THE AIRPORT

OPERATOR THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE AIRPORT OPERATORS ASSOCIATION

CLIMATE CHANGE: The UK aviation industry can and will do more to help the country to reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

Features CARLISLE LAKE poised to return to growth DISTRICT AIRPORT reopens for passenger traffic AIRPORT ’S new Heathrow LONDON BIGGIN route even more popular than HILL AIRPORT SUMMER 2019 expected Bright future 2 ED ANDERSON Introduction to the Airport Operator THE AIRPORT decision last month that the UK A very warm should be the first major economy OPERATOR to legislate for a target of net zero THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE AIRPORT OPERATORS ASSOCIATION welcome to carbon emissions by 2050, we recognise that UK aviation must AIRPORT OPERATORS ASSOCIATION the summer play its part in achieving sustainable growth. We are proud of the Ed Anderson edition of Chairman progress that we have already made the Airport in decoupling aviation growth from Karen Dee growth in emissions. UK airports Chief Executive Operator, have made their contribution through Richard Atkin published to coincide with programmes to achieve carbon Finance Executive neutral status and by modernising Jeff Bevan our annual reception at the their baggage and cargo ground Policy & Public Affairs Officer House of Commons. fleets. Already at the UK’s largest airports a quarter of these vehicles Peter O’Broin We will be meeting MPs at one of the Senior Policy Manager most interesting moments in British are zero emission. We have also politics, as we await the arrival of a continued to encourage passengers to Patricia Page new Prime Minister to 10 Downing make greater use of public transport. Executive Assistant & Office Manager Street and further developments on However, we acknowledge that more Brexit. We will be keeping a close eye remains to be done. You can read Tania Roca on that at the AOA as our airports Operations, Safety about how we plan to achieve this by prepare to ensure that they are & Commercial Director working with UK airlines, aerospace ready for business as usual, whatever manufacturers and air traffic service Henk van Klaveren happens on 31 October. providers in an article by Dr Andy Head of Public Affairs & PR The reception will also be taking Jefferson, Programme Director of place just days after the closure Sustainable Aviation. AIRPORT OPERATORS ASSOCIATION of the ’s One of our consistent messages 3 Birdcage Walk Aviation 2050 consultation on the to Government has been that they London SW1H 9JJ Government’s plans for UK aviation need to understand the diversity of over the next thirty years. This is a UK airports and to ensure that their T: +44 (0)20 7799 3171 hugely important moment for UK policies take full account of that. E: [email protected] airports and you can see a summary Our interviews in this edition with W: www.aoa.org.uk of our response to the consultation in Carlisle Lake District, Cornwall Airport this edition of our magazine. Newquay, Glasgow and London You will see that we are calling on Biggin Hill give a very good sense Michael Burrell the Government to make a firm of the huge variety of challenges Editor commitment to support growth at and opportunities that UK airports our airports and to back that up face. We send our best wishes to

with specific policies that will enable colleagues at Carlisle Lake District aviation to flourish and to continue to Airport for 4 July when they will be THE AIRPORT OPERATOR support the wider economy. resuming commercial flights at the MAGAZINE IS PRODUCED BY airport after a gap of 26 years. We share the Government’s commitment to improving the airport I hope that you will enjoy reading passenger experience, including these interviews, as well as articles Shimon Speigel action to reduce delays at the border. on another very successful Airports Creative Director This is a subject on which we have Safety Week, the latest meeting of our Natalia Lacerda long lobbied the Government and safeguarding group and last month’s Graphic Designer finally we seem to be getting results, new-format AOA Airport Conference with the extension of eligibility to use at the Manufacturing Technology GENIUM e-gates to seven new countries and Centre in Coventry, where we took Studio 27 an in-depth look at the challenges Quadrant Business Centre a new willingness by Border Force to presented by drones and discussed 135 Salusbury Road engage in a dialogue with our airports a wide variety of security, safety, London NW6 6RJ on how to improve the service at the border. operations, airspace and air traffic T: +44 (0)20 7089 2622 services issues.  Against the background of the E: [email protected] Government’s ground-breaking W: www.geniumcreative.com Ed Anderson, AOA Chairman 3

THE AOA IS PLEASED TO WORK WITH ITS CORPORATE PARTNERS, AND GOLD AND SILVER MEMBERS

Corporate Partners

Gold Members

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WWW.AOA.ORG.UK 4 EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES FOR UK AVIATION TO MEET CLIMATE CHANGE TARGETS

The UK aviation industry can and will do more to help the country to reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

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e have already shown that over 11 million extra passengers used target, and to the Government about we can de-couple aviation public transport to access eight major how we rise to the new challenge Wgrowth from growth in UK airports, increasing the number of that the Committee has set, while emissions. Between 2010 and 2016 passengers using public transport by still enabling the many positive passenger numbers in the UK grew 5.9%. The following two years saw a benefits that aviation brings by by more than 25%, but total emissions further 2.3% increase in the number of connecting people across the world. grew by less than 5%. passengers using public transport to access UK airports. We have already made it clear to the Now, with the right support from Committee and to the Government Government, we see exciting Today we need to raise our sights that we share the Committee’s opportunities to further reduce again as we talk to the Committee ambition to bring emissions into line emissions through the development on Climate Change, whose report in with the Paris Agreement. With that of hybrid electric aircraft, use of May included the net zero by 2050 goal in mind, we will be publishing sustainable aviation fuels and modernisation of UK airspace.

When the UK’s airlines, airports, aerospace manufacturers and air traffic service providers first got together in 2005 to form Sustainable Aviation we were met with considerable scepticism. Our critics doubted that we would be able to achieve our ambitious goals for cleaner, quieter and smarter aviation. But we have proved them wrong. Thanks to new technology and smarter operations we have already delivered a set of impressive results, notably decoupling UK aviation growth from growth in emissions.

