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Issue 6 2009
Issue 6 2009 / 11 December 2009 / Jonathon Counsell, Head of Environment, British Airways
British Airways is the UK’s largest international scheduled airline and the largest operator at Heathrow. As the UK’s premier international hub airport, Heathrow plays a central – and unique – role in UK plc. Terminal 5, opened in March 2008 at a cost of £4.3 billion, is a state-of-the-art world leading facility capable of handling 30 million passengers annually. Home to some 92% of British Airways’ Heathrow flights, BAA and British Airways have worked in partnership to improve the environmental performance of the airport’s ground handling operation. (more…)
Tagged with: British Airways, Environment, Jonathon Counsell, United Kingdom
Issue 6 2009 / 11 December 2009 / David McMillan, Director General, EUROCONTROL
Continuous Descent Approaches (CDA) are on the rise: March 2009 marked the launch of the European Joint Industry CDA Action Plan, backed by IATA, CANSO, ACI-EUROPE and EUROCONTROL1. Since then, according to EUROCONTROL’s CDA Implementation Support Team, implementation progress has been non-stop. Why are CDAs gathering this momentum?
Continuous Descent Approaches are an aircraft operating technique which reduces the amount of level flight in an arriving aircraft’s descent; this reduces fuel burn and also has benefits in reducing noise. In fact, it has been calculated that in the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) area, CDA has the potential to save over 150,000 tonnes of fuel per year, the equivalent of almost 500,000 tonnes of CO2. That’s not to mention an estimated one to five decibel reduction in noise impact on the ground per flight2.
The European Joint Industry CDA Action Plan supports the SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research Programme) requirement for CDA to be in widespread practice by 2013. SESAR aims to deliver greater safety, capacity and environmental sustainability. With such a target, the support of all industry partners is essential in its implementation. (more…)
Tagged with: Continuous Descent Approaches (CDA), David McMillan, EUROCONTROL
Issue 6 2009 / 11 December 2009 / Derek Provan, Operations Director, Glasgow International Airport
The time, 21.45, the date, 19th October 2009. The project report forecast informs me that the team will take possession of the taxiway at 22.00, one hour ahead of plan. The weather, dry, 9-11 degrees Celsius, with light to moderate winds. Details of the planned civils, electrical and asphalting works fill the pages in minute detail, as time is crucial to this team.
Tonight they will continue to resurface the alpha taxiway and replace the airfield ground lighting system (AGL) that lies within it, as part of the ongoing investment in our airport infrastructure.
As I enter the contractors’ compound at Crash Gate 1, I am surprised by the immediate feeling of concern and dread that washes over me. As we drive past, swarms of contractors’ vehicles and personnel are moving deliberately and efficiently around us.
As an international airport, airside security is paramount. The security team spend every hour of the day ensuring the safety and security of the personnel, equipment and aircraft that operate on this airfield. Our security infrastructure includes an electronic security fence, thermal imaging CCTV, and security patrols carried out by our security team, police and other agencies both internal and external, up to the perimeter fence. All to ensure the prevention of unwanted intruders, who may wish to cause harm to the people and property that constitute our airport. (more…)
Tagged with: Airfield ground lighting system (AGL), Derek Provan, Glasgow International Airport, Taxiway resurfacing, United Kingdom
Issue 6 2009 / 11 December 2009 / Dr. Stefan Schulte, CEO, Fraport AG
Fraport expects to spend a huge €7 billion by 2015 to ensure Frankfurt airport strengthens its position as a leading global hub. In the competitive European airport business, Fraport, which owns and operates Frankfurt airport, has put in place a series of initiatives to make sure it can deliver a large increase in capacity by 2015 to handle predicted passenger and cargo growth.
A fourth runway, a new third terminal for passengers in the south of the airport, and the expansion and modernisation of existing terminals, including the ability to handle wide-bodied aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747/800, are all part of the biggest expansion in the history of Germany’s largest airport.
When the new Runway Northwest is finished in 2011, the number of aircraft movements per hour will rise from 83 today, to 126, a 50% increase. Based on planned capacity increases at other European airports such as London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle or Amsterdam Schiphol, Frankfurt will offer the highest slot capacity. (more…)
Tagged with: Airport profiles, Dr. Stefan Schulte, Fraport AG, Germany
Issue 6 2009 / 11 December 2009 / Pierre Graff, Chairman and CEO of Aéroports de Paris
On 14 March 1974, Aéroports de Paris welcomed its first passengers to Terminal 1 at Paris-Charles de Gaulle. This event marked the opening of the airport, which has since become the world’s 5th largest by passenger volume, and Europe’s most powerful hub.
Thirty-five years and over a billion passengers later, Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport has undergone a series of major transformations to keep pace with the growth in air traffic and accommodate both airline and passenger customers under optimal conditions. The airport now has three terminals and a large network of airport, road, rail and building infrastructures. It welcomes more than 60 million passengers a year, and some 460 airlines, including the three international alliances SkyTeam, Star Alliance and OneWorld. This spectacular development is founded on undeniable competitive advantages, but also on a proactive and ambitious strategy that combines quality of service with economic performance. (more…)
Tagged with: Aéroports de Paris, Airport profiles, France, Pierre Graff
Issue 6 2009 / 11 December 2009 / Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the European Commission
The aviation industry is faced with many challenges that will need to be overcome if it is to remain sustainable. Airlines and airports across Europe are finding it difficult to increase their capacity while cutting back costs and reducing the impact of aviation on the environment. This situation has been made all the more difficult by the recent economic crisis. These problems are too big for any individual company to tackle alone. They have to be tackled at the European level.
The European Union launched the first Single European Sky (SES) legislation in 2000 to help the industry cope with safety, environmental and organisational challenges. This year it adopted the second legislative SES package to remove even more obstacles, promote collaboration between different stakeholders and stimulate innovation. (more…)
Tagged with: Air traffic control (ATC), Antonio Tajani, European Commission, Legislation
Issue 6 2009 / 11 December 2009 / Michel Baljet, Assistant Director, Technical Fuel Services, IATA
In an effort to reduce emissions and greenhouse gases, and to increase fuel supply security, biofuel mandates have become increasingly prevalent. Existing legislation includes Directive 2003/30/EC of the European Parliament, the Energy Independence and Security Act (US), and the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (US). In addition, Canadian provincial governments have legislation planned. Mandates such as these have made biodiesel and ethanol two of the most widely accepted biofuels in the world today. Unfortunately, biodiesel and jet fuel can be incompatible, and cross-contamination is a threat facing the aviation industry.
Biodiesel is manufactured using a chemical process called transesterification (see Figure 1 opposite). Manufacturers react methanol with an oil (triglyceride) such as vegetable oil, animal fat or used cooking oil to produce Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) and glycerol. The ester is called biodiesel and has properties similar to petroleum diesel. (more…)
Tagged with: Fuel, International Air Transport Association (IATA), Michel Baljet
Issue 6 2009 / 11 December 2009 / George Saounatsos, Manager for Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT), YVRAS/Hermes Airports Ltd.
This article introduces the principles and methodologies used in the successful and timely opening of new airport facilities, as implemented on the island of Cyprus in the 7.5-million annual passenger capacity Larnaka International Airport (LCA) in 2009 and the 3-million capacity Pafos International Airport (PFO) in 2008. (more…)
Tagged with: George Saounatsos, Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT), YVRAS/Hermes Airports Ltd.
Issue 6 2009 / 11 December 2009 / Dr. Francisco Severino, Lisbon Airport Director
Located on the Atlantic coast, at the western edge of Europe, Lisbon Airport is the ideal gateway for the growing traffic between Brazil, Africa and Europe. In 2008, Lisbon Airport handled 13.6 million passengers, almost 145 thousand landings and take-offs and more than 80 thousand tonnes of cargo. A 380 million-Euro development plan is under way. Working alongside its partners to improve its quality standards, Lisbon Airport is currently expanding its capacity to the maximum – 40/42 flight operations per hour – providing passengers with greater comfort and airlines with greater efficiency.
Being a Star Alliance hub, with direct connections to more than 90 airports through 32 scheduled airlines and charter links to many others, Lisbon airport plays a vital role in facilitating local business and international trade. (more…)
Tagged with: Baggage handling, Dr. Francisco Severino, Lisbon Airport, Portugal
Issue 6 2009 / 11 December 2009 / Jost Lammers, CEO of Budapest Airport
A new high-tech terminal building, a vastly extended apron, a new on-airport hotel and the development of a cargo city. These are just the main features of a five-year development plan at Budapest International Airport that will reach 261 million Euros altogether. Ground works have already started last year and this summer 70 metre high cranes have been added to the Ferihegy skyline around Terminal 2.
Budapest had reached a record 8.7 million passengers in 2007 when, only 18 months after the successful privatisation of the airport, a second new owner took control of the airport operator company. An international consortium, lead by Hochtief AirPort, have acquired the 75% minus one vote package of the shares of Budapest Airport from the British Airport Authority, itself being taken over by the Spanish Ferrovial Group. Hochtief AirPort (37.25%), the runner-up in the original 2005 privatisation, has lead a group of investors including GIC Special Investment (13.625%), Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec CDP (13.625%), Aero Investment S.á.r.l. (7.5%) and KfW IPEX-Bank (3%), with the Hungarian State retaining 25% plus one vote through the Hungarian State Property Agency (MNV) in the company. Under the privatisation agreement the consortium will own the operational rights of the airport until 2080 and made a commitment to invest 261 million Euros over the next five years. (more…)
Tagged with: Airport profiles, Budapest Airport, Hungary, Jost Lammers
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