Issue 4 2005

Planning for the 21st Century

Issue 4 2005 / 25 November 2005 / Hanan Sayed Worrell, Manager of projects, SCADIA

Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will soon deliver a massive expansion of airport capacity with far less difficulty and in a more cost-effective manner than other comparable airports in the region and around the world.

Through a combination of foresight and timely intervention, Abu Dhabi, one of the fastest growing economies in the Middle East, will not face the daunting prospect of relocating and building a new airport to guarantee capacity for the 21st century.

Driven by the wealth of its oil and gas resources, this powerhouse of the United Arab Emirates has embarked on an ambitious strategy of diversifying its sources of income by increasing tourism and stimulating trade and investment. The expansion of Abu Dhabi International Airport (ADIA) forms one of the cornerstones of this strategy. (more…)

Tagged with: Abu Dhabi International Airport, Airport profiles, Hanan Sayed Worrell, SCADIA, United Arab Emirates

Heathrow prepares for the A380

Issue 4 2005 / 25 November 2005 / Steve Elliott, Head of Projects, Heathrow Airport, BAA

Heathrow will welcome the A380 into service next year, and in this article its had of projects discusses the modifications carried out to make this possible.

Heathrow airport is the world’s busiest international airport with 67 million passengers travelling through its four terminals every year and approximately 90 airlines currently flying in and out. BAA is to spend more than £3 billion in upgrading the airport over the next ten years (excluding Terminal 5 spend) and it has invested £450 million to re-develop the airport’s Terminal 3, to prepare it for the arrival of the new Airbus A380 aircraft.

A new era of air travel will begin when the A380 flights commence. The new aircraft will be able to carry a lot more passengers on each flight and as a result airport teams have had to plan in advance to ensure that they have the necessary facilities and services to handle the larger number of passengers who will be travelling through their terminals. (more…)

Tagged with: A380, BAA, Heathrow Airport, Steve Elliott

Winter optimisation

Issue 4 2005 / 25 November 2005 / Thomas Torsten-Meyer and Henning Pfisterer, Vice President Airport Operations and Duty Officer, Manager of Airport Safety, Munich Airport

Controlling ice and snow in major hub operations is an increasingly challenging task. In this article, Munich Airport reveals what it takes to remain open through the winter months.

A single runway closure of 30 minutes can easily build up to average delays of 2-3 hours with a traffic density on the scale of 70-90 movements per hour. Subsequently, if ATC doesn´t imposing pre-tactical flow control measures, the holding stock capacity of major airports can easily be exceeded when snow clearance requires a sudden runway closure during peak hours.

After completion of the runway clearance, delays can be further exacerbated by bottlenecks in remote aircraft de-icing areas. Crew duty hour limitations on long-haul services might also result in cancellations, even if the initial weather-induced delay was only minor.

Another consideration is that an initial departure delay is exacerbated if the aircraft cannot keep its slot. This situation may even worsen if the destination airport is also subject to weather-related closures and delays. Night flight restrictions, which are a very present concern here in Germany, also limit the capability to absorb delays, causing backlogs in scheduling the following day. (more…)

Tagged with: Germany, Henning Pfisterer, Munich Airport, Thomas Torsten-Meyer, Winter operations

Airfield training

Issue 4 2005 / 25 November 2005 / Stephen M. Quilty, A.A.E., Professor – Aviation Studies, Bowling Green, State University, Ohio, USA

The effective operation of any airport depends on the efficacy of its personnel and in this article Professor Quilty discusses the value of properly trained airport personnel.

When you get right down to it, the business of operating a safe and efficient airport is about people. It is about the people whose duties and responsibilities are to implement an overall Safety Management System (SMS) in accordance with the standards and recommended practices (SARP) of ICAO, the State, and other best practices. A question that arises from this basic premise is what qualifications should these individuals have in order to carry out those duties and responsibilities? What knowledge, what skills, what general abilities should they have?

The success of many organisations lies in the foundation of hiring the correct person for the assigned purpose, and the further provision of training and educational opportunities to develop and advance that employee’s skills and capabilities. While the task of hiring and training individuals often falls upon the human resource or personnel department, how well versed is this department in knowing what capabilities an airport operations individual must have? (more…)

Tagged with: Airfield training, Bowling Green, Safety Management System (SMS), State University, Stephen M. Quilty, USA

Checkpoints – are we there yet?

Issue 4 2005 / 25 November 2005 / Norman Shanks, Principal Partner, Norman Shanks Associates International

Despite enhancements since 9/11, recognition is growing that work remains to be done before the level of security desired for passengers and their carry on baggage is reached.

