Airport Planning

airsight assists airports in the planning and design of their airside infrastructure (e.g. runways, taxiways, aprons and other areas), to manage compliance, optimise capacity and maximise safety.

Contact Consulting Department

Denis Thiemer
Denis ThiemerHead of Department
+493045803177 info@airsight.de

Overview

Aerodromes are required to develop or adapt their infrastructure to meet growing traffic demand and a continuously evolving aircraft fleet. This planning exercise is complex, as it requires to take into account numerous legal requirements, as well as the aerodromes' short and long-term strategy and objectives.

airsight has extensive knowledge in national and international specifications for the planning, design and operations for aerodromes. This includes, of course, ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices, EASA Certification Specifications, as well as related guidance material, best-practices and different national requirements.

Our unique, holistic approach enables us to assist small aerodromes as well as large international airports in designing aircraft movement areas (runways, taxiway, aprons), while managing compliance, and optimising capacity and maximising the level of safety.

Aerodrome Infrastructure Design

Planning and design of airfield infrastructure and associated elements in line with international industry best practice.

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Our Expertise

Since 1999, we conducted numerous projects related to the planning and design of aerodrome movement areas and have the extensive knowledge and specialised tools required to make our services efficient to deliver the best results to our clients.

Airport Runway Planning


Modern runways are one of the most complex and expensive airport elements. Their planning requires careful consideration of the operating environment and applicable requirements in order to ensure safety of aircraft operations as well as maximise airport capacity.

airsight offers detailed planning services that cover the geometric design, positioning, dimensioning and configuration of runway systems (new runways, extensions or displaced thresholds), including runway shoulders, strips, holding positions, runway end safety areas, obstacle limitation requirements, markings and signs as well as associated equipment (e.g. AGL, NavAids etc.).

airsight's wide ranging services include geometric design, dimensioning and configuration of airfield layouts including taxiway and taxilane network, taxiway fillets, shoulders and strips, rapid exit taxiways, holding bays and bypasses as well as taxi guidance components such as markings, signs and lights to ensure continuous flows and operations at the highest levels of safety and efficiency.

Careful planning, design and optimisation of apron areas is vital to ensure adequacy of aircraft stand provision and sufficiency of aircraft ground movement circulation.

In addition to regulatory requirements, this includes consideration of necessary apron capacity and flexibility, the respective aircraft fleet mix and associated ground manoeuvring procedures as well as numerous ground handling process taking place around the parked aircraft. With regard to ground servicing vehicles an appropriate apron road system should be provided to cater for separation of traffics and, hence, increase apron safety. 

Furthermore, airsight assists in planning and optimization of apron floodlighting to ensure compliance with relevant provisions and norms.

Strategic Planning Services

airsight offers a diverse range of airport planning services lending support with strategic design decisions or detailed planning questions.

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airsight provides technical engineering, planning and legal expertise that supports complex airport development projects.

This inludes the preparation of technically sound master plans for airport infrastructure enhancements based on a careful balance between safety objectives and operational effectiveness and taking into consideration infrastructure, operating or phasing alternatives to meet traffic demand.

Strategic planning is linked to an airport’s business plan and defines a set of agreed principles on how future development will be brought forward. Technical reviews validate regulatory compliance, capacity and service levels as well as phasing and capital expenditure programmes of planned infrastructure developments.

Technical Planning Services

airsight offers an interdisciplinary approach to airport planning and conducts detailed technical studies and a wide range of specialised engineering services for aerodrome operators.

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Aerodrome pavement has to be sufficiently well-constructed and maintained to support the dynamic and static loads imposed by aircraft during take-off, landing and taxiing manoeuvres as well as when parked on stand.

airsight and its partners provide services for assessing and monitoring pavement conditions and to develop strategic plans to maximise structural soundness and lifetime of the paved surfaces. Our services are wide ranging and include visual inspections (PCI assessment), diverse methods (Falling Weight Deflectometer - FWD) and laboratory tests.

An aerodrome consists of complex and interrelated elements. airsight excels in the conceptual planning of these elements, and is one of airport operator's first advisor in this field, and has demonstrated experience in the planning of e.g.:

  • De-icing pads
  • Underground fuelling facilities
  • Air Traffic Control or Apron Towers (incl. remote towers)
  • Airport Rescue and Firefighting Services stations
  • Passenger Boarding Bridges (PBB)
  • Visual Docking Guidance Systems (VDGS)
  • Communication, Navigation & Surveillance equipment (CNS)
  • Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL)
  • Apron Floodlighting
  • Jet Blast Fences

Innovative systems can greatly improve the efficiency and safety of airport operations. airsight assits clients in selecting the most promising technology and prioritising investment, assessing the feasibility as well as developing operational implementation concepts. Selected references include:

  • Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM)
  • A-SMGCS  / Follow-the-Greens
  • Remote Apron Control
  • Runway anti-skid / special coating
  • FOD Detection Systems
  • Drone monitoring and prevention systems

Selected Clients

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