Civil Engineering Consultants Play a Crucial Role in Airport Infrastructure Construction

The year 2016 was a landmark year for New Orleans’ Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. Last year, the airport welcomed over 11 million passengers, which represents a 4.4% increase over the then-record numbers logged in 2015.

According to a report, this increase in passenger count can be attributed to the growing list of new flights and destinations added to Louis Armstrong Airport’s roster. Aside from the increase in total passenger numbers, the website also reports that the local airport registered a 21% growth in non-stop flights; increased departures from 137 daily flights to 146; and saw a 7.2% increase in daily carrier seats sold during 2016.

Greater Demands Needs Bigger Infrastructure

As more passengers arrive and depart at this airport, there is a greater need to upgrade its current infrastructure. Fortunately, the Louis Armstrong International Airport is one of the 67 recipients of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) $282 million grant for improving facilities.

$26.1 million of this grant shall go towards the construction of a new terminal apron. This will ensure more efficient docking, loading/unloading, refueling and passenger boarding at the airport—a must, given the increasing number of flights there.

Aside from this, the New Orleans Advocate also reports that the airport will add five gates to the newest terminals, again in an effort to better serve the growing number of passengers. The improvement will reportedly cost around $110 million, which will be funded through bonds.

Not Just a Matter of Building

Aviation is one of the most regulated industries in the country—and for good reason. The safety of millions of flight passengers are at stake each day at airports all over America.

And these safety considerations do not just apply to what happens in the cabin of a plane; it also encompasses the engineering of the airports where aircrafts land and take off. Hence, having the budget or funding to add facilities is not enough—operators must also engage New Orleans civil engineering consultants to help them in designing safe and efficient facilities.

In this regard, there are a few matters that must be considered whenever construction work must be done on airport premises.

Wind Direction. Engineers must take note of the predominant wind direction in a given locale to determine the appropriate runway orientation for an airport. This factor may also determine the size of the runway border and safety areas.

Aircraft. Just as airports have seen vast improvements in navigation technology and infrastructure, so too have planes. Now that there are giant wide-body jets, engineers must also design facilities to accommodate these hulking aircraft. In short, the runway must adapt to the planes that land