Abstract
Air transport industry is one the many sectors significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Travel restrictions and bans resulted in reduction in aircraft operation. Airlines have no option than to limit their services by grounding their fleet: as of April 2020, out of 22,000 passenger aircraft around the world, almost 14,400 were grounded [1]. Airport operators are trying to accommodate most of the grounded aircraft by utilizing their main operational space as aprons, taxiways and runways. The limited space at airports often means that aircraft have to be parked in non-standard positions, which may affect the airport daily operations. While planning aircraft parking, safety is the top priority. The effect of long-term load was not considered in the pavement design and could result in increased pavement maintenance requirements. Airport operators must also reflect aircraft maintenance needs in terms of engines, hydraulics, braking system, cabin interior and others.
Highlights
Specifications for the aprons and aircraft stands are globally defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Annex 14, Volume I, Aerodrome Design and Operations [2]; in the EU by the Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 [3]; or in the USA by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Design and Engineering Standards AC, 150/5300-13, Apron, (Appendix 5) [4]
On 20 March 2020, the FAA issued National Part 139 CertAlert No 20-02 [6] to provide recommendation for airport operators while handling the Temporary Parking of Overflow Aircraft. This CertAlert provides a list of considerations for an airport operator when making decision for overflow aircraft parking
Le Bris states that it is a good practice to establish a parking plan and a procedure for temporary parking of overflow aircraft [8]. It should be prepared collaboratively by a workgroup or committee made of representatives of stakeholders potentially involved with such situations and should include airport operator, Rescue and Fire Fighting (RFF), Air Traffic Control (ATC), aircraft operators, ground handling service providers, fixed base operators, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), etc
Summary
Specifications for the aprons and aircraft stands are globally defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Annex 14, Volume I, Aerodrome Design and Operations [2]; in the EU by the Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 [3]; or in the USA by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Design and Engineering Standards AC, 150/5300-13, Apron, (Appendix 5) [4]. On 20 March 2020, the FAA issued National Part 139 CertAlert No 20-02 [6] to provide recommendation for airport operators while handling the Temporary Parking of Overflow Aircraft. This CertAlert provides a list of considerations for an airport operator when making decision for overflow aircraft parking. As mentioned by Le Bris [8], with reference to Airports Council International (ACI) World report, more than 75% of commercial airports around the world have already plans in place to accommodate overflow parking. SERRANO, KAZDA research in the field of non-standard aircraft parking, analyzes the impacts on airport operations and compares the best of the recommendations and guidance related to non-standard overflow parking positions for aircraft at airports during the COVID-19 pandemic
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More From: Communications - Scientific letters of the University of Zilina
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