ACARS identification signals sent from the planes.
M-750 passes a few kilometers from where I live in central Taiwan.
Passing north of me Finding plane's elevation from stars.
Last modified: 2010-11-14 08:35:45 +0800