UK airports have made their contribution through programmes to achieve carbon neutral status and by modernising their baggage and cargo ground fleets – already at the UK’s largest airports one in four of these vehicles are zero emission. They have also sought with some success to encourage greater use of public transport. Between 2006 and 2014

Between 2006 and 2014 over 11 million extra passengers used public transport to access eight major UK airports, increasing the

numberEd Anderson, of passengers Dr Andy Jefferson AOA Chairman Programme Director using public transport Sustainable Aviation by 5.9%.

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two new reports later this year that We can take considerable Aviation Strategy consultation. will spell out in detail how we will encouragement from what we know Within the UK we want to see play our part: is already in the pipeline. UK airlines continued Government support have 360 new aircraft on order, for airspace modernisation, for the which will improve the average fuel commercialisation of sustainable efficiency of UK aviation by 22% aviation fuels and for research and 1. An updated Sustainable by 2050. Airspace modernisation development in green aviation Aviation Fuels Road across the UK should be completed technology. Internationally, we by the mid 2020’s and that could need the Government to continue Map will set out a greater deliver a reduction of up to 14% to provide leadership in the opportunity for sustainable in emissions by 2050. Aerospace development of a robust global manufacturers are investing in the carbon offset and reduction aviation fuels to reduce next generation of engines and scheme for international aviation. CO2 emissions than we aircraft and researching hybrid- electric and fully electric planes. There will, no doubt, be further thought possible in 2014. Industry is starting to commercialise challenges ahead, but we are sustainable aviation fuels and that confident that, by working together will deliver a reduction in emissions with Government, through a truly 2. By the end of this of up to 24%. smart ‘Partnership for sustainable year we will publish development of aviation’ we can Looking just at the potential for deliver the ambitious greenhouse our updated CO2 Road hybrid and battery-electric aircraft, gas emissions targets that the Map. That will look at we foresee electric air taxis entering Committee on Climate Change has service for urban mobility within recommended, without the need the opportunities of hybrid the next five years and before 2030 for demand constraint.  and electric aircraft as we should see the potential for hybrid-electric aircraft in business Dr Andy Jefferson is Programme well as our latest views and commercial use. By 2035 the Director of Sustainable Aviation. on sustainable fuels and industry predicts airlines will be offering regional scheduled flights operational improvements. based on hybrid-driven aircraft and that by 2040 there could be battery- We will make it clear that powered aircraft on short-haul flights how much can be achieved for most destinations across Europe. will depend in part on the We are setting out our views on the level of policy and funding contribution that the Government support from the UK can make in our response to the Government for carbon reduction technology innovations.

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KAREN DEE OUTLINES THE AOA’S RESPONSE TO THE AVIATION STRATEGY CONSULTATION

At the end of last year, the Government published its Green Paper on an Aviation Strategy and we welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the development of such an Aviation Strategy.

e responded in detail to we contribute more than £1bn a week there’s been an increase in inward the Green Paper ahead of to GDP and employ more than a million investment in the North of England Wthe 20 June deadline, and people. Aviation is also a catalyst of more than £500m. At Newcastle this issue of the Airport Operator is for economic growth: it is estimated Airport, the Emirates route to Dubai a good opportunity to update you that for every 10% growth in aviation has driven up exports: they’ve grown on what our submission included. connectivity, GDP grows by 0.5%. from around £20m in 2006 to more than £350m in 2016. More than three- The consultation process was a That means real jobs and real quarters of all visitors to the UK travel good opportunity to highlight the investment; for example, Manchester by air, and their visits support another importance of aviation to the UK Airport’s routes to Hong Kong and £20bn a year for the UK economy economy and to society. As a sector, Beijing. Since their introduction, and a further half a million jobs.

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Those facts and figures show that impose further costs and obligations here and flying UK residents to their aviation is a major UK success story. on airports. Although some proposals well-deserved holidays. In our response, we highlighted the might be justifiable in their own need for more strategic thinking right, when taken cumulatively, 2. Measures supporting growth on aviation and the role it will play they could act as a drag on growth. need to be better balanced with the in the UK’s future competitiveness. Any necessary burdens need to be additional costs and obligations As the UK prepares to leave the balanced with policies which actively suggested by the Green Paper. EU, developing a clear strategy for support growth, in the AOA’s view. aviation has clearly taken on a greater 3. The next iteration of the Green importance. The Aviation Strategy must also Paper’s proposals needs to be more recognise that airports come detailed and DfT needs to be clearer The AOA believes the Government’s in different sizes, fulfil differing on how they will be delivered in new Aviation Strategy should be an purposes to the economy, and practice. opportunity to not only acknowledge operate in their own unique local that aviation growth happens, but to environments. The Government 4. There are different size and actively encourage it. That is why the must recognise these differences types of airport and the regulatory AOA is calling for an ambitious, active and ensure that regulatory burden burden must be proportionate Strategy, which actively promotes is proportionate and adaptable to and adaptable to individual growth, provides longer-term policy individual circumstances. circumstances. certainty, and provides airports with stability and confidence to Lastly, the Government should 5. Government should also ensure plan for the longer term, making the ensure policies to deliver growth policies to deliver growth are UK as competitive, productive and are aligned with the Government’s aligned with the Government’s connected as it can be. wider programme of work, including wider programme of work, including regional growth initiatives like regional growth initiatives and The Green Paper was very high-level, the Northern Powerhouse or the sustainability.  as you would expect from a Green Midlands Engine and other important Paper, but it gave a clear sense of priorities. Aviation is an important the direction of some of the main vehicle to help deliver such strategies issues the Government wants to and Government should ensure that review. However, we know that our the Aviation Strategy enables that submission is also a starting point to happen, but also that the other The AOA for further conversation with the priorities recognise the value of Department for Transport (DfT) and aviation in their planning and delivery. believes the others, like the Home Office and Border Force, as they prepare their Most importantly in light of the Government’s final policies for the White Paper. recent debates on climate change, the DfT must work closely with the new Aviation This White Paper, expected by the Department for Business, Energy end of the year, needs be much and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Strategy clearer about the policies it is which is responsible for aerospace proposing. Many of the proposals manufacturing. BEIS encourages contained within the Green Paper innovation through the Aerospace should be an currently lack detail, leaving it Growth Partnership, the Aerospace unclear how policies will be delivered Technology Institute and the opportunity in practice. In particular, the AOA Aerospace Sector Deal. The Aviation believes that the final Strategy Strategy needs to align with these to to not only must answer the question of what ensure that tomorrow’s sustainable balanced growth looks like, if aviation growth is made possible by investing acknowledge is to support the UK’s economic in the right technological innovations ambitions. today. that aviation Currently, the Green Paper expresses In summary, our principal points general support in favour of growth, were: growth which is welcome, but this support is largely passive and there is a lack of 1. The Aviation Strategy must happens, but clear policy proposals which actively be developed with a view to support aviation. In addition, despite maximising the many benefits to actively the positive language of the paper, aviation brings to the UK, from many of the Green Paper’s proposals facilitating trade to bringing tourists encourage it.

