The Winter issue of Airside International introduces something a little different, a Buyers’ Viewpoint section that assesses what industry buyers are looking for when they come to make their procurement decisions. Whether it be GSE acquired by handlers or self-handling airlines, or airside equipment acquired by airport authorities, the pitfalls of the procurement process are many, yet it is a vital part of this business. We talk to a few of the big players about what criteria they use when making those all-important buying decisions. We’ve also taken a look back at the 2014 International Airport Expo of the International Airport Equipment Manufacturers’ Association (IAEMA) that took place in October in Las Vegas. The busy show brought together suppliers and buyers in the very attractive setting of Vegas’ Rio All-Suite Hotel for the biennial industry event that is steadily expanding. Also within these pages are features looking at the changing technologies associated with airfi eld ground lighting, hangar design and – as the Northern Hemisphere winter comes upon us – the regular challenge of on-airport snow clearance. Plus, we assessm the changing market for GSE spares, a critical aspect of the constant struggle waged by airside operators to keep as much equipment running as is humanly possible. Airside also meets Steve Szalay, dnata’s general manager ground services manager at London Heathrow, who talks about the impressive job that he and the wider dnata management team have done at the London gateway for the rapidly expanding Dubaiheadquartered handler, and chats with Jon Dutton, aviation business manager for the UK Met Offi ce, about how his team can help mitigate the effects of our everchanging weather.
The magazine ends as usual with our regular look at news over the past couple of months in Airside update.
We hope you enjoy the issue.