Operational Readiness And Airport Transfer Programme

Different types of operational problems are witnessed when commissioning new facilities, especially during the first day of operations, potentially resulting in poor performance and disruptions reflecting negatively on the organization. Many organizations require carrying out a readiness assessment of the new systems and facilities

An operation readiness strategy will allow airport operators to dot right and most important to do it right the first time prior to the commissioning.

It is critical that on the opening day of an airport, the airport personnel is fully trained to effectively implement correct airport procedures and for all equipment to be in good working condition. The scope of work includes the safe and effective handling of passengers, efficient transfer of baggage, effective handling of the new facilities and equipment and an effective emergency plan.

The New Airport Terminal

King Abdul Aziz International Airport (KAIA) is one of four international gateways in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is also one of the busiest airports during Hajj and Ramadan seasons. Due to the growth in passenger numbers, the development and construction of a new terminal is essential to meet with the daily demands, and this is what GACA (General Authority of Civil Aviation) intends to do. In fact, construction work of the new terminal has already been started. And the number of necessary handovers will require a clear and reliable guidance on what aspects are to be taken into account when dealing with the handover of facilities / buildings and systems.

Our project aims to ensure a seamless transfer from construction to operation, avoid any serious difficulties during the end of the construction phase and contribute to the timely completion of the overall project. The development of a clear handover process will contribute to the operational readiness and prepare a more dependable warranty process.

Operational Readiness and Transfer Program

The complexity of an airport operational readiness project depends predominately on the systems and equipment employed and the time available for preparedness; rather than its physical dimensions. ORAT (Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer) is the key of success to achieve the operational goals.

Purpose of ORAT

Coordinate and assist stakeholders including external consultants, in the implementation of a defined operational readiness program for new infrastructure or services covering Operations and Maintenance from design phase through to operational implementation within a given timeframe.

Conduct design review for new infrastructure to assess its suitability to meet operations and maintenance related objectives as well as international and national standards and regulations, and additionally prior to construction, identify and assist in the resolution of any design issues which may have a negative impact upon Facilities Maintenance processes.

Ensure operational readiness planning is conducted in a timely manner through the establishment of O & M stakeholder groups to, identify interdependencies and resolve operational issues as well as implement operational readiness time scheduling to facilitate accurate management reporting.

Facilitate communication processes between departments and subsidiaries to ensure that the implementation of the requirements, including certification of all Regulatory Authorities’ and other government agencies is coordinated and well integrated within operational processes.

Oversee and/or assist with the development of O & M related standard operational procedures as well as operational contingency procedures for new infrastructure and services, ensuring correct operational integration.

Oversee the implementation of maintenance training for new infrastructure and services to ensure that all new users can meet the required service levels to ensure the safe, effective, efficient and coordinated operation of the airport by operational due date.

Ensure new infrastructure maintenance practices are operationally validated where practical, through testing of all operational interfaces between facilities, systems, procedures and human resources within a given timeframe. Ensure that operational validation testing includes all relevant stakeholders both internal and external.

Review and/or assist in the development and implementation of contingency plans to manage any identified operational risk prior to the introduction of new client infrastructure or services.

Oversee and/or assist in the development of Transition Planning to ensure a smooth transition is effected of new maintenance related infrastructure or services.

Goals of ORAT Program

Involvement and commitment of all airport users

Resolution of operational interface issues

Successful trial operations and relocation

Timely inauguration

Efficient operation from Day One

Higher quality and service level standard

Specification and Scope of Project

The objectives of ORAT include having a coordinated approach to prepare all airport stakeholders including the airport operators, airlines, ground handlers, cargo agents and various government agencies, such as Customs, Immigration and the Central Industrial Security Force for the shift of operations to the new airport.

Besides, it also has to ensure that there is streamlining of procedures, each and every person involved with the airport knowing their roles and responsibilities. The development of a clear written guideline of the overall handover process with all involved parties and their respective tasks is the objective of this project.

After knowing the airport system and its flow of work First, all parties working in the airport and their roles should be defined. This step involves airport, contractors and government staff to ensure and specify the job description with no overlapped responsibilities. Second, these responsibilities are written in a clear guideline. Here, the guideline can be modified many times to reach the optimum goal of the work process. Changes are due to many reasons such as, enhancing the performance, changes in laws, modifications in some areas. Finally, application of the guidelines to ensure everybody is playing his role and getting feed backs for enhancement

As building maintenance engineer, building maintenance is the concern of this project to set an example and expanded later to other divisions.

Fraport in Brief

METHODOLOGY

2.1 CONCEPTS

An operation readiness strategy will allow airport operators to dot right and most important to do it right the first time prior to the commissioning. It is critical that on the opening day of an airport, the airport personnel are fully trained to effectively implement, correct airport procedures and for all equipment to be in good working condition. The scope of work includes effective handling of the new facilities and equipment and an effective emergency plan.

To achieve ORAT goals, there are prerequisites to implement it which are:

Facility: Hardware such as construction, equip.

Information: procedures & manuals

Systems: AIMS, BHS, FIDS, NAVAID Security System

Human resource: organization, qualified persons.

Figure : Operational Readiness prerequisites

Which is sometimes referred to as FISH, and a function checking components can be listed for each prerequisite as:

FACILITIES

Follow up of provision of facilities in respect of time, quality and quantity.

State necessary operational conditions for rooms/equipment

Alignment of requirement with available facilities

Develop space requirements

Approval of space requirements

Develop equipment requirements

Approval of equipment requirements

Commissioning of the “Operational availability” of facilities

INFORMATION

State who has to provide which information in whatever form.

Develop a processing procedure for these information’s

State necessary operational conditions for exchange treatment processing and transfer of information

State intra-departmental responsibilities

Approval of informational treatment and responsibilities.

State what will be reported to whom, in what ever form

SYSTEMS

Creation of a dedicated IT-application for processing data.

Assessment of necessary systems.

Approval of these systems requirement.

Procurement and/or adaptation system if not provided or not capable

Implementation of system and application.

Testing of “connectivity “of system and application.

Commissioning of system and application.

HUMAN RESOURCES

Assessment of manpower requirements (qualification / quantity)

Approval of manpower requirement by delegate

Initializing of recruitment procedure by HR-department

Selection of applicable personnel

Hiring of selected personnel

Training of hired personnel.

An airport’s function can be divided into the Core Processes listed below, which are necessary for the operation of a major international airport.

Development of Procedure

As mentioned before, the project will concentrate on the maintenance and engineering department, point of view, to give a clear job description for all employees and their respective tasks. Fraport team had already cut a long path in this procedure. Learning the techniques and ways of how Fraport develops such a system is the purpose of The Young Professional Program. Procedures are till know being changed in Fraport, and are updated due to the daily requirements. Our goal is to catch-up with changes, discover the solutions with Fraport and implement them in KAIA. Fraport´s organization differs than KAIA, in this case, it is our responsibility to search and soothe the project to be implemented in KAIA. Working with Fraport team for three months is a great opportunity. Even though the time was short, but the knowledge was intensive.

Procedure Manuals

Manuals have been collected with the coordination of Fraport operation team. Here I would like to notice that the Terminal team is responsible of the operation of the terminal as well as the maintenance of the terminal. Work tasks for every employee can be found here in the manuals. Looking at the manuals, and knowing how the work should be done, a system workflow can be developed. Then, a written form of these work tasks and responsibilities can be shown for every employee. The written form also describes what and how to do to accomplish the job. Results are stored in special system and which then connected to PCs to show progress and improvements if necessary.

Identifying Stakeholders

Achieving and maintaining the operational readiness stage of airports depends on the readiness of the entire airport community. The objectives of ORAT include having a coordinated approach to prepare all airport stakeholders including the airport operators, airlines, ground handlers, cargo agents and various government agencies, such as Customs, Immigration and the Central Industrial Security Force for the shift of operations to the new airport.

Besides, it also has to ensure that there is streamlining of procedures, each and every person involved with the airport knowing their roles and responsibilities.

Operation & Maintenance Role

The operation and maintenance role falls in to the service of their customers. Terminal’s operation and maintenance team, specially, are unique because they face and deal with the main costumer of the airport.