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Al Titterington Managing Director Cornwall Newquay Airport

WWW.AOA.ORG.UK 10 HEATHROW TO NEWQUAY…AND BEYOND

Cornwall Airport Newquay’s new Heathrow route is proving even more popular than expected and flights are likely to be full over the key summer months.

he four times a day, seven had been attracted by Cornwall’s British author, Rosamunde Pilcher, days a week link carried natural beauty which is attracting an who died in February. Tover 15,000 passengers in increasing number of Scandinavian April, its first month of operation, up visitors, the airport’s commitment Titterington says that Cornwall’s 4% compared to the discontinued to promote the new route within rugged coastline is a huge draw, Gatwick route in the same month in Scandinavia and the success of along with high-quality boutique 2018. Airport Managing Director, Newquay’s routes to Stuttgart and hotels and Michelin-star restaurants in Al Titterington, said the high loads Dusseldorf. Padstow, Port Isaac and Portscatho. were evidence of strong demand Tourists also flock to The Lost both from business travellers, who Two thirds of all foreign visitors who Gardens of Heligan, a Victorian appreciate the extra daily flight, come to Cornwall are from Germany, botanical garden that was restored in and from international inbound Austria and Switzerland and German the 1990’s after decades of neglect, tourists. He expects the flights to be visitors represent Cornwall’s largest and The Eden Project’s biomes, which completely full in July and August. single overseas market. Their opened in 2001 and house plants numbers have been boosted by from many diverse climates and The Heathrow success follows the the extraordinary popularity of a environments. airport’s best year in 2018-2019, with long-running Sunday night German over 460,000 passengers using the television series, filmed in Cornwall Looking ahead, Titterington said that airport, making it Cornwall Airport and based on the romantic novels of he and his team remain “very hungry” Newquay’s fifth consecutive year of growth. New routes for 2019 include a new year-round service to London Southend, summer flights to Jersey and Guernsey and a new “The Heathrow success follows the twice-weekly summer service to Copenhagen. airport’s best year in 2018-2019, The decision last year by Scandinavian flag carrier, SAS, with over 460,000 passengers using to make Newquay its sixth UK destination was described by the airport, making it Cornwall Simon Calder, The Independent’s travel writer, as “one of the most Airport Newquay’s fifth consecutive surprising route announcements of the year”. Titterington said that SAS year of growth.”

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to attract new airlines and launch new routes and hope to be able to announce a new airline for next year, but he also warned that the airport Two thirds of all foreign visitors who is facing headwinds and risks. He said that the continuing uncertainty come to Cornwall are from Germany, over Brexit is leading some low- cost carriers to deploy more of Austria and Switzerland and German their planes elsewhere in Europe in preference to the UK. In addition, visitors represent Cornwall’s largest the declared intention of Flybe’s new owner, Connect Airways, to “right single overseas market. size the fleet” poses a risk for many regional airports.

Connect Airways have also announced that in due course the Flybe brand will be replaced by a Virgin brand. That, Titterington notes, means that there will be Virgin- branded flights from Heathrow to Cornwall Airport Newquay, which is also the planned UK home of Virgin Orbit flights into space. He anticipates an announcement about financing for Spaceport Cornwall later this year, after which Titterington will set to work on securing a spaceport licence for his airport. He seems very confident that it won’t be long before “space” joins the growing list of destinations on the departures board at Cornwall Airport Newquay. 

WWW.AOA.ORG.UK 12 CAA AIRSPACE CHIEF TO LEAD UK AIRSPACE MODERNISATION TEAM

The Civil Aviation Authority Director responsible for safety and airspace regulation is to take charge of the group tasked with co-ordinating the modernisation of UK airspace.

ark Swan, a former RAF local communities, including the After leaving university, Swan joined fighter pilot, will head the introduction of ‘planned breaks’ for the RAF and trained as a fast jet pilot, Mnewly created Airspace noise respite flying both Tornado and Eurofighter Change Organising Group (ACOG), • Increase the resilience of the air Typhoon combat aircraft. He was which will operate as an independent traffic network, avoiding unnecessary also trained to fly the Spitfires and body within NATS and be responsible delays and Hurricanes of the RAF’s Battle of for co-ordinating and managing • Increase airport capacity. Britain Memorial Flight. He served in a programme of airspace change the RAF for 30 years, attaining the projects across 14 airports, as well as Swan and his team will report into a rank of Air Commodore. the NATS upper airspace project. steering group with representatives drawn from airlines, airports, In his decade at the CAA he served Aviation Minister, Baroness Vere, said NATS and the Infrastructure and as Group Director, Airspace Policy that redesigning UK airspace was “a Projects Authority. In developing Group, and, since 2013, as Group complex and pressing task”, but she its programme it will engage with a Director, Safety and Airspace said it would make flying cleaner, wide range of stakeholders, including Regulation Group. He also serves as quieter and quicker. Declaring a goal representatives of communities and a UK representative at the European of making the UK aviation sector other airspace users. Aviation Safety Agency.  “one of the greenest in the world”, she said: “Our hope is to reduce the need for stacking and thus decrease the aviation industry’s environmental impact by cutting carbon and noise, as the global industry aims to reduce net emissions by 50% by 2050”.

