Brazilian Airports Research Articles

Use of a portable thermograph as a potential tool to identify nocturnal airport bird risks / Uso de um termógrafo portátil como uma ferramenta potencial para identificar riscos noturnos de aves em aeroportos

Worldwide, wildlife-aircraft collisions constitute a major human health and safety concern. About 98% of wildlife-aircraft strikes involve bird species (i.e., bird strikes) resulting in an annual loss of $1.2 billion to the aviation industry and costing 194 human lives. Thus, airport managers desire better tools to identify wildlife aircraft risks and management option to mitigate them. A number of variables have been identified that can attract the birds and other animals to the airport area. These variables include increased food availability, clear views of predators, and open water. Regular bird surveys can help managers to identify bird strike risks and prioritize management actions to reduce avian hazards. However, bird species detection efficiency at the airports can vary according to the applied methodology. We compared the efficiency of a portable thermograph to detect bird risk in a Brazilian airport using the transection methodology at night. Linear transects adjacent to the airstrip were traveled, by foot, at an average speed of 1 km/h, with and without the device, looking for birds. With the device, transects were traveled with the thermograph in mode on and at each bird visualization a photo was taken. Without the device transects were traveled with a flashlight looking for birds. A portable thermograph allows warm-blooded animals to become easily visible against the environment, both day and night, once it can detect and produce radiation images in the long infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum (approximately 9,000 to 14,000 nanometers or 9 to 14 µm). Our evaluations were conducted in the Regional Airport of Itanhaém, São Paulo, Brazil, in September and October 2015. Our results show that the thermography detected 13 locations with 25 specimens of birds, while the same method applied without the device recorded three locations with three specimens, resulting in nine times more bird specimens per hour. We believe that the thermographs may be considered as a new method in nocturnal airport bird risks and even common nocturnal bird surveys, with benefits exceeding its U$ 20.000,00 costs.

Performance of tire-asphalt pavement adherence according to rubber removal on runways

ABSTRACT Adherence between tire and pavement surface is essential to safe landing and take-off operations. The accumulation of rubber, originated from aircraft tires, impairs adherence by filling the macrotexture and decreasing the friction coefficient of the surface. Thus, it is necessary to carry out rubber removal procedures on the surface to re-establish adherence conditions. This paper features three Brazilian airports that had their runways analysed, which constitute three different pavement surfaces: asphalt concrete, asphalt concrete with grooving, and porous friction course (PFC). The macrotexture depth and the friction coefficient were analysed between 2014 and 2018, observing these parameters after rubber removal procedures. The analysis was performed in the zones of the runway where the rubber removal process is carried out and was achieved using Hypothesis Testing. It was found that the rubber removal procedure is effective in maintaining the runways, as it ensures that the values of macrotexture depth and friction coefficient remain above the values required by current regulations. However, its performance has not provided an increase of more than 50% in the measurements studied. Consequently, rubber removal should not be considered as the only factor interfering in friction coefficient and macrotexture on runways.

A Ranking Method to Prioritize VFR Airports to be Provided with Instrument Approach Procedures

The primary purpose of this work is to investigate the necessity of a more comprehensive and systematic method to prioritize airports to be provided with instrument approaches and landing procedures in the Brazilian air transportation landscape. First, an overview of the main contributors to risks associated with the approach and landing phases is provided, covering the most critical aspects of unstable approaches and controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) events. Second, considering the emergence of Terrain Awareness and Alerting Systems (TAWS), the role of its contribution to safety is discussed and the certification context related to the design, installation, and operation of those systems. A ranking method is developed based on the analysis of TAWS alert events in several Brazilian airports. The technique results in a ranking list of airports eligible for instrument procedures and points to objective means to improve safety, accessibility, and efficiency on the flight operations to those locations.

