Airfield Safety: Developing Operational Procedures and Schedules for Airside Construction Projects

Abstract

With air traffic increasing at international airports worldwide there is a corresponding demand to increase the efficiency and capacity of airport infrastructure. The key objective of any airport however, is to maximize the safety of the travelling public regardless of any future expansion objectives. The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) over the past 6 years has embarked on an extremely ambitious plan to increase the capacity of Lester B. Pearson International Airport (LBPIA) by almost 100%. In undertaking this development the GTAA has developed extensive methodologies to manage construction contracts while mitigating potential impact to operational throughput and public safety. Proper identification, coordination and implementation of an operational plan is required in order to achieve success when dealing with simultaneous construction of multiple projects. In a constantly changing airport environment a plan must be developed that has the required degree of flexibility to account for unexpected changes to operational requirements as well as the unforeseeable potential for abnormal weather and labor disputes. To mitigate the impact of changing circumstances the GTAA has developed procedures which insure effective and immediate communication of the change to all parties affected and rapid resolution with respect to additional measures for security and safety that may be required. Operational plans need to be developed which focus on the specific problems associated with airside work such as security escort requirements, night work, short closures, segmenting of work, provision of barricades and fencing, maintaining operational surfaces free of FOD, maintaining operational surface zoning requirements and protecting workers from jet blast. At the same time an operational plan must also consider the effect of closures arranged for other projects occurring simultaneously while still satisfying the operational need for capacity and flow. From a contract management position, adequate measures need to be employed to ensure the contractor faces liquidated damages if violations of the operational plan result in operational delays or increased risk to public safety. Many airports across North America are in the midst of moderate to major airside expansion projects. At the GTAA we have developed procedures for dealing with construction while maintaining airport operations. These methods have been developed through careful planning as well as through lessons learned when methods developed have unfavorable or unexpected results. Through this presentation the GTAA hopes to increase awareness of the methods and procedures which have been used with success at LBPIA to aid project managers and airport operational staff who may be embarking on similar development programs. In a busy airport environment it is critical that a well thought out operational plan be developed well in advance, communicated to all parties and implemented. Through careful operational planning and a clear definition of all parties roles and responsibilities with respect to `the plan', safety and security can be achieved at the busiest of airports even during major redevelopment.