Airport Operations in the United Kingdom - Essay Example

AIRPORT OPERATIONS Name Institution Instructor Date Introduction The current growing demand for airport services requires the expansion and improvements in the airport operations. Airports that are larger are expected to have proper functional ramps and seaplane docks, operator services that are fixed based, well equipped lounges and restaurants as some of passenger facilities, air traffic control system as well as emergency services. Airports that are smaller and less developed usually operate on a one runway that normally does not exceed 1000m in length. However more developed and larger airports meant for airline flights usually operate on runways that are paved and are normally longer than 2000m (Ashford, 2013). In improved larger airports the runaways are more than one in umber and unlike in smaller airports where they are made gravel or grass, these runways are made of concrete or asphalt. The definition and determination of the requirements for appropriate runways according to the international standards is expected to include safety margin considerations which should be observed both during takeoff and landing. This is more so because different sizes of aircrafts require different sizes of runways for example longer runways are appropriate for and larger aircrafts (Ashford, Mumayiz & Wright, 2011). Several international airports are locally, regionally or nationally owned by the government. These bodies that own most of the international airports usually lease these airports to the corporations in the private sectors so that they can see the operations in the airports. In the United Kingdom for instance, the British Airports Authority which owned by the state was initially in charge of the operations in some of the main commercial airports. However, the operations of those main commercial airports were later privatized for purposes of enhancing and ensuring improvements in service delivery. Commercial airports in the US are usually operated in general directly by authorities that are created by the government or government entities. Flights that offer services to international travellers often demand an enhanced level of security especially the physical security. Functions and activities The new airport management will ensure that the airport attains international standards. The management intends to attain its goals which are in line with international standards through enforcing and overseeing the implementation of functions and activities that will see the realization of successful management and operation of an airport with an international status. The functions and activities that the management intends to adopt will include the following (Susan, 2010): VIP and premium services It is a requirement of airports that are internationally operational to have in place VIP as well as premium services. This is a move that is intended by the management to boost the service delivery to its clients and customers in a special and satisfactory manner. These premium and VIP services are expected to include counters that are specifically dedicate for special check-ins, express check in facilities and services, air bridges that are operational on separate basis, arrival as well as departure lounges that are also operational on separate basis, boarding facilities and services that operate on the basis of priority as well as priority services for baggage handling (Czerny, 2008). These services are going to be offered on reservation basis for business and first class passengers, frequent premium customers, airline club members as well as other special members. The management will however ensure that the premium services are available to customers with memberships that belong to different airlines but are frequent flyers. This is a move that is expected to facilitate a reciprocal deal that will be introduced at a time when several airlines become part of a similar alliance or even as a premium customer’s attraction ploy. These services will at times be made available to the passengers who are not premium members in situations of emergencies or special cases. The VIP lounges at the airports most of the times provide food at reduced costs of free of charge as well as beverages which may either be alcoholic or non-alcoholic. They are required to be equipped with televisions, luxurious seats, quiet areas, showers, computer services, internet and Wi-Fi access facilities, power outlets as well as security services ( Norman, Saleh, & Paul, 2011). Improved freight and cargo services Other than passenger, both international and local based airports are involved with airlifting of cargos as a major part of their services offered. Airlines that airlift cargos are expected to be situated at their own site which will be made adjacent to enhanced infrastructure services. This will be part of an initiative that will ensure expeditious transfer of cargos between the air and the ground. Facilities at the cargo terminal points will serve as areas that will be used by international airlines to deliver and store cargos following the clearance by the authorities in charge and also before loading to the aircraft takes place. Similarly, cargos being imported will be kept in these points as they await decisions and delivery to the consignee (Czerny, 2008). There will be areas set aside for use in the examination of import and exports cargos by the authorities in charge at the airport. Agencies as well as airlines that are responsible for dealing with freight forwarding are expected to be provided with designated points or sheds to facilitate their service delivery (John, 2012). Each terminal point that will be dealing with handling of the cargos will be equipped with proper and functional airside as well as landside. The landside will be used by the importers as well as the exporters or agents assigned by them to collect or deliver shipment whereas the airside will serve as a point for moving loads to the aircraft or from the aircraft. These terminal points for cargoes are also going to be distinctly divided into areas which will include transshipment, import as well as export for the purpose of improving the services delivered to customers (Ashford, 2013). Support services This are expected to include services to do with the renting of aircraft, renting of hangar, services offered by pilots among other services which will always be provided by an operator on fixed base basis. This is an initiative that is often adopted at airports operating at major cities in the world and in particular the ones that are operated as hubs in which various airlines are allowed to operate support services and facilities of their own. Airports in some countries around the world and especially military air based are provided with runways that are wide and long and are often used as sites for emergency landing (Kazda & Caves, 2007). Other supports services are expected to include arresting gear services which will be used equipment for arresting fast aircrafts. The fast aircraft arresting gear normally consists of a cable of a very high strength which is made to suspend just on top of a runway and is connected to a mechanism for gear reduction. This equipment is used together with an aircraft landing arresting hook in cases the braking system of the aircraft is identified not to be very effective. Accessibility of the airport For the purpose of improved operation and survived offered to the airline and airport customers the management is under an obligation to ensure ease of accessibility of the airport and its facilities. This is also in line with the international standard requirements. Major airports that operate both internationally and locally around the world are situated near functional roads and railway trunk routes to ease accessibility to the airports. Several airports are commonly connected to cities through rail lines that are light, rapid transits as well as transports systems that are off public roads (Muia, 2007). This kind of infrastructure development is one that the management is going to adopt and further introduce adjustments as well as improvements to it. This is because such transport network systems within and without the airport will be able bring down the chances of instances of flights missed as a result of congestion in the traffic. International airports are required by international standards to be equipped with accessibility that is operational through access highways that are monitored and controlled. Enhanced airport security services For the purpose of the safety of the customers and their property, the management has got a responsibility to ensure that the security services within the airport are beefed up (Gerald & Belva, 2000). The other reason for taking such an initiative is because an international airport being a place where people from all walks of life and various nations integrate; there are possibilities of terrorist attacks especially those targeting specific individuals of passengers from a given country. Therefore, the luggage are going to be subjected to x-ray scanning using the x-ray scanning equipment and machines, There are also going to be metal detectors situated at key entry points into the airport where the passengers will walk through them on their way into the airport. This is going to be enhanced and made a normal routine (Czerny, 2008). Proposed management structure In order to adequately and effectively oversee the operations at the airport, the new management proposes a management structure that will consist of the following; With regard to the functions and activities that are required for the successful operation and management of the airport, some of the functions could sub contracted out side to third parties. These functions will include provision of services such as water services, electricity services as well as environmental management services. This is because these services are not only requires for use at the airport but they are also needed and used in other sectors such as the health centres ((Ashford, Mumayiz & Wright, 2011) Various functions operations as well as departments within the airport interact with one another especially with regard to successful delivery or services to the customers (Barry, 1991). Departments such as that of finance interact with virtually every other department since all the departments require funds for their smooth running and then the finance department also interacts with these departments during financial management auditing at every department. Functions such as safety and managing risks at the airport all require the assistance of functions in both electrical and mechanical department (Ashford, 2013). Considering the operation of activities and functions that take place at the airport it is important to note that some functions are more important even though all of the functions are interdependent (Daniel, 2011). This is because failure to regard such functions with the importance that they deserve could result in enormous loss and destruction. Conclusion In conclusion, for any airport to function and operate in a more efficient and profitable manner, there are key considerations that need to be put in place. It is clear that one of these crucial key considerations is the system and structure of management. When this is streamlines then the others can have their smooth functional flow. It is this management structure that is charged with the responsibility to ensure that relevant functions and activities are implemented. It is also important to conclude that in as much as there are several varied operations in the airport, the operations of some functions are of greater significance owing to their contribution in the entire sector and this reason they need to be accorded proper interest as well as more resources. When the availability of funds as well as the air traffic density is taken into consideration, airports can either be non-towered or towered. Several airports that operate internationally have got an air traffic control unit that is located on site due to hg busy airspace and the high air capacity in which they function. Airports that offer services internationally have got immigration and custom facilities in place. However, based on the agreement that are reached upon by some countries where flights operated between them, these immigration and custom facilities need not to be necessarily present as part of requirements for their international airports. Reference Ashford, N. (2013). Airport operations. New York, McGraw-Hill Professional. Ashford, NJ, Mumayiz, SA. & Wright, P H. (2011). Airport engineering: design, planning, and development of 21st century airports. Hoboken, NJ, Wiley. Barry, L 1991, Airport Services Manual: Airport Emergency Planning, John Wiley and Sons, NY. Czerny, AI 2008). Airport slots: international experiences and options for reform. Aldershot, Hants, England, Ashgate. Daniel, CP 2011, Airport Self-Inspection Practices, National Academy of Science, Washington, DC. Gerald, LD, & Belva, M 2000, Aviation and the Environment: Airport Operations and Future Growth Present Environmental Challenges, United States General Accounting Office, Washington DC. John, F 2012, Development of 21st Century Airports, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey. Kazda, A., & Caves, RE 2007, Airport design and operation. Elsevier, Amsterdam [u.a.]. Milan, J 2011, Greening Airports: Advanced Technology and Operations, Springer London Dordrecht Heidelberg, NY. Muia, MJ 2007, Counting aircraft operations at non-towered airports. Washington, D.C., Transportation Research Board. Norman JA, Saleh M, & Paul HW 2011, Airport Engineering: Planning and Design, Wiley and Sons, London. Susan, F 2010, National Airspace System: Setting On-Time Performance Targets , United States Government Accountability Office, Washington, DC. APPENDICES Appendix I: Proposed management structure flow chart Read More