In announcing Swan’s appointment, NATS said that airspace modernisation would help to:

• Reduce aviation’s carbon emissions • Reduce the need for stacking (where aircraft join a circular queue to land at busy airports) • Create opportunities for airports to manage how noise impacts

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Mark Johnston Managing Director Glasgow Airport

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GLASGOW AIRPORT POISED TO RETURN TO GROWTH

A year into his new role as Managing Director of Glasgow Airport, Mark Johnston expresses quiet confidence that his airport is set to reverse its recent fall in passenger numbers.

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ohnston, formerly the airport’s Johnston acknowledges that Air Since the introduction of the route, Operations Director, was Passenger Duty is “a big factor” in over 4.5 million passengers have Jpromoted to the top job in May the choices that low-cost airlines travelled between Glasgow and last year just months after make about which routes are likely Dubai and 80 million kilos have been had announced that it would close to be profitable, but says that makes exported, notably including salmon its base at the airport and axe all it more important than ever that from the west coast of Scotland but three of 23 destinations from Glasgow Airport works hard to destined for Dubai’s high-end the airport. understand how each airline runs restaurants. its business and what the airport Passenger numbers fell from a peak can do to minimise the costs of The arrival of the A380 was made of 9.9 million in 2017 to a likely 9 operating from Glasgow. possible by an £8 million investment million this year, but Johnston is in the airport’s infrastructure, expecting growth to resume next He says that his aim is to ensure that including the introduction of a triple year. Ryanair’s decision was a the airport offers its passengers air bridge and an extended pier. setback, but the new Managing “choice, service and value”, Johnston sees that investment by Director says: “I have no doubt that referencing the Glasgow – London the airport’s owners, Ferrovial and we will come back strongly from route as an example of this, with Macquarie, as a symbol of Glasgow’s this”. He takes encouragement 32 flights per day to five different shareholders’ commitment to the from Ryanair’s later decision to London airports. Looking ahead, continuing success of the airport. resume flights this year to Alicante, Johnston and his team are working The Ferrovial/Macquarie partnership Brussels, Malaga and Warsaw. to secure new routes to more has invested almost £100 million European cities and continuing a in Glasgow Airport alone since Ryanair cited Air Passenger Duty long-running campaign to secure a acquiring, along with Aberdeen and as one of the main reasons for its direct link to Shanghai. Southampton airports, in 2014. decision and in May this year the Scottish Government announced Another route in which Johnston While route development is a big that it was abandoning its plan and the airport take pride is part of Johnston’s job, there are to cut aviation tax. Johnston Scotland’s busiest long-haul route, many other initiatives keeping described the announcement as “a Emirates’ Glasgow – Dubai service. him busy, including delivering a huge blow for our airport and for Launched 15 years’ ago, it has been new noise action plan, consulting Scotland’s connectivity” and said operated since April this year by on plans for airspace change, that it could impact both existing the Airbus 380, the world’s largest working to reduce the airport’s services and aspirations for new commercial passenger aircraft – the environmental footprint and routes. first time in history that an A380 has campaigning for a new rail link to been in regular service to Scotland. Glasgow’s city centre.

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The arrival of the A380 was made possible by an £8 million investment in the airport’s infrastructure, including the introduction of a triple air bridge and an extended pier.

Glasgow Airport’s latest noise action plan for the period to 2023 was launched last October and includes a commitment to introduce a new noise insulation policy to mitigate noise for residents most affected and a new publicly available flight tracking system to provide a transparent view of aircraft flight paths and noise levels. The plan also highlights the airport’s plans to modernise the airport’s departure flight paths, replacing existing ground-based navigation beacons with new state-of-the-art satellite navigation systems. The airspace change plans, designed to update routes in line with the UK- wide modernisation strategy has the potential to reduce noise impacts, fuel use and CO2 emissions. Development of the routes will be a fully open and transparent if the airport can realise its long- reduce worsening traffic congestion process with engagement activities held ambition for a rail link to Paisley on Scotland’s busiest motorway, the Johnston expects will be launched and on to Glasgow city centre. Of M8, between the airport and the city in July this year. 20 airports in Europe of a similar centre. scale, only Glasgow lacks such a link Johnston puts a strong emphasis or any definite plans for one. The The rail link could be a crucial on the airport’s environmental airport’s hopes have been raised by element in the delivery of the responsibilities, describing the the publication this spring of a £10 airport’s 2040 Master Plan, Climate Change Committee’s billion plan to revolutionise transport which will be published for public recommendation that the UK should in Scotland’s biggest city. A report consultation later this year. The plan seek to reduce its net carbon commissioned by the City Council will set out how Johnston and his emissions to zero by 2050 as proposes that a rail link should be team foresee growth in passenger “ambitious and correct”. In a first for built by 2025 from the airport to numbers to 17 million passengers Scotland the airport will introduce Paisley Gilmour Street station as the annually by 2040, supporting over electric buses to link to long-term first step in the creation of a new 43,000 jobs and contributing £2.54 car parking later this year and metro line to the city centre. billion to the Scottish economy. invested more than £200,000 in an eight-strong fleet of plug-in hybrid Johnston, who first joined Glasgow Johnston knows that his airport is vehicles for its security, engineering Airport in 2004, has seen several rail operating in a challenging market and airfield operations teams. and metro ideas come and go in his but is clear and determined about its Airport staff have been encouraged time at the airport, and will believe path to sustainable growth. He takes to play their part in cutting pollution this one is happening only when pride in the airport’s contribution to from single-use plastics by being he sees “spades in the ground”. the Scottish economy and concludes given free refillable water bottles. Nevertheless, he says the latest that, when Glasgow Airport thrives plans are “positive and ambitious and delivers, Scotland shares the Worthwhile as they are, the impact and on the right scale for Glasgow benefits of that success.  of these initiatives would be modest and the rest of the country” and compared to what could be achieved notes that they would significantly

