Ninth Airport Show focuses on environment-friendly solutions

According to international trade body, International Air Transport Association (IATA), significant savings have been achieved in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region since 2006, including $40m by shortening routes and $374m by improving fuel efficiency with Green Teams.

The IATA is aiming at 25 percent fuel efficiency improvement by 2020, in the airline sector.

Among the projects that will be showcased at the Airport Show is the King Abdul Aziz International Airport Development Project (KAIA) in Saudi Arabia. KAIA is currently undergoing a three-phased redevelopment programme which will enable it to handle 80 million passengers by 2035. High environmental standards are integral to the development and upon completion, the project will be the largest Airport in the world to be Silver LEED certified.

"The focus on sustainability and 'green' solutions is a growth imperative for the airport and airline industry's future. As an organiser with a strong portfolio of aerospace events, Reed Exhibitions recognises this and has dovetailed the Airport Show platform to provide vendors and solutions providers an opportunity to highlight sustainable solutions geared towards reducing CO2 emissions, decreasing energy consumption, or those that use environmentally-friendly material,"

said Frederic Theux, President, Reed Exhibitions Middle East.

Airport Show, organised by Reed Exhibition Middle East, has confirmed attendance from more than 200 industry suppliers from 30 countries. The event, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Airports, will occupy 10,500 sq.m. of gross exhibit space at the central and west halls of the Dubai Airport Expo.

Airport Show is expected to attract over 4,000 attendees including representatives from airports and aviation authorities from 20 countries from Tunisia to China. Leading UAE exhibitors at the show include Bayanat Airports Engineering & Supplies, Pacific Control, Excel and Emirates National Factory for Plastic Industries, while key global companies such as Thales, Raytheon, Selex Sistemi Integrati, Siemens and Honeywell, among others, are also participating.

Several exhibitors have confirmed their intention to showcase innovative 'green' products at Airport Show, according to organisers. US-based Armstrong will introduce innovative ceiling concepts for the next generation of environmentally friendly ("green") ceilings.

Crisplant from Denmark will display the RampMate - a system to automate ground handling of baggage between the terminal and the aircraft ramp that sets a new benchmark for ultra-low carbon dioxide emissions in baggage handling with a 75% reduction in power consumption.

The Trikke uPT personal transporter, introduced in the UAE by the Bond Group, is 100 percent emission free, reduces travel time and promotes ease of movement, thereby increasing efficiency and productivity without adversely affecting the environment.

atg from the UK, will showcase taxiway light fittings with LED technology that use only 10 watts of power as against 45 watts of power consumed by tungsten halogen lamps of a similar capacity.

Nano Energy GmbH from Germany will present their SVPS (Small Vehicle Power System) that runs solely on a battery retrofitted with a fuel cell supply. The new battery system is scaled down, and the fuel cell energy is used for both vehicle propulsion and battery recharge.

Switzerland-headquartered Cavotec will demonstrate advanced solutions that enable aircrafts to switch off their APUs (Auxiliary Power Units) while on the ground. "By using electrical and mechanical Cavotec Pop Up Pits systems and compressed air machines, airports can limit the number of diesel driven ground service vehicles and reduce by up to 60 percent, pollution on the tarmac," according to Yann Duclot, Middle East Aviation Division Manager, Cavotec MSL Holdings Ltd.

Siemens has chosen the Airport Show platform to showcase a number of its solutions geared to improving sustainability in airports. "Siemens Infrastructure Logistics have developed new CoF Conveyer Belts which reduce friction by 30 percent. This new technology along with Siemens' new high efficiency motors can lead to a total yearly savings on energy consumption of between 20 - 25 percent and are among the solutions that will be presented at the Airport Show 2009," says Siemens' Mohamad Jaber, Head of Business Units.

Dubai-based, automation solutions provider, Pacific Controls will showcase a range of technologies which deliver carbon reduction without sacrificing economics or energy efficiency. "These solutions can be introduced for both new and existing buildings and infrastructure, and are part of the global campaign we have launched to reduce carbon footprint using technology for sustainable development," states Nigel MacKenzie, CTO at Pacific Controls.

Blastex Group will present its 440 Mode Rubber Removal/Surface Roughening device that is geared towards providing effective and long-lasting runway maintenance, while AMC Protection/TRELLEBORG will present environment friendly water-proofing solutions. These systems are durable, sustainable, and chemically stable both when in use, or when they are being discarded or recycled.

The 'Future Airports' conference held May 19 to 20, 2009, concurrently with the exhibition at the Airport Show, will devote a session on "Green Development Challenges and Opportunities" for Airports. At the session, Colin Spear, Assistant Director Airport Development, International Air Transport Association (IATA) will highlight how clever, environmentally-friendly airport master planning can help airport businesses and their airline partners reduce costs.

Emanuel Fleuti, Head of Environmental Services, Unique (formerly Zurich Airport Authority), will discuss future environmental constraints that could restrict airport business growth and the implications that environmental regulations will have on airport design. Fleuti will also present lessons from international airports that have gone onto become climate neutral.

The challenge of combining energy-efficient design and green building techniques with fast-paced infrastructure development will be highlighted in a presentation on regional environmental strategies by Alain David, Consultant, Insulation Group, Alghanim Industries.

Other topics at the conference include the role of technology in improving the transit of passengers through airports, solutions that enhance the passenger experience, new approaches to security, and managing security with airport growth.

The 9th Airport Show is supported by leading aviation authorities and trade bodies including Dubai Airports, Abu Dhabi Airports Company, German Airport Technology & Equipment (GATE), Danish Airport Group, British Aviation Group (BAG), British Airport Services & Equipment Association (BASEA), and UBIFRANCE (the French Agency for International Business Development).