Learning outcome
 

3. Evaluate the physical structure of an airport, including terminal and AOA (Air Operations Area) operation.

 
You are required to collate a report on Dubai International Airport by describing the physical environment of its airside and landside including the terminal and ground access to the airport. You must provide reference to a specific airport and its components and processes as a case study.
You will need to understand the various airport related processes and regulations for the purposes of planning and expansion of the terminal.
Airside
 

1. Identify with details the various components of the airfield including runways and taxiways, including their types, lengths, widths, pavements and markings.

 

2. Identify the various types of airfield lightings in use at the airport and provide their details. Identify the various airfield signage used at the airport.

 

3. Highlight the processes and technology used at the airfield for low-visibility operations like landing aids, radar approaches and other ground procedures.

 
 
Landside
 

1. Location of the airport, no. of terminals, description of the terminals (separately), other buildings at the airport, surrounding areas in the vicinity, inside fence area, outside fence area, approach and access to the airport.

 

2. Functional areas and landside components within the terminals (separately for each terminal) – check in areas, marhaba services, airline offices, lounges, duty free, immigration, customs, security, other essential and non-essential facilities

 

3. Statistics about the terminal (separately for each terminal) – no. of aircraft gates, capacity of the terminal in terms of no. of airlines & no. of passengers, types of airlines and aircraft which serve the airport.

 
 
 
 
Introduction                                                          
Currently, Dubai is one of the most developed and yet the fastest developing city in the globe given its strategic location, unmatched hotels, infrastructures, remarkable architecture and world-class entertainment and sporting events. The drivers of this city success can be attributed to the success of its economic sectors such as tourism, aviation industry and as a trade hub as it acts as central market for the West and East due to its strategic location. Aviation industry for instance has played a fundamental role in the development and growth of the UAE economy in general and as such, the UAE government has invested hugely in order to expand the industry. The industry has been instrumental in aiding the government on its diversification efforts so that the UAE economy can stop relying on oil only as the only source of income. Today, the aviation industry represents one of sector which is generating highest revenues in UAE, and according to recent reports, revenues generated in the sector surpassed those generated in the oil sector which for years has been the main contributor of the UAE’s national income.
In order to sustain this unprecedented growth and expand it more, the government of UAE has new strategies which aim to develop and redevelop the existing infrastructure so that they can accommodate the ever increasing demand of services in the sector. The Emirate of Dubai also has a vision that resonates to above sentiments and they have for years, since 1960, developed the Dubai International Airport to become among the largest and the busiest international airport around the globe. The Airport serves over 66 million people annually and operates to more than 260 destinations worldwide. This report aims to analyze the Dubai International Airport and reflect on relevant aspects such as physical environment of its airside and landside including the terminal and ground access to the airport. Being one of the fastest developing airports around the globe, the report will shed light on how the airport infrastructures and the general planning (airside and landside), facilitates smooth delivery of services in the port.
Airside/ airfield components 
They are physical facilities installed in the airport to facilitate the day to day operations of the port such as aircraft operations and other support services to easy the movement in the airport.
Runways
The longest runway in the airport is the 12R/30L which is 13127 ft (4001m) long which is designed in high standards to ensure safe departs and arrivals and it is marked in white to facilitate visibility. The other runways are also marked in white and they are several of them which are classified under the following categories;

• Parallel runways
• Cross wind runways
• Dependent or independent runways
• Primary runways
• Secondary runways.

Dubai international Airport Dubai International Airport uses two parallel runways 12R/30L is 4,450 m × 60 m (14,600 ft × 200 ft), 12L/30R is 4,000 m × 60 m (13,120 ft × 200 ft),its contains four sets of ILS  , the runways were expanded to accommodate the Airbus A380 which came into service in 2007. Runways consist of many parts which are structured to facilitate aircraft departure and arrival and these parts include;

• Runway Shoulders, designed to provide a space between the runway, signage, lighting systems, and the pavements
• Runway safety areas are areas surrounding the runway to reduce risk of damage to airplanes in undershoot or overshoot
• Runway protection zone are trapezoidal area which are 200 ft and are situated beyond a runway extending up to 2500 ft, designed to enhance protection on the ground
• Designator, it identifies a runway’s name and its orientation

The airport has two types of runway pavements:

• Flexible (asphalt) which is designed to last between 15 to 20 years
• Rigid (concrete) which is designed to last for 20-40 years

Taxiways
Taxis are a general phenomenon in airport as they offer support services to easy movement over the expansive area serving the different airport departments. Following are different types of taxiways in Dubai Airport:

• Parallel taxiways which are given alphabetical designators since they are aligned adjacent to runways
• Entrance taxiways, which are located almost at the end of departure runways and serve those, are traveling to various regions
• Bypass taxiways, located at different points especially the congested areas to facilitate and easy movement
• Exit taxiways which are located at various points along the runways
• Rapid exit taxiways which are high speed exit

Following are some of the markings on taxi ways:

• Designators, named alphabetically to identify the taxiway
• Center line which is a single line which ranges 6-12 inches in width
• Edge markings which are double continuous lines
• Runway holding position marking which separates different types of taxiways
• Taxiways shoulder marking, represented by yellow lines running perpendicular to the centerline of the taxiway

 
Airfield lighting, marking and signage
Airfield lighting are installed in any airport to ensure safe depart, arrival and also to help during night time and when there is poor weather conditions and low visibility which may be brought by the fog or smoke at the airport. All commercial aviation airports are equipped with these types of lighting systems to illuminate runways as described above so that pilots can be able to maintain the aircraft on its runway when it is arriving or departing. Following are types of lightings which are prevalent in major airports and also in Dubai International Airport;

• Runway lightings
• Taxiway lighting
• Approach lighting systems

Marking
The different lights installed are of different colors, following are some of marking indicated by the lights used in runways and other ways in Dubai Airport:
Runway edge lights are all white except the instrument runways lights which are yellow in color
Red lights, indicates the end of the a runway for a departing aircraft
Green lights, indicates the threshold to a landing aircraft
Taxiway leadoff lights are green and yellow in color and they start from the runway centerline all the way to runway holding position
Visual Approach Slope Indicator lights (VASI) are red or white
Signs and technologies used in airport for low visibility
The airport has installed different types of signs to aid different users of the various runways throughout the airport; following are some of the signs in the Dubai’s airport; mandatory instruction signs, location signs, destination signs, information signs and runway distance remaining signs.
Mandatory instructions signs usually has a red background with a black outlined white inscription and they are used to indicate an entrance to a runway or critical area and they are of different type which includes; runway holding position signs, runway approach area holding position signs, ILS critical holding position and no entry signs.
Location signs help to locate a taxiway or a runway in which the aircraft is located and they include the following; taxiway location sign, runway location sign, runway boundary signs, ILS critical area boundary signs among others. On the other hand, direction locations are indicated by a yellow background with a black inscription usually located at the left before an intersection. Information signs are usually painted with a yellow background with black inscription and they usually guides pilots on areas that are not visible from the control tower. The other runway signs have a black background with a white numeral inscription along one or both sides of a runway and are also used by pilots.
Technology used at the airfield for low-visibility operations like landing aids
Follow the Green Concept
To manage all safety aspects especially in low visibility conditions, the Dubai Airports launched an Advanced Surface Movement Guidance Control System (ASMGCS) program, whereby the first phase of the program was completed in 2012 with the implementation of MLAT to supplement primary radar coverage. Phase 2 which were implemented last year (2016) and included installation of an innovative Ground Traffic Management (GMT) system that also, utilizes the Green Concept which was validated by airline pilots in 2013 at aircrafts trials at Frankfurt Airport under sponsorship of SESAR joint Undertaking. The DXB innovative Ground Traffic Management is the first system with enhanced surveillance, automated routing and guidance, control and planning functionalities to be deployed operationally around the globe.
Landside
Location of Airport and the No. of Terminals
Dubai International Airport serves the largest city within the UAE and also as a unique aviation hub within the Middle East and also lit is the country’s main airport as it is the largest of all the airports in the different emirates. The airport is located in the district of Al Garhoud, about 2.5 miles southeast of Dubai and currently it is ranked twelfth as the world busiest airport in terms of passenger traffics and also the fourth busiest airport across the world by virtue of its international traffic. The largest operating airline in the airport is the Emirates airline which has very fast fleets amounting to more than 140 Boeing and Airbus aircraft whose base is in Dubai and it operates from a part of Terminal 1 and exclusively in the terminal 3.
Dubai Airport Terminals
The airport has three terminals and also a parking area and a place for car rentals and the three terminals are described below:
Terminal 1
It is the main terminal of the airport and most airlines use this and mostly it is where long-haul flights arrive and depart, the terminal has also several lounges in this area which include business class, first class as well as two quiet lounges.
Terminal 2
The terminal of DXB covers Fly Dubai and some of the regional and low-cost flights and mostly this terminal are used by airlines operating from CIS countries and also from Iran. The terminal is also used by those who operate chartered flights and unlike terminal 1, there are no lounges located here and therefore most tourists do not use this terminal.
Terminal 3
It is the busiest of the three terminals and this terminal is reserved exclusively for the Emirates Airline, all Emirates flights arrives and departs out of this terminal and it is also the most luxurious of all the terminals and it has four lounges. Terminals 1 and 3 are connected to each other and it is here that the standard design of this airport can be found and these two terminals are serviced by the metro even though there are also public transportation buses which takes people into the city at regularly scheduled intervals throughout the day. Taxis are also readily available outside of the all terminals and due to their affordability; they are a very common and popular form of transit outside of the airport.
Other building at the airport
Al Majalis VIP Pavilion and Dubai Executive Flight Terminal
This was exclusively built for the Dubai Royal Air Wing and was opened on first July 2008 and it covers an area equal to 3400 m² and it also includes a Royal Majlis and antenna farm. It also includes eight aircraft hangars with a total built up area of 69,598 m² (749,150 sq ft) and maintenance hangars for Boeing 747s and Airbus A380s, and a 1,200 m² (13,000 sq ft) gatehouse for VIP service.
Cargo Mega Terminal
The terminal is also called cargo village as it is one of the world’s largest and most central cargo hubs, and mostly it handle cargo for the African and Asian continents coming through the facility. At the present, the airport has a capacity of handling 2.5 million tones but the authority want to expand the facility to be handling more than three million at the near future.
Flower center
Dubai being a hub for the import and export of flowers, the airport has constructed a special flower center facility to facilitate trade in flowers as they require specialized conditions for them to stay for longer periods without getting damaged by severe weather conditions. The first phase of the center was completed in 2004 with the other two phases are still under construction and when they will all be complete, the center will offer an enhanced level of automation over a five to seven-year period for processing flower products.
Functional areas in terminal 1
At this terminal various services are given, Marhaba is one of the exclusive meet and greet services that make the airport and specifically this terminal something to look forward to for any client visiting the airport and the city. The area also has immigration offices which serves the passengers on matters relating to passports, in addition there are several offices which deals with currency exchange. the terminal has several  lounges as most of the tourists who visit the city usually uses this facility, customs offices are also located in this area as some cargo planes usually land in the area and there is heavy presence of security forces to maintain general law and order in the facility.
Terminal 2
The services offered in terminal one are similar to those offered here but this terminal does not have any lounges as there are no tourists who visits this area, and mostly the terminal is used for the cheaper flights operating in the Middle East region. The terminal has a Marhaba lounge which offers swift services such as helping with transfers; baggage and family travel so that all the clients can smoothly and safely conduct their activities smoothly in the airport. Following are some of the services offered in the terminal two:

• Meet and greet on arrival and fast-track through transfer formalities until the transfer desk
• Escort to your boarding gate for personalized transfer service
• Baggage identification and onwards tagging for an additional cost
• Access to the marhaba lounge (additional cost applies)

Terminal 3
The terminal as described above serves exclusively only the Emirates airline and it is one of the most luxurious terminals in the airport. The terminal offers a world class check-in as it allows one to skip queues as it offers personalized self check-in kiosks. Furthermore, the terminal also offers online check-in for all emirates destinations and one can be able to check in before even one arrives at the airport, in every class of travel. The service is available on the website or through the Emirates App and it is opens 48 hours before someone’s flight and once you check in, you can be able to print your boarding pass or get a mobile boarding pass on your phone.
The terminal has also different classes of lounges which provide personalized services for the travelers and they include the first class lounge, business class lounge and quite lounge for any interested visitor who may be willing to have some good time. Also the terminal has different offices to provide services mostly those described earlier in terminal 1 such as currency exchange and other important services for travelers. Marhaba services are also common in this area and also the terminal houses the Emirates A380 Hub among other world class amenities such as shopping outlets, international restaurants among others.
Statistics about the terminals
Terminal 1
The terminal has a capacity of 15 million passengers and it used by over 100 airlines, also it is connected to Concourse D by an automated people mover. The terminal as of 2010 had 28 gates after more gates were added over the years and currently the terminal occupies an area of 520,000m². The terminal is under review for expansion as it is projected that international passenger and cargo traffic will increase at annual growth of rate of 7.2% and 6.7% respectively and by 2020, it is predicted that the airport will be serving over 98.5 million passengers and 4.1 million tons of cargo.
Terminal 2
It was built in 1998 and it occupies an area close to 47000m²  and has a capacity more than 18 million passengers with more than 50 airlines, which mainly operates in the Persian Gulf region and other countries like India, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The terminal also acts as hub of Air India Express and Flydubai and also the corporate head office is located at this terminal.
Terminal 3
It’s a partly underground terminal and it is exclusively for Emirates, it has a capacity of 65 million passengers and also it has 20 airbus A380 gates at Concourse A, 5 at Concourse B and 2 at Concourse C. the terminal was at 2012 stopped to serve only emirates as Qantas and emirates set up an extensive code sharing agreement which allowed Qantas to use the A380 dedicated concourse.

 

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