THE AIRPORT OPERATOR SUMMER 2019 17 AIRPORTS DISCUSS DRONE AND CYBER SECURITY THREATS

The two-day AOA Airports Conference, held in Coventry last month, was dominated by discussion of the challenges faced by UK airports in dealing with drones and cyber security.

atwick Airport’s Chief airports could turn to the centre artificial intelligence could be used Operating Officer, Chris for advice. He also suggested that to improve aircraft turnarounds and GWoodroofe, gave delegates airports should be ready for the on-time performance. an insider’s account of how the inevitability of firmer cyber security airport overcame the drone threats regulation. Sarah Webb of NATS The Security Group were given which briefly closed Gatwick in and Wayne Smith from Birmingham a briefing on the latest aviation December last year. Outlining the Airport both provided practitioner security policy developments by changes that the airport had made perspectives on cyber security Richard Rose, Head of Domestic to be better prepared in future, he mitigation measures. Aviation Security Policy and emphasised that there was no single Regulation at the Department for silver bullet to counter drone activity, While drones and cyber security Transport. It also considered how but that what was required was a were the principal themes of the technology can enhance human multi-layered approach. conference, a huge variety of other scanning capabilities, the latest topics were covered in separate explosive detection cabin baggage He said that Air Navigation Airspace and Air Traffic Services, scanners and the use of explosive Solutions, Gatwick’s air navigation Operations and Safety and Security detection dogs. service provider, and the airport workshops. team had worked closely together Held at Coventry’s Manufacturing to safeguard the swiftly installed The Airspace and Air Traffic Technology Centre, the conference counter-drone equipment and to Services Group debated airspace was supported by exhibitors from integrate it with existing procedures. modernisation, with contributions Dallmeier, Dedrone, HappyorNot, from the CAA’s John Dow on the ICTS, Leonardo, Malms, Point.FWD, His presentation was followed modernisation strategy and from r2p, Rapiscan Systems and Rohde by a panel discussion on the Dave Curtis, NATS, on the status of & Schwarz. A drinks reception and challenges presented by drones the Airspace Change Organising dinner at the Coventry Transport with contributions from the Home Group. There were also discussions Museum was sponsored by Office, the Department for Transport on human factors and stress and Leonardo.  and the police. A session on fatigue management in airspace counter-drone solutions included traffic management and on the representatives from the AUDS insider threat. Consortium, Dedrone, Leonardo and NATS. The Operations and Safety Group had a presentation from CAA The cyber security session included Aerodrome Inspector, Graeme a speaker from the National Cyber Ritchie, on aerodrome inspections. Security Centre, who stressed that The group also discussed how

WWW.AOA.ORG.UK 18 CARLISLE LAKE DISTRICT AIRPORT REOPENS FOR PASSENGER TRAFFIC

Commercial flights will resume at Carlisle Lake District Airport on 4 July after a gap of 26 years.

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oganair’s flight to Dublin at business. The airport is home to 08.00 that day will be the first both the Group’s headquarters and Lscheduled passenger flight a £12 million freight distribution from the newly modernised airport centre, opened in 2015. since 1993. The airline will also Carlisle Lake operate routes from the airport to Kate Willard, the Group’s Director Belfast City Airport and London of Partnership Development, has District Airport Southend Airport. been involved at every stage of “the long journey” to the resumption will be a gateway The inaugural flight will be a of commercial flights. She moment of history for regional attributes the successful outcome for visitors not just airports in the UK, which last saw to a combination of the Group’s a new commercial airport open at commitment to the communities in to the Lake District Doncaster Sheffield in 2005. which the business is based and a tradition of working collaboratively National Park and For Stobart Group, owners of with external partners to achieve Carlisle Lake District Airport since shared objectives. the historic city of 2009, the opening will mark a triumphant conclusion to a decade An important breakthrough came Carlisle, but also to of debate, controversy and delay. in 2017, when the airport was given The plan to resume commercial £4.75 million by Cumbria’s Local the Hadrian’s Wall flights has involved resolving Enterprise Partnership towards successive challenges over planning, the cost of a new terminal building UNESCO World state aid and and upgraded . A plaque staff shortages. Carlisle is where honouring the role of the LEP was Eddie Stobart started his logistics unveiled at the terminal in May. It Heritage site.

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uses slate from the Lake District’s announce not one, but two delays passengers will include local MPs Honister Slate Mine, the last working to the launch date – initially set and journalists. Their Saab 340 slate mine in England. for June, then rescheduled for aircraft will arrive to a traditional September and finally postponed water salute and they will be Willard also pays tribute to the until July this year. She says now directed to a celebratory marquee, support that the airport has that, while it was very difficult at where the airport’s “best friends” received from the airport’s General the time for everyone involved, it have been invited for drinks and Aviation community, Carlisle City was right to delay until the airport canapes. Willard allows that she will Council, Cumbria County Council, could be completely confident certainly be amongst those raising a Carlisle MP, John Stevenson and that all the outstanding issues had glass of Pimm’s to toast the airport’s other local MPs, the Borderlands been resolved. Most importantly future success.  Partnership, the Civil Aviation the airport now has a secure roster Authority, the Department for of air traffic controllers and plans Transport’s aviation team and to help attract and train more for Cumbria Tourism. the future through its new skills academy, shared with Stobart- Carlisle Lake District Airport will operated Durham Tees Valley “The airport will be be a gateway for visitors not just airport. important not just for to the Lake District National Park and the historic city of Carlisle, but Now the focus is on ensuring that regional connectivity, also to the Hadrian’s Wall UNESCO everything goes smoothly on the World Heritage site. Cumbria is far first day from the opening flight but also as a “beacon more dependent on tourism than to Dublin to the evening flight for economic growth.” other parts of the UK, welcoming from London Southend, whose 47 million visitors a year, who bring nearly £3 million to the region’s economy and support almost 65,000 jobs.

