Bayanat Airports Engineering and Supplies – the Middle East based airport systems integrator – has formed a new strategic partnership with world renowned airfield ground lighting company, ADB. Georges Hannouche, Chief Executive Officer of Bayanat Airports Engineering & Supplies, explains what this agreement means and where else Bayanat Airports has forged partnership agreements for the implementation of cutting edge airport technologies in the Middle East
Passengers to the Middle East are set to benefit from a new strategic partnership between the airport systems integrator, Bayanat Airports Engineering and Supplies, and lighting company, ADB. Bayanat Airports has worked on major projects for new and expanding airport facilities in the UAE and Qatar, while ADB has worked across the globe for more than 60 years deploying leading-edge technologies to airfields around the world.
“The Middle East’s airports are modernising very, very quickly,” says Hannouche. “And most importantly there is still a major focus on deploying only the best technologies, and that means Bayanat Airports must be working with the world’s top companies, such as ADB, across our entire portfolio of solutions, from air traffic management systems to airfield lighting and runway and terminal systems.”
“We believe that the Middle East is our next frontier in terms of bringing the world’s best airfield technology and lighting to some of the world’s largest and fastest-growing airports, and we are excited about our new partnership with Bayanat Airports, ensuring the implementation of our world-class technology in the burgeoning UAE market,” says Malek Hussami, UAE Branch Manager of ADB.
But ADB is not alone in Bayanat Airports’ portfolio of technology partners. Also included in the list are: Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems, Ricochet AS, BARCO, SENSIS, ADACEL, QinetiQ, EXEL, Combitech AB, TMS Photometrics, Fernau, Nexans and Imtradex.
“We integrate all the systems in an airport. That includes all Terminal systems, all Runway systems and all Tower systems,” says Hannouche. “We do all the integration for airfield lighting, instrument landing systems, meteorological systems and all the systems that are in the tower: radios, radar systems, voice switches, and all other air traffic management systems as well as all the required IT, networking, cabling & power systems.”
Hannouche explains that for each technology, Bayanat Airports has put in place preferred partners with whom the company works and whose products are intimately known by Bayanat Airports. By the same token, an airport may put forward a preferred technology partner of its own, in which case Bayanat will work with them. “We can do it because all systems are similar and there are really not that many technology providers to airports to choose from,” says Hannouche. “We do not have a rigid policy as we define ourselves as System Integrators. We are not agents for these companies but we are an engineering company that provides system integration, contracting and services – whether maintenance or operations. We are a company that is capable of designing, deploying, installing, commissioning, servicing, maintaining and operating systems in airports.”
Bayanat Airports employs a team of experts in numerous engineering disciplines such as: air traffic control, software design, networking, communications, electrical and electro-mechanical engineering, and so on. This means there is no great challenge in learning new products from different suppliers and integrating various technologies.
When asked who undertakes the specification for airfield technologies – Bayanat Airports or the airport client itself – Hannouche responds: “There are three scenarios. One scenario is that the client puts together the specifications and launches a tender or request for proposal. Another scenario – for complex projects – is the use of international consultants to do the design work and prepare the specifications. Finally, in some cases – especially when we are involved with contractors who take on a project on a design and build basis – we participate as a designer.”
Returning to the announcement regarding Bayanat Airport’s partnership with ADB, Hannouche comments that there are some very clear directions in which airfield lighting is moving. “There is increased intelligence in these systems. They are using control systems to monitor the lighting which is becoming increasingly sophisticated. Lighting systems role as ground based guidance for pilots is enhanced by the increased integration with Air Traffic Control Systems used in the Tower,” he says.
“Secondly, LED systems are being used to consume less energy as they have clear financial & environmental benefits throughout their system lifespan. There are also some sophisticated systems that are new in the industry whereby the airfield is lit just for the brief period at which the aircraft is passing and no more.”
While the Middle East has become a honey put for the implementation of new technologies, Hannouche points out:”Airports in this region endure a number of challenges, traffic is increasing dramatically so one of the challenges that many airports face is how to cut costs and implement efficient systems to maximize airport capacity whilst maintaining safety. Well integrated solutions can increase the number of aircraft an airport can safely handle whilst reducing the polluting effects of aircraft on the ground,” he says.
“New technologies such as AMAN and DMAN [Arrival Management/Departure management] offer planning support taking various constraints and preferences into account to help the airport & Air navigation Service Provider to improve flow management. Furthermore, operational efficiency can be increased dramatically by sharing information using CDM Collaborative Decision Making] tools.
When it comes to innovation in energy generation, Hannouche comments that green initiatives have long lead times. “Green initiatives include many aspects. Saving energy is one of them but it also includes ways of reducing the time aircrafts stay on the ground and air. That is a complex process which includes finding new routes and more efficient approach,” says Hannouche.
Moving on to security, he is emphatic that airports are usually safe. However, there are now new challenges – especially to growing airports which have to uphold stringent safety standards as well as managing passenger flows. Again, new technologies are the answer. Then comes the challenge of integrating all these new technologies and managing the data that is produced to good effect. Again, that is where Bayanat Airports come into the equation.
So far, Bayanat Airports has undertaken projects in all UAE airports, Doha International, two airports in Syria as well as a few other airports in the region. “Currently our company is based in the UAE and another one is in Qatar. By October 2012 we will also have two other operations: one in Saudi Arabia and another in Oman,” says Hannouche.
After all, the Gulf region is seeing huge airport projects such as the one in Saudi Arabia with the AED 40 billion expansion of King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah. In addition, Qatar is investing AED 40 billion in the New Doha International Airport, while Bahrain International Airport will double in size when the current AED 3 billion expansion is completed.
The scope for new technology integration and implementation in the airport sector and the provision of airport services in the Middle East is huge and Hannouche is emphatic that Bayanat Airports will be at the centre of it.
