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Issue 4 2011
8 August 2011
As a result of the influx of air traffic in the past decade, AAI have embarked upon a plan to modernise and upgrade its airports with two aims; firstly, to not only match but to keep on top of the increase of air traffic, and secondly, to create world class standard airports within India for the comfort and benefit of passengers.
Sixty airports within the country were identified as candidates for the modernisation programme. The theory behind the initiative is to develop state capitals and other airports which have the potential to attract tourist and business travellers who can contribute towards the economic growth of that particular region.
The level of investment involved has certainly mirrored the size and magnitude of this project. Indeed, the fact that the capital expenditure of the AAI five year plan has increased by 300 per cent shows the scope of what we are trying to achieve with this modernisation.
8 August 2011
If it were a separate nation, California would be one of the largest economies in the world. Currently the population of the Golden State stands at 36 million with an expected increase to 60 million by 2040. Air travel demand will increase dramatically and because of the enormous size of California a new aviation board should be created to ensure that it has meaningful aviation policies, strategic plans and a vision for future aviation. The board should also monitor all aviation activity such as safety, cargo growth and airports.
Recently, aviation planning within California has not met the needs of the region with the potential for air and ground gridlock to increase dramatically. Back in July 2007, the Transportation Research Board issued a request for the proposal Airport Co-Operative Research Programmes ACRP 03-10 entitled Innovative approaches to addressing coastal mega regions. The request refers to the West Coast and the North East stating that “......the conditions in these two areas are projected to get worse in the future and that the state wide planning system is not sufficient enough to address capacity limitations.”
8 August 2011
As the Indian aviation market continues its growth, the involvement of Shell Aviation Fuels has had much influence. International Airport Review spoke to CEO Sanjay Varkey to find out why the Indian market will continue to flourish.
IAR: Shell Aviation first began its operations in India back in 2008 at Bangalore and Hyderabad Airports respectively, with nine further airports in the three years since. Has the growth in aviation in that part of the world meant that the expansion into those nine other airports was inevitable? Could it have been quicker?
SV: When Shell MRPL Aviation Fuels and Services Private Limited (SMA) launched aviation fuel operations in India in 2008, Bangalore and Hyderabad were the country’s only two open access airports. Further expansions in India needed to align with access, permissions and developments at airports. In the two years since then, SMA has concluded industry first infrastructure sharing agreements in India that have enabled a rapid network expansion. Shell is currently the only multinational oil company with a government license to market aviation fuels in India. The network expansion into 12 airports across the country reinforces our strong focus on this market, which is growing at a remarkable rate.
8 August 2011
More than 100 million passengers and billions of pounds worth of freight enter the UK through airports each year. Airports are the largest entry point for traffic into the UK and the UK Border Agency is the first point of contact through the border force.
Formed in 2008, the UK Border Agency is responsible for securing the UK border and controlling migration, with the border force being the law enforcement arm responsible for enforcing customs and immigration law at the border. The Agency uses innovative technology and robust controls to help protect the country from illegal immigration, smugglers, organised crime and terrorism.
8 August 2011
Copenhagen Airport was opened on 20 April 1925 as one of the world’s first airports exclusively for civil traffic. Today the airport is one of the most modern in the world and has been awarded numerous awards for efficiency and customer satisfaction. Copenhagen is Scandinavia’s largest airport and is also one of the major hubs in Northern Europe.
ARFF (Aviation Rescue and Fire Fighting) is a highly specialised component of the fire fighting service. An aircraft accident presents itself with various hazards that can threaten aircraft occupants, the environment, local community and emergency responders. ARFF crews must respond quickly and with precision to minimise loss of life and injuries. Fortunately, serious accidents are rare but that means that skills can only be built through training and learning from others rather than from actual accident experience.
8 August 2011
A hundred years ago, on the site that is today home to one of Europe’s most modern airports, there stood a single, two-door airship hangar. By the end of the 1920s, a modern terminal building was already making its mark on the city of Hamburg. Today, Hamburg Airport greets arriving tourists and business travellers with its futuristic glass and steel architecture, a unique advertisement for the city. In total, we have invested around €350 million in the expansion programme, an expansion programme that is the largest project of its kind ever to be seen at the airport.
Some of the milestones in the construction of the new Hamburg Airport were the completion of the two state-of-the-art passenger terminals and the airport plaza with a central security checkpoint, the extension of the passenger pier, the installation of a dynamic parking guidance system, the creation of additional parking spaces, the S-Bahn (metro rail network) connection to downtown Hamburg and the construction of the Radisson BLU Hotel Hamburg Airport, directly opposite the terminals.
8 August 2011
The Single European Sky programme, to rationalise the airspace above the Single Market, has been hailed as Europe’s single biggest environmental programme, and by EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas as the most important project in his portfolio. It promises a huge efficiency improvement over the current patchwork of national airspaces, with the potential to halve the bills that airlines pay for air navigation services, from an average of €800 to €400 per flight, and to significantly reduce delays and their associated costs borne by consumers. It is genuinely a win-win-win endeavour.