Willard notes the evidence that visitors who fly into a region spend more on average than other visitors and expresses optimism, in particular, about the potential for visitors from London and Essex, who will be able to fly to the airport after work and still be in time “to have a pint on Ullswater before the sun goes down”.

She says that the airport will be important not just for regional connectivity, but also as a “beacon for economic growth”; a point also made strongly by John Stevenson MP, who says that the start of commercial flights will establish Carlisle as a major regional player at the centre of the Anglo-Scottish Borderlands region and who confidently predicts that “we are going to see further investment as a result of this”.

Willard’s sunny optimism as she and the airport’s manager, Paul Martland, put the finishing touches to the plans for 4 July, stand in stark contrast to the “sleepless nights” of 2018, when she was forced to

THE AIRPORT OPERATOR SUMMER 2019 21 UK AIRPORTS BRIEFED ON NEW AERODROME SAFEGUARDING RULES

Aerodrome safeguarding experts at UK airports have been given an update on new international rules on air navigation safety that will have a significant impact on airports’ safety practices and procedures.

he briefing came from the Civil Aviation Authority’s T(CAA’s) Andrew Badham, speaking at a meeting of the AOA’s safeguarding group at . Safeguarding managers are responsible for implementing the legal requirements used to ensure the safety of aircraft taking off, landing or flying near airports.

Held on 1 May at the Airbus- owned airport near Chester, the the 1950’s and reflect operational procedures used by aircraft on meeting was the ninth in a series considerations from that time. The arrival and departure to maintain organised by Gatwick’s Aerodrome Obstacle Limitations Taskforce of an acceptable level of safety in Safeguarding Officer, Amanda ICAO has concluded that they no operations. He covered standards, Purdye, and Heathrow’s Aerodrome longer reflect the performance regulations and policies and evolving Safety & Compliance Manager, characteristics of modern aircraft safeguarding guidance. New CAA Simon Vince. and require a radical update. The guidance to crane operators proposes task force, established in 2014, that the CAA should be the first Andrew Badham, who is the Policy has concluded that the rules are point of call for all crane notifications, Lead Aerodromes at the CAA, gave insufficiently flexible and should be instead of the airport. details of the new concept being replaced by a new system of Obstacle developed by the International Civil Free Surfaces (OFS) and Obstacle Catalina Peters, Hawarden’s Aviation Organisation (ICAO) for Evaluation Surfaces (OES). Further Aerodrome Strategic Planning the future management of obstacles meetings of the ICAO task force will Manager, hosted an Airbus factory both within and near airports. He take place this year and additional tour for the group. She also gave a told the group that they should updates will again be provided by the presentation on the airport’s runway prepare for the new rules to take CAA to the AOA safeguarding group. rehabilitation project designed to effect with an applicability date prepare the runway to accommodate expected to be November 2026. Jean Francois Soldano, the CAA’s the new Airbus Beluga XL, which Principal Airspace Regulator, gave enters service this year. With a length The existing obstacle limitation the meeting an update on instrument of 63.1 metres and a 60.3-metre surfaces (OLS) have their origin in flight procedures, the published wingspan, it has 30% more capacity

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than the existing Beluga and can carry specialise in aerodrome surveys, below take off and approach limits two A350 wings, instead of one. The gave a presentation on changes to and don’t infringe on other obstacle first rehabilitation meeting was held aerodrome survey requirements. limitation surfaces. Surveys are with the CAA in 2016 and final testing Aerodromes are required to carry carried out annually to identify was carried out in February this year. out a check survey every year to and deal with any trees that could The presentation covered challenges provide obstacle data and to enable compromise flight performance and faced throughout the project and how the aerodromes to meet their safety safety. they had been overcome, including responsibilities. the control of large numbers of Amanda Purdye said that the meeting contractors and their vehicles without Paul Allen, Property Risk Inspection had been popular and a good accidents, the control and disposal of Ltd.’s tree specialist, spoke about opportunity for airports of all sizes hazardous waste and the handover of the tree surveys and mitigation work to get together to exchange ideas the runway back to operations. that the company had carried out and learn from each other. The next at Hawarden and other UK airports. seminar, in Jersey in September, is Oliver Bates, Director of Compliance Trees have to be managed to make already fully booked.  at SLC Geomatic Solutions, who sure that as they grow they remain

FRENCH AND UK AIRPORT CONTRACTORS JOIN AOA

Two new major airport suppliers have joined the AOA’s growing list of non-airport members.

CS Communication & Systems telephone systems at Geneva in provided services to is the French leader in air traffic Switzerland for Skyguide, the Swiss and Redhill Aerodrome, where it control communication systems air navigation service provider. realigned the runway. and Ryebridge Construction is the infrastructure maintenance service Ryebridge Construction provides Daniel Coyle, Managing Director provider for London . infrastructure maintenance of Ryebridge, emphasises the services for Luton Airport and has company’s safety ethos, noting Headquartered in Paris, listed on responsibility for both taxiway and that “working within a ‘live’ airport the Paris Bourse and with over runway maintenance and general environment requires very specific 2,000 employees, CS is responsible airport infrastructure maintenance. skills, including a demanding level for the modernisation of the air It managed a £7m contract at the of performance, driven by stringent traffic control systems of 25 French airport to create four new aircraft timing and safety standards. It also regional airports, deploying its voice stands and to build a new taxiway requires the ability to liaise closely communication systems for DGAC, extension. Its Luton roots are with key stakeholders, ensuring no the French civil aviation authority. reflected in its sponsorship of the disruption to airport services, whilst local Championship football club, guaranteeing the job is completed CS has also provided its radio and Luton Town. The company has also safely, on budget and on time”. 

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AIRPORTS SAFETY WEEK MOST DIVERSE YET

Airports across the UK helped to make the 2019 UK Airports Safety Week the most varied since the event began four years ago.

ubjects covered included mental health awareness, wildlife Smanagement, remote air traffic control, fire-fighting and high- level window cleaning, with more airports taking part than ever before.