Despite the somewhat predictable regulatory frenzy in the US and Europe immediately after the tragic events of 9/11, many people believe that little real benefit has been achieved in enhancing passenger and carry on baggage security. Indeed, some believe that the almost fanatical focus on small sharp objects has resulted in a reduced focus by the security screeners on the more traditional threats to civil aviation.

It is recognised that the hijackers in the four co-ordinated incidents on September 11 used box cutters to access the cockpit. This risk could have, and subsequently has been, mitigated by the simpler and less frustrating process of simply securing the cock pit door.

Also today, such an attack is unlikely to succeed, because many passengers would now follow the example of those passengers of United Airlines flight 93, who took it upon themselves to co-ordinate an attack against the hijackers. I think it is safe to assume that today’s passenger is much more enlightened in the role that they may have to play in such an event. (more…)

Tagged with: Baggage handling, Checkpoint security, Norman Shanks, Norman Shanks Associates International

Signs of satisfaction

Issue 4 2005 / 25 November 2005 / Paul Mijksenaar, Principal, Bureau Mijksenaar

In this article, wayfinding expert Paul Mijksenaar shares some of the key concepts and ideas that are shaping people’s routes around airports all over the world.

Wayfinding is strongly related to a customer’s satisfaction. A survey by JD Power among frequent flyers at the three major New York airports showed that wayfinding issues play the most significant role in customer satisfaction. So if an airport takes its role seriously and considers customer satisfaction as a non-disputable requirement, efficient wayfinding should be provided.

Wayfinding is recently introduced terminology with which to better express passenger needs. Before it was just a matter of putting up more signs, or larger signs or more larger signs… Signing was part of the architect’s design package or not even that, but fabricated by sign manufacturers as an afterthought.

Of course, in the past, airports were smaller, simpler and more comprehensive in nature. Nowadays there is more of everything: terminals, check-in desks, gates (even more than a hundred), and airport services like airline lounges, banking, shops and retail. Even finding the nearest restroom can be a frustrating experience. (more…)

Tagged with: Bureau Mijksenaar, Passenger movement, Paul Mijksenaar, Wayfinding

A380 GSE requirements

Issue 4 2005 / 25 November 2005 / Jose Francisco Cerdó Cuesta and Dr. Thilo Stilp, Ground Operations Senior Engineer, Manager Ground Operations & Environment, Airbus A-380 Programme

Airbus’ collaborative approach is helping introduce into service the world’s largest commercial airliner.

Half a year after the Airbus A380 first flight, on April 27th, and with 159 firm orders from 16 customers booked, the preparation for entry into service at the end of 2006 continues at a rapid pace. A380 customers expect to receive a reliable, mature aircraft with the capability to fit seamlessly into their existing ground operations environment, from day one. Key components in validating this design goal are the Airport Check exercises. To date, the first two development aircraft have carried out six of these voluntary checks. The value of the checks is well recognised from feedback on similar exercises performed with other large Airbus aircraft, such as the A340-600.

The first airport check exercise was completed successfully on the 29th October at Frankfurt, one of over 60 airports that the A380-800 will serve by 2010. Several ramp scenarios were simulated, based around the standard layout with upper deck catering. Other equipment, not normally part of the normal turn around process were also tested as well as multiple pieces from different manufacturers. In total around 40 different pieces of GSE were used. This compares to around 21 for a standard turn around. (more…)

Tagged with: A380, Cerdó Cuesta, Dr. Thilo Stilp, Ground operations, Jose Francisco

Managing movement

Issue 4 2005 / 25 November 2005 / Michael Roeder, Project Manager, EMMA, German Aerospace Centre (DLR)

With airport capacity expected to become the major bottleneck in the future, the optimal usage of existing infrastructure is increasingly becoming a must, writes Michael Roeder.

After touch down, pilots have to navigate using paper maps with controllers still performing surveillance visually. Radio voice transmission remains the primary means of communication. The controller is supported by the primary airport radar SMR, which gives him an analogue display with a lot of clutter and false targets. In order to ensure safety under bad weather conditions, low visibility procedures are used to handle the poor technology support. This compromises airport throughput and increases delays, which has repercussions for the approach areas and finally, network effects on the overall air transport system. (more…)

Tagged with: EMMA, German Aerospace Centre (DLR), Ground handling, Michael Roeder

Pavement discussions

Issue 4 2005 / 25 November 2005 / Adrian van Leest and Marc Stet, CROW and KOAC-NPC

A report from this year’s European Pavement Workshop from the organisers.

Prof. André Molenaar opened the workshop by noting that the current workshop is, in fact, a European continuation of the three former Dutch workshops organised by CROW. Interest in this workshop was high, considering that just over 100 people from all over the world were participating.

