Germany - Articles and news items

Winter optimisation

Issue 4 2005, Past issues / 25 November 2005 /

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…)

A new airport for Berlin and Brandenburg

Issue 2 2005, Past issues / 10 June 2005 /

Berlin’s Schönefeld Airport has been host of the ILA since 1992 and is currently Germany’s boom airport. As of 2006 it is being expanded to become the new capital city airport – Berlin Brandenburg International (BBI).

The stage has been set for the future – in the coming years Schönefeld Airport will be expanded to become the capital’s new Airport. The official construction permit and the financing concept are completed and detailed planning and preparations for construction are being made. The Bundesverwaltungsgericht (the German Administrative Court) has announced a final decision on the suit about the expansion of the airport for the first half of 2006. As of 2011, according to planning, the entire air traffic for the Berlin-Brandenburg region will be concentrated at the airport in the southeast of the city. The inner-city airports Tegel and Tempelhof will be closed as a result. (more…)

Implementing SMS in Germany

Issue 1 2005, Past issues / 16 March 2005 /

With the November 2005 date looming for meeting ICAO’s requirement for the implementation of SMS, Henning Pfisterer of Munich Airport gives an update on how the Germany airport industry is fulfilling these requirements.

The ICAO requirement for the implementation of Safety Management Systems (SMS) at certified airports – an ICAO standard that takes effect in November 2005 – is probably one of the most significant changes in the regulatory framework for the operation of airports in recent years.

The German federal government and the very complex structure of German aviation regulation dictates that airport licensing and certification here is delegated to the 16 state aviation authorities. These state aviation authorities are also in charge of the supervision of the airports. (more…)