Airport News

The revamp of Apron 1 will take place in 10 staggered phases between 2016 and 2020 in oder to keep the impact on flight operations to a minimum.

According to the German gateway, the comprehensive refurbishment of a central airport facility encompasses the renewal of all pipes, cables, technical equipment, and the surface itself.

It is estimated that the new taxiways and aircraft parking positions will have a lifecycle of approximately 25 years.

For deeper underground facilities such as storm water channels, the target utilisation period is 50 years.

Work on the first €40 million project phase of 59,000sqm in the southern apron and terminal area is planned to begin in March 2016.

The work will be carried out by the consortium ARGE HAM VF1, BA 1-5 – consisting of the companies Bickhardt Bau from Kirchheim and Krebs Infrastruktur & Betonbau from Neumuenster.

Tendering for Phases 6–10 will take place at a later date.

“We see the comprehensive apron refurbishment is an investment for the future," says airport CEO, Michael Eggenschwiler.

"Aircraft will be able to taxi and manoeuvre better and more quietly on the new surface. This will result in reduced noise and exhaust emissions, an important goal along the path to sustainable airport infrastructure.

“Carrying out the construction work over several years during ongoing operations is a great challenge for our entire team. But with this approach we are keeping the impact on flight operations as small as possible.”

In the course of the renewal of the surface, the apron layout will be revised to fulfil current EASA and ICAO standards, with new lane alignment and markings, including taxiways and aircraft parking positions.

Existing drainage facilities will be renewed in conjunction with the manoeuvring surface areas.

Furthermore, the apron will be equipped with the new 'Follow the Greens' illumination system on the taxiways leading to both runways.

Rows of green lights inserted into the surface will guide pilots to take-off or to the allocated parking position.

Jochen Schroeder, project manager for civil engineering in the airport's Real Estate Management Division, explains: “With ‘Follow the Greens’, Hamburg Airport is adopting an intelligent, individually managed illumination and guidance system.

"It makes intersecting traffic possible without danger and also facilitates improved traffic flow on the manoeuvring area.”

Shorter taxiing and waiting times is, of course, be good for the environment as it reduces aircraft fuel consumption on the ground.