Operations

QinetiQ's FOD detection technology implemented at Heathrow

QinetiQ’s FOD detection technology implemented at Heathrow

London’s Heathrow, one of the world’s most congested airports, has been using QinetiQ’s revolutionary FOD (foreign objects and debris) radar detection system – Tarsier – on its southern runway since February. Louise Driscoll talks to Dr Dominic Walker, QinetiQ’s product development director, to report on its progress and the need for developing compliance for FOD detection technology in future.

SMAG’s first conference kicks off in Porto

ACI EUROPE’s inaugural SMAG conference, dedicated to Small and Medium Sized Airports, took place in Porto on 11 May in association with the Routes (Europe) conference, which took place on 12 and 13 May. Report by Robert O’Meara.

France leads the way with state-of-the-art Airport fire training centre

The French Training Centre of Airport Firemen (C2FPA) was inaugurated on 29 October 2007. Located 300km south of Paris, next to Châteauroux-Déols airport, it is a one-of-a-kind facility in Europe, which offers the latest materials and equipment, advanced educational methods and resources, and highly qualified and experienced teaching staff. The organisation is approved by the DGAC (French Civil Aviation Authorities).

New routes from EU airports

Airports in the EU’s 27 member states continue to offer an ever widening range of destinations to their customers according to analysis of the latest OAG data for scheduled airlines. Comparing information for the third week of April in 2008 with the corresponding week in 2007, shows that airports in the EU have increased the number of scheduled routes on offer by 5.9% with the net addition of 518 new routes.

Italian airports register 10% growth in 2007

Despite the ongoing soap opera that may (or may not) soon determine the future of Alitalia, Italy’s airports reported impressive 10% growth in 2007. This is the fastest rate of growth since 2000, when traffic grew by 12%.