Despite all this, the Single Sky has had a long and turbulent history dating back over 20 years. The institutional process which leads us to where we are today is more recent, however. The first major landmark was the establishment of the first Single European Sky Regulation in November 2000, which created the legislative framework for what was to follow.
8 August 2011
Since the devastating terrorist attacks of 9/11, the threat of further atrocities has been at the forefront of the national agenda. Almost 10 years on and the security landscape has changed dramatically, with these changes most apparent in the aviation sector. Moreover, the recent announcement of the death of Osama Bin Laden has provided a stark reminder of the risk the UK continues to face, with the Government warning of an increased likelihood of retaliatory attacks. As such, the role of aviation security is bound to remain critical in the fight against terrorism.
For many of us, it has been hard to believe that almost 10 years have passed since the World Trade Centre attacks of 9/11, bringing the aviation security industry firmly into the spotlight. Since then, airport security has been at the forefront of counter terror measures, as procedures and technology are continually updated to face the ever changing security threat.
8 August 2011
It was one particular snowy day at the airport last year when I signed off the use of a large amount of anti-skid material, perhaps more than I was used to seeing recorded in our operation logs. However, the request was essential given the winter conditions that we had to operate in. The minimum temperatures were exceptionally low at the airport during the last winter season. Compressed snow and icy banks built up on the airside aprons meaning that it was essential for the airport to take action.
The previous two winters were particularly challenging for the airport. The last six years preceding this threw up very little in the way of snow clearing difficulties, in fact, to quote one of my Duty Airside Managers; “One of the worst winters took place on a very nice Saturday afternoon!”
8 August 2011
Our goal is to establish Bangalore International Airport as India’s leading airport in terms of quality and efficiency as well as setting a benchmark for other airports in India. The facility has been built and is being operated to international standards and is now a pioneer in the country due to the passenger experience that takes place on the ground.
Situated on a 4,000 acre plot of land, the airport currently has a 4,000 metre runway and a terminal building of around 70,000 square metres, the capacity of which is soon to be doubled. The airport handles nearly 12 million passengers annually and is growing at a rate of 18 per cent higher than the national average of 16 per cent. This makes Bangalore one of the busiest greenfield airports in the country. With a passenger profile of over 50 per cent that comprises business travellers, the airport has prided itself on efficiency and processes that make air travel a pleasant and hassle free experience. This customer orientated organisation is dedicated to meeting the needs of its passengers. Being a greenfield airport allows the ability and freedom to deploy state of the art, industry leading solutions. Given the airport’s location in the home of India’s formidable IT industry, it is entirely appropriate that this world-class airport remains at the forefront of cutting edge technology while ensuring efficiency and security.
8 August 2011
Many interesting and exciting developments have occurred since the IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) began in May 2008. Back then, it was a grand plan to get ground operations audited in order to enhance safety on the ramp while reducing industry audits. Only three years after its introduction to the aviation industry, ISAGO has become a household name for quality audits, resulting in increased levels of safety. Now totalling more than 350 audits, ISAGO audits are being carried out in more than 120 locations worldwide.
Programme growth
The growth and development of ISAGO is the result of the dedication and vision of many key industry stakeholders. First and foremost, the 41 ISAGO pool member airlines have made the programme stronger than ever. Each one of them has provided numerous auditors in the implementation of stricter standards that no regulatory entity has ever implemented before. Ironic as it may seem, despite ground handling being such a very important component of the aviation industry, it nevertheless lacks standardised oversight.
8 August 2011
Zurich Airport is Switzerland’s gateway to the world. Last year, a total of 22.9 million passengers departed from, arrived at, or transferred via Zurich Airport, thus making it not only the region’s most important transport hub, but also its most highly-frequented shopping and services centre. Approximately 270 companies operate at the airport, where they provide jobs for almost 24,000 people.
Zurich Airport serves as the major hub for Swiss International Air Lines, its home carrier, as well as for Lufthansa and Air Berlin. Zurich Airport is regularly awarded for the quality and scope of its services, its short transfer distances, its friendly staff and the cleanliness of its infrastructure.
8 August 2011
One of the biggest challenges faced by an airport is how to integrate the various systems that it employs to ensure that the security, the comfort and the convenience for passengers is maximised. The nature of an airport means that it typically develops organically. As the demand for air travel grows, with the megatrend towards urbanisation gathering pace and the role that airports have to play in that process increasing, so airports will expand accordingly.
They will build new terminals, expand facilities within existing buildings and perhaps even construct new runways to extend their capacity to accommodate more passengers and freight. All of this involves the addition of new elements to security, fire, electrical power distribution, heating ventilating and air conditioning and building automation systems.
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