As the 13 to 19 May Airports Safety Week coincided with Mental Health Awareness week, several airports took the opportunity to put the spotlight on mental health – literally at , where the airport control tower was illuminated with the green ribbon logo, and staff received practical training from Mental Health England on spotting early warning signs. Passengers at the airport were presented with green ribbon wearing teddy bears and entertained by Rock Choir, the control tower. The £1.2 million checks, the removal of abandoned world’s largest contemporary music Ports of Jersey investment deploys vehicles from car parks and guidance choir, raising money for a local mental technology from Frequentis AG on desk posture. health group. and was achieved with project management support from Systems ’s CEO, Nick Staff at attended Interface Ltd. Barton, said that safety was the a wildlife management workshop number one priority and emphasised and were given guided tours of the Perhaps the most comprehensive that all employees had a role to airport’s ground-breaking digital Safety Week programme was play in keeping each other and the Remote Tower, located away from provided by , working environment safe. For the airfield. The airport is the first in whose five days of activities included Birmingham’s staff there were the British Isles to achieve approval a chance to try high level cleaning Foreign Object Debris inspections for the operational use of a digital of windows using a 20 ft cleaning on the airfield, aircraft pushback Remote Tower, which will provide pole, luggage loading on a flight, safe demonstrations and motivational a contingency Air Traffic Control rescues during construction works, safety talks. For passengers and service to the airport’s conventional heart rate and blood pressure health the public there were pop-up safety

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As the 13 to 19 May Airports Safety Week coincided with Mental Health Awareness week, several airports took the opportunity to put the spotlight on mental health.

information stands and children’s Rescue Service, Essex & Herts Air day training sessions from an expert in activities, with local school children Ambulance, into-plane hydrant psychological trauma management on given the chance to learn about refuelling, fuel farm storage and people care in the aftermath of a crisis. safety from the airport’s safety team, ground handling. the police and the fire service. Belfast International Airport held fire- held a popular fighting demonstrations,Edinburgh took safety awareness event for local Airport’s fire service held first aid part in Airports Safety Week for school children at the Royal Docks demonstrations and organised a the first time, with a programme Learning and Activity Centre, with ‘Passenger Day’ to teach passengers involving school children and the members of the airport’s aerodrome about security and counterfeit goods local community, based on the theme team and aviation policing unit giving and had of ‘safety throughout the passenger children the opportunity to act as fire airside driving workshops. journey’. The programme, which fighters and police. included a series of games, brought Across the UK the Week was together teams from check-in, At George Best Belfast City Airport supported by The Institution of security, ramp and air traffic control. a packed programme of events Occupational Safety and Health, the included training from the Police world’s biggest health and safety At the Service Northern Ireland on people membership organisation, and the emphasis was on airside safety trafficking awareness, drones, CPR Civil Aviation Authority’s “We are and teamwork, with a programme and Defibrillator practice and two Safety” brand and its Ground Handling featuring the Airport Fire and fully subscribed and inspirational half Operations Safety Team. 

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David Winstanley, CEO Biggin HIll Airport

WWW.AOA.ORG.UK 26 NEW CEO PLANS BRIGHT FUTURE FOR LONDON’S BUSINESS AVIATION AIRPORT

London Biggin Hill Airport is most well-known for its leading role in the Battle of Britain, but its first-ever CEO is firmly focussed on its future as London’s business gateway and aircraft manufacturers’ service centre.

avid Winstanley, formerly follow on from its previous Managing skilled aerospace engineers. Chief Operating Office at Director, reflects the view of the DBirmingham Airport, may airport’s Chairman, Andrew Walters, Growth brings its own challenges be only four months into his new that London Biggin Hill is entering and Winstanley is clearly as alive to role, but his excitement about the a new phase of development, them as he is to future opportunities. potential for growth at London which would he said benefit from While he foresees further growth Biggin Hill is palpable as he speaks Winstanley’s “world-class airport later this year, he acknowledges of “a huge opportunity to preserve management skills”. Using a cricket that London Biggin Hill Airport, our past and history, while delivering analogy, the CEO described it as as with the rest of London, has our future”. “a change of bowler for a changing seen a flattening of the business pitch”. aviation market in the first half of the For Winstanley his arrival at the year, which he attributes partly to airport on 1 March was a kind Winstanley has inherited an continuing uncertainty over Brexit. of coming home, since his first impressive and enthusiastic He says that London Biggin Hill’s experience of London Biggin Hill was management team who presided management approach gives it the in 1986, when he passed through the over a 12% growth in business agility to react quickly to changing RAF Officer and Air Crew Selection aviation traffic in 2018 and have circumstances and to make rapid Centre there at the beginning of welcomed a fast-growing community decisions. his 20-year career as an RAF Wing of aviation companies to the airport’s Commander. Today he clearly 500-acre site. Today London Biggin His confidence about the immediate relishes his new post as “station Hill has the largest collection of future rests in part on the intensive commander” at London Biggin Hill maintenance, repair and overhaul efforts that his management Airport. facilities of any airport in Europe. colleagues have made to promote Next year the airport should see the airport’s business aviation The airport has become one of the opening of both a new on-site strengths in its key international Europe’s most successful business hotel and a new Aerospace and markets, including the United States aviation airports and a centre of Technology College, giving the and the Middle East. Asked to give excellence for aviation businesses. airport and London a base for the a list of those strengths he ticks The decision to appoint a CEO, to development and employment of off the airport’s unique location as