Operational Efficiency in Brazilian Airports: An Analysis through the Hierarchical Linear Modeling with Repeated Measures

Operational Efficiency in Brazilian Airports: An Analysis through the Hierarchical Linear Modeling with Repeated Measures

An analysis of wildlife strikes to aircraft in Brazil: 2011-2018

Purpose: Aircraft accidents due to wildlife hazards have become a growing safety and economic problem to the Brazilian and international aviation industries. These safety occurrences have resulted in significant direct and indirect economic losses as well injuries and fatalities worldwide. The purpose of this study was to develop empirical information obtained from the analysis of wildlife strike and aircraft operations data in Brazil that could be used for accident prevention efforts.Design/methodology: The research team collected and analyzed aircraft operations as well as wildlife strike data from the 32 busiest commercial airports in Brazil, from 2011 through 2018. Researchers obtained the number of aircraft operations at each of those 32 Brazilian airports from the Brazilian air traffic operations annual reports published by the Air Traffic Control Department. Wildlife strike data from the studied airports were obtained from the Brazilian national wildlife strike database. Descriptive data analysis was adopted to provide an intuitive and overall trend of wildlife strikes at and the 32 busiest commercial airports in Brazil.Findings: Results indicate that the number of wildlife strikes at and around the investigated airports increased 70% even though the number of aircraft operations at these airports declined by 12% during the period studied. Birds were involved in 88% of the reported events. Most reported strikes (59%) and damaging strikes (39%) occurred during the arrival phases-of-flight. Most (33%) strikes were reported by airport personnel. A finding of concern was that the majority of wildlife strikes (97%) and damaging wildlife strikes (96%) occurred within the airport environment.Originality/value: The current project contributes to the safety management of wildlife hazards in Brazil by conducting a comprehensive analysis of wildlife strike and aircraft operations data (2011-2018) in the 32 busiest Brazilian commercial airports.

Analysis of airport weather impact on on-time performance of arrival flights for the Brazilian domestic air transportation system

Air traffic operations are significantly impacted by weather conditions. These external factors may impose operational constraints and generate demand-capacity imbalances, leading to reduced on-time performance, additional airline costs and inconveniences to passengers. Efficient management of such disruptions requires an understanding of the main causes of flight delays towards increasing their predictability. In this study, we investigate the impacts of airport surface weather conditions on the likelihood of flight delays for the Brazilian domestic air transportation system. We use historical flight schedule, on-time performance and weather data and estimate a logit model to analyze how different meteorological variables at the airport of destination affect the probability of a delayed arrival. We obtain empirical evidence for the impacts of low ceiling and visibility conditions, precipitation and wind gusts on the likelihood of arrival delays for the set of Brazilian airports analyzed.

Airport Competitiveness Analysis from Aircraft and Passenger Movement

Air transportation development is strictly related to airport competitiveness, since the airport management seeks to improve the capacity to produce services, increase passenger and aircraft movement, improve revenues from aeronautical and non-aeronautical activities, and optimise the other items related to the competitiveness of this type of organisation. In this sense, this study seeks to identify variables associated with the competitiveness of airports, based on their infrastructures, operations, and locations, which can influence the decision-making of airport managers continuously and efficiently. An analysis of the seven busiest Brazilian airports, in terms of aircraft and passenger movement, has been made, and multivariate data analysis has been used through a multiple regression, verifying the relationship between the variables of airports competitiveness, such as the total area of the airport site, number of aircraft parking positions, number of airlines, quantity of aircraft movementlandings and takeoffs, total number of passengers and the GDP of the city where the airport under study is located. The results present an index of competitiveness for each airport analysed after the data mathematical treatment, showing the coefficients at the general equations form aircraft and passenger movement.

Settlement of Railway Track on Reinforced Ballast Overlain by Clayey

Air transportation development is strictly related to airport competitiveness, since the airport management seeks to improve the capacity to produce services, increase passenger and aircraft movement, improve revenues from aeronautical and non-aeronautical activities, and optimise the other items related to the competitiveness of this type of organisation. In this sense, this study seeks to identify variables associated with the competitiveness of airports, based on their infrastructures, operations, and locations, which can influence the decision-making of airport managers continuously and efficiently. An analysis of the seven busiest Brazilian airports, in terms of aircraft and passenger movement, has been made, and multivariate data analysis has been used through a multiple regression, verifying the relationship between the variables of airports competitiveness, such as the total area of the airport site, number of aircraft parking positions, number of airlines, quantity of aircraft movementlandings and takeoffs, total number of passengers and the GDP of the city where the airport under study is located. The results present an index of competitiveness for each airport analysed after the data mathematical treatment, showing the coefficients at the general equations form aircraft and passenger movement.