The most interesting topics will be briefly described in this article. The first keynote speech was by Ray Rollings, a military pavement engineer with over 30 years of experience on the (un)expected deterioration of military and civil airport pavements. Ray pointed out that problems with materials and construction are more profound than those related to pavement design. Nowadays 30-ton wheel loads with 2.4 MPa tyre pressure are no longer the exception.

Cyril Fabre of Airbus started by showing a video of the A380-800 maiden flight cycle. The images were quite impressive. The distance of the runway needed for take-off was between 1 and 1.5 km, although the plane was not at max. take-off weight. (more…)

Tagged with: Adrian van Leest, CROW Airport Study Group, KOAC-NPC, Marc Stet, Pavement structure

Navigating storms

Issue 4 2005 / 25 November 2005 / John P. Heimlich, Vice President and Chief Economist, ATA

In this article, John Heimlich presents his viewpoint on the economic pressures currently affecting the aviation industry in North America.

On August 17, 2005, with Hurricane Katrina approaching the Gulf Coast of the United States, the price of jet fuel stood at US$ 1.87 per gallon. At 42 gallons per barrel, that per-gallon price translated to US$ 78.69 per barrel – US$ 15.40 higher than the price of crude oil. Well before Katrina approached, U.S. airlines were battling high prices and fuel supply constraints across the system, as global departures surged and an outdated infrastructure limited the injection and movement of Jet A into U.S. airports.

Katrina landed ashore on August 29. By September 1, jet fuel prices (Average of New York Harbor, U.S. Gulf Coast, and Los Angeles jet fuel spot prices from the U.S. Energy Information Administration) had risen 49 cents per gallon to US$ 2.36, or US$ 99.13 per barrel – US$ 29.63 above the price of crude oil. That product-to-crude gap is known as the ‘crack spread’, essentially the refining profit margin. As of September 7, thanks to recovery efforts and some quick action by various federal agencies, the price of jet fuel had fallen to US$ 2.08 per gallon or US$ 87.51 per barrel. The crack spread had narrowed to a still-high US$ 23.13 per barrel. (more…)

Tagged with: ATA, Economic environment, John P. Heimlich, USA

Better planning for emergencies

Issue 4 2005 / 25 November 2005 / John Goglia, Professor of Aviation Science, Saint Louis University

John Goglia reports from his unique perspective on the outcomes of Operation Atlas, the largest drill conducted in the world to date designed to show how airport and security forces cope with a terror attack.

Many of us who have spent more than half a decade in aviation have seen our lives and routines changed dramatically since aviation became a tool for terrorists, who use the visibility of aviation to get the publicity they desperately seek. The years of terrorist activity in the Middle East have clearly demonstrated that innocent lives mean very little to them. However, our passengers do mean a great deal to all of us who call aviation our business and our livelihood. Because of that we go to great lengths to make the travelling experience as safe and enjoyable as possible.

The process that begins from the point of entrance to the airport and completes when an aircraft takes off is a complex and intergraded one. This process is also repeated when the aircraft lands. In order for our passengers to feel safe and comfortable, we must ensure that all the varied efforts in the process occur seamlessly. This is not necessarily an easy task, but it is one that we have been able to master thanks to many years of effort. (more…)

Tagged with: Airport crisis management, John Goglia, Saint Louis University, Security

Ground level coordination

Issue 4 2005 / 25 November 2005 / Ben Sampson

The state of play on the ramps and aprons of the world’s airports reflects the state of the industry in general, airline efficiency and advances in technology.

Ground handling plays a vital role in the operation of an airport. Even though an increasing number of airports throughout the globe are looking to sources of revenue separate from aeronautical ones, the turnaround of aircraft with passengers and cargo remains a core market. There is little surprise then that attention in the industry focuses on the safe and efficient turnaround of aircraft at the apron. What are the factors that influence the operational environment, and how can one be sure that regulations are met as well as targets? (more…)

Tagged with: Ben Sampson, Ground handling

Contours of Asian tourism

Issue 4 2005 / 25 November 2005 / Peter A. Semone, Vice President, Business Development, Pacific Asia Travel Association

Today, writes Peter Semone, Asia represents one of the planet’s hottest tourism destinations and one of the least understood source markets for the world’s premier destinations.

Forty years ago, few would have imagined that Asia would grow to represent nearly a third of all international tourism arrivals (IVAs). Nor would anyone have anticipated that the continent would develop economically and socially and become a major generator of tourists. (more…)

Tagged with: China, India, Pacific Asia Travel Association, Peter A. Semone