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London’s only dedicated business The differences are strikingly evident of London is in a helicopter parked aviation airport, its unrivalled six- to any visitor to London Biggin just feet away from their arriving minute helicopter shuttle service to Hill more accustomed to the UK’s business jet, their time spent at Battersea heliport (“No other UK major scheduled passenger airports. London Biggin Hill is measured in airport can offer that”), its extended There, success is measured in busy mere minutes, which is just the way opening hours (06.30 to 23.00 on car parks and shopping areas, which they like it. weekdays) and its new competitive are generally the key generators pricing structure. of non-aeronautical revenues for It is a very different world to commercial airports. By contrast, at most of the UK’s airports and Reflecting on the main differences London Biggin Hill success is a silent Winstanley sees part of his role as between airports focussed on and empty lounge area that reflects being to work in partnership with scheduled passenger flights, like the business traveller’s desire to the UK’s other business airports Birmingham, and dedicated business waste as little time at the airport as to educate and inform politicians aviation airports, like London Biggin possible. For the many customers and regulators about the key role Hill, Winstanley suggests that the whose onward journey to the centre that business aviation plays in the most important is that the former are “airline-led”, while the latter are “customer-led”. He says that, while any airport will emphasise the importance of customer service, for Each year London Biggin Hill Airport a business airport the daily provision of a highly reliable, efficient, discreet, puts on a community-based “Festival of price- and time-sensitive service to Flight”. This year’s event in August is its regular business customers is the critical success factor. expected to attract 30,000 visitors.

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country’s economic success. He area is based on evidence, including Biggin Hill will continue to look for thinks that is important both in the an informed understanding that ways to reduce its noise impact in context of Brexit, which implies a today’s helicopters are significantly the future. new urgency in developing the UK’s quieter than earlier versions and global business links, and in relation that VTOL aircraft will have a much Each year London Biggin Hill to the environment, where he sees smaller noise impact than the Airport puts on a community-based business aviation taking the lead conventionally-fuelled aircraft that “Festival of Flight”. This year’s in developing innovative and more they will replace. event in August is expected to environmentally friendly types of air attract 30,000 visitors. Fittingly, travel. On noise, he is also keen to it will take as its theme the 75th emphasise the importance that he anniversary of the D-Day landings He gives the example of the present- attaches to London Biggin Hill’s and will give pride of place to day importance to the business dialogue with its local community. Dakota, Spitfire and Lancaster traveller of fast helicopter links and He notes that the decision to extend aircraft from the RAF’s Battle of the potential over the next few years the airport’s opening hours had Britain Memorial flight. With his for the development of electrical local support and expresses pride own RAF background, Winstanley vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) in the airport’s leading-edge and should feel very much at home, aircraft. Both are potentially at comprehensive Noise and Track reflecting on his airport’s illustrious risk from some London politicians Keeping System, which enables past, even as he plots a clear flight who would like to stop the building residents to identify and track every path to its future success.  of new heliports in the capital and aircraft movement. He promises his reduce the number of helicopters airport’s neighbours that London flying over London. Winstanley sees an important role for his airport in ensuring that policy making in this

THE AIRPORT OPERATOR SUMMER 2019 29 From around the sector…

HEATHROW AIRPORT LAUNCHES BIGGEST CONSULTATION

eathrow Airport has launched The plans to manage the the proposals, including videos to what it describes as its environmental impacts of expansion explain them and an online feedback H“most innovative and largest include a proposed Ultra Low form. Heathrow has also invested in consultation to date” on its plans for Emissions Zone, a Heathrow vehicle new technology to bring the plans a third runway. access charge, a proposed 6.5- to life, including a physical model hour ban on scheduled night flights of the future airport which features The consultation runs from 18 June and noise respite proposals. The augmented reality, sound booths to 13 September and responses will consultation document also details to demonstrate the effect of noise inform Heathrow’s application for the airport’s plans for property insulation on properties overflown a Development Consent Order, the compensation and noise insulation. by aircraft and a GCI fly through planning consent required for the video.  project, which it expects to submit to Heathrow’s consultation seeks the Secretary of State for Transport feedback not only on how the future next year. three runway airport will operate, but “The airport’s plans how also on how potential additional Urging local people to participate in flights before the new runway opens showed that it could the consultation, Emma Gilthorpe, could be operated on the existing “grow sustainably Heathrow’s Executive Director for two runways. Expansion, said that the airport’s and responsibly – plans showed that it could “grow The airport said that it would hold sustainably and responsibly – with 43 consultation events during the 12- with environmental environmental considerations at the week consultation period. A website considerations at the heart of expansion”. would provide information about heart of expansion”.

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LIVERPOOL AND STANSTED AIRPORTS GET THE FOOTBALL FANS THERE AND BACK

lmost 8,000 Liverpool fans flight, to take supporters from One, on its fifth visit to the airport, filled seats on 38 extra flights Arsenal and Chelsea to the Europa was handled by Harrods Aviation at Afrom their local airport to League final in Baku. With extra their private aviation facility on the Madrid and back and the airport flights to Madrid and bank holiday opposite side of the airfield to the welcomed the victorious Liverpool and half term traffic, around 200 main passenger terminal.  team home with their Champions additional flights operated, with League Trophy, as they returned more than half a million passengers from their triumph on the team’s passing through the airport in a Boeing 767. week. At London Stansted there were 40 Meanwhile, on one of the busiest That was all before Stansted once weekends of the year, other again welcomed Air Force One as additional flights, Liverpool passengers headed to President Donald Trump and the including the airport’s holiday and city destinations across First Lady arrived in the UK at the first Airbus 380 Europe and enjoyed the same start of their state visit. Air Force passenger experience as normal, passenger flight. with passengers taking less than 10 minutes to pass through security and over 90% of flights departing on time.

Airport Operations Director, Paul Staples, said it had been “an amazing few days for the airport and all who work here and a fantastic advert for what this airport is capable of. To have been able to accommodate all these extra flights whilst delivering our renowned high levels of operational service for those passengers and airlines using the airport at the same time is a tremendous achievement that everyone who works here is rightly proud of”.

At London Stansted there were 40 additional flights, including the airport’s first Airbus 380 passenger

THE AIRPORT OPERATOR SUMMER 2019 AIRPORT OPERATORS ASSOCIATION 3 Birdcage Walk London SW1H 9JJ United Kingdom

T: +44 (0)20 7799 3171 E: [email protected] W: www.aoa.org.uk