Mapping the environmental and techno‐economic potential of biojet fuel production from biomass residues in Brazil

AbstractThis study assesses the environmental potential of crop residues and the techno‐economic potential of biojet fuel (BJF) production in Brazil. Different production routes are evaluated from two types of biomass residues (sugarcane straw and eucalyptus harvest residue), and four different technological pathways (alcohol to jet, Fischer–Tropsch, hydrothermal liquefaction and pyrolysis). The environmental potential of biomass residues is determined utilizing spatio‐temporal projections of land‐use change in Brazil and by explicitly modeling the erosion risk and the soil organic carbon (SOC) balance spatially. The assessment of the techno‐economic potential of BJF production from the environmental potential of sugarcane straw (SCS) and eucalyptus harvest residues (EHRs) considers the BJF total costs, which result from a summation of biomass residue recovery costs, BJF conversion costs, and BJF transportation costs. These BJF total costs are compared with the range of fossil jet fuel prices at Brazilian airports to quantify the techno‐economic potential. The environmental potential of biomass residues varies from 70 Mt in 2015 to 102 Mt in 2030, with SCS being highly constrained by SOC, whereas EHRs are more constrained by the high erosion risk. These quantities can generate a techno‐economic BJF potential ranging from 0.45 EJ in 2015 (46 US$/GJ – 65 US$/GJ) to 0.67 EJ in 2030 (19 US$/GJ – 65 US$/GJ). In 2030, several BJF production routes can be competitive with fossil jet fuel prices. The northeast and southeast regions have the highest potential, especially in 2030. © 2020 The Authors. Biofuels, Bioproducts, and Biorefining published by Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

RISK assessment in airport maintenance runway condition using MCDA-C

This paper proposed the initial development of a multicriteria methodology for a runway maintenance monitoring using risk perception at airports with the MCDA-C methodology. To support morphological structuring and semantic judgments eight specialists in airport maintenance and operations were interviewed and the model was built based in their perceptions and deep technical knowledge on the subject. We found that the 7 most representative criteria were able to deal with approximately 80% of the perceived risk by the experts, indicating that a considerable part of the resources of the Brazilian airport infrastructure operations could be being redirected towards a more rational application. Finally, we applied the method in a real scenario situation by analyzing real data from the 29 the busiest Brazilian airports. Data showed objectively that 18 airports presented scores that clearly indicated being in a favorable (safer) or unfavorable (risky) condition regarding the criteria analyzed, guiding where the state can spend the resources with the best benefit.

Security culture in the screening checkpoint of Brazilian airports

In a previous study the incidence of errors and human factors in the security screening process at Brazilian airports was identified as a security challenge. This finding led to the analysis of teamwork activity in the screening checkpoints from a security culture perspective. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potentials errors and human factors that might influence the performance of the passengers screening checkpoints of Brazilian airports related to security culture. For this purpose, were analyzed 10 of 60 items of a self-observation questionnaire based on the theory of Generic Error–Modeling System (GEMS) and the framework about human factors recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The exploratory analysis focused on items that were directly linked with security culture and organizational environment. The results indicated the presence of fundamental elements for the formation of an adequate security culture among the professionals. Otherwise, the data also indicate the presence of human factors associated to the security culture with the potential of negatively influencing the performance of the passenger screening activity.

Determinants of Brazilian international flights: The role of hub-and-spoke and infrastructure variables

The objective of this study is to evaluate the determining factors influencing airline companies to operate international origin-destination (O-D) routes from different Brazilian airports. The results are based on a panel data model and support the assumption that statistically significant explanatory variables stem from gravity factors (GDP and an airport competition measure weighted by distance), hub-and-spoke variables and capacity inputs. We find that a composite variable made up by the airport capacity variables – given by the size of the terminal building and the length of runways – and its domestic connections have a positive effect on airport competitiveness. In conclusion, we find that not only well-known demand-side factors, but also supply-side variables – strategic decisions taken by airport management – matter in attracting international flights.

Characterization of revenue and costs in the optimization of small airport businesses

This study seeks to identify factors associated with both airports costs and revenues, specifically in the context of small airports. The main variables of airports costs and revenues, applied in small airports, and data from small Brazilian airports was analyzed using statistical and mathematical tools to propose ordinary equations for the relationships identified between the considered variables. The results show the main variables with significant impact on the management of small airports and, from this, the development of a mathematical model serves as a complement to report the cost structure, income and characteristics of small airports business.

The Aircraft Choice Based on the Aircraft Take-Off Runway Length Requirement

The choice of fleet by a given airline must consider different elements associated with both the aircraft and the airports to be operated, making it necessary a method to assist the aircraft choice process. This study assesses the take-off runway distance requirement of different aircraft models and compares the requirement to the take-off runway distance available at a group of airports. Using the Herfindahl-Hirschman index (HHI), the methodology consider the analysis of take-off runway length available on 80 Brazilian airports and compared it to the take-off distance required for 108 combinations of aircraft model, engine model and flight range, considering the take-off performance of the aircraft models with maximum payload weight. In total, 536 routes of four Brazilian airlines has been adopted to simulate the most profitable operating scenario. The result presents the take-off performance of different aircraft models and allows a performance comparison between them. In addition, this research investigates which is the most common flight range in Brazil, and what influence it exerts in the aircraft take-off performance, and contributes to a better match between the aircraft used and the airport operated in fleet optimization.

Environmental performance index for Brazilian public airports: The Infraero experience

Most indicators of airport performance found in the literature evaluate the quality of the services and the maintenance of operational safety levels, but only a few studies take into account environmental issues. This study presents the experience of the Brazilian Airport Infrastructure Enterprise (Infraero) in the implementation and assessment of the Infraero Environmental Performance Index (IEPI), formed by 25 indicators distributed into 10 environmental dimensions. The index was applied to 54 Brazilian public airports administrated by Infraero, between 2017 and 2019. The index was also applied to groups of airports according to their category, defined by the Brazilian Civil Aviation Regulation (RBAC) nº 153 (IEPIclass), and the biome in which the airport is inserted (IEPIbiome). The IEPI presented an average annual evolution of 5.0 % and ended the assessed period at 74.8 %, showing a significant improvement in the environmental quality of the airports in the assessed period. Large airports (Class IV) presented high environmental performance (IEPIclass = 94 %), showing the importance of having staff dedicated to address environmental issues in airports. With respect to the biomes, Pantanal presented the best result (IEPIbiome = 84 %). The index applied to different biomes presents an innovative approach to relate the environmental performance to the ecosystem where the airport is located, but still need improvement to properly reflect the specific characteristics of each of these ecosystems. There is still a long way to go regarding the implementation and monitoring of environmental performance indicators in airports, but the Infraero experience in the application of the IEPI shows a path that can be followed and improved. We believe that the IEPI is an important tool for airport management and decision making, since it provides a simple and quick portrait of the status of environmental actions and evidences the areas which require more attention.

EVALUATION OF AMBIENT DOSE EQUIVALENT SURROUNDING TRANSMISSION FULL-BODY SCANNERS.

This study analyses the ambient dose equivalent around transmission full-body scanners used in Brazilian prisons and airports. In order to achieve this goal, three transmission full-body scanners of the same model assembled by a Brazilian manufacturer were evaluated. Ambient dose equivalent rates were measured at several positions around these screening devices with the help of an ionisation chamber made by Ludlum, model 9DP. These systems consist of an X-ray generator with three distinct modes of operation, each with a unique value for maximum energy (100, 150 and 160keV) and current (0.4, 0.5 and 0.9mA). Results show the integrated dose per scan at each of the measurement positions considered, presenting values for ambient dose equivalent with and without an individual being scanned, in order to take into account the scattering due to the presence of a human body.

Composição dos pavimentos aeroportuários e suas particularidades

Esse trabalho teve como objetivo expor, analisar e avaliar a composição dos pavimentos aeroportuários com suas particularidades de dimensionamento e construção. Através de documentação indireta, foi realizada uma pesquisa bibliográfica identificando as diferenças entre os pavimentos aeroportuários e os rodoviários em relação à sua estrutura e engenharia. Primeiramente foi apresentada a estrutura de um pavimento de forma geral, tipos de pavimentos e revestimentos. Posteriormente foram analisados os pavimentos aeroportuários brasileiros observando sua metodologia de dimensionamento que se orienta seguindo padrões internacionais. Em seguida foram estabelecidas as relações entre os pavimentos aeroportuários e os rodoviários e identificadas semelhanças e diferenças entre as duas modalidades. Por último, foi apresentada a eficiência da estrutura de um pavimento aeroportuário e suas particularidades.

Estudo da separação entre pistas de pouso e decolagem e de taxiamento em aeródromos brasileiros – aplicação ao Aeroporto Internacional de Fortaleza

Inadequações relativas ao projeto geométrico podem ser consideradas comuns em aeroportos pelo mundo. No Brasil, alguns aeroportos apresentam inconformidades de separação entre eixos de pistas de pouso e decolagem e de taxiamento paralelas que são inferiores aos requisitos exigidos pela Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil. Este trabalho objetiva avaliar o impacto de tal situação no risco de colisões associado a operações simultâneas de aeronaves em condições de operação por instrumentos. Para tanto, foi utilizado um método de análise de risco proposto pelo Airport Cooperative Research Program do Transportation Research Board com aeronaves de três categorias distintas que operam no Aeroporto Internacional de Fortaleza. Percebeu-se que há probabilidades reduzidas de acidentes acontecerem nestas condições, sendo o método apresentado um meio relevante para a análise quantitativa dos riscos operacionais em tais situações de inconformidade, podendo esta abordagem ser aplicada em casos similares.

A perspectiva da Escola Austríaca sobre a concessão aeroportuária brasileira

A concessão dos aeroportos de Guarulhos, Viracopos e Brasília é discutida sob a ótica da Escola Austríaca, com base teórica na Teoria Austríaca de Processo de Mercado (KIRZNER, 1997; BARBIERI, 2001) e na Teoria Austríaca do Intervencionismo Econômico (MISES, 2010b). O problema observado é que o Estado é o poder concedente, órgão regulador e sócio na concessionária Os resultados indicam que a presença do Estado impede a eficiência da gestão empreendedora, a descoberta de novos conhecimentos e o estímulo à concorrência, já que a Empresa Brasileira de Infraestrutura Aeroportuária (INFRAERO) está presente na gestão de aeroportos concedidos e não concedidos. A INFRAERO foi negativamente impactada, pois perdeu parte da receita dos aeroportos superavitários e manteve a responsabilidade pela gestão de aeroportos deficitários ou com baixa receita. A Teoria do Intervencionismo de Ludwig von Mises, escrita na década de 1940, permanece contemporânea e orienta o processo de gestão organizacional.

Avian biotic homogenization driven by airport-affected environments

Building and operating airports are human activities associated with adverse changes in the natural environment, resulting in threats to the biodiversity in airport surroundings. As urban ecosystems are becoming more prevalent in the world and biotic homogenization is a concern, our aim here was to understand how environments near airports (hereafter “airport-affected” sites) were affected, to assess possible changes in bird community structure. We used mist-nets and sound automatic recording units to catalog bird species in natural sites influenced by three Brazilian airports and in three quiet control sites. We characterized study sites by their landscape structure, noise and light levels, and evaluated avian community structure using species richness, abundance and β diversity indexes. Avian communities presented slightly higher species richness in quiet control than in airport-affected sites. Of 22 widespread species, we identified 10 airport adapters responsible for 38.7% of total abundance in airport-affected sites and 17.2% in quiet control sites. We also identified 11 airport avoiders, presenting opposite trends (8.1% and 30.9% respectively). The β diversity results indicate that the regional pool is an important driver in defining species presence within the studied airports. However, taking a wider view, the prevalence of airport adapter species over airport avoider species in the avian communities of airport-affected environments reveals signs of an on-going process of biotic homogenization. Our study provides evidence of the impact of aircrafts and airports on avian communities, a seldom studied anthropogenic change that may affect conservation-worthy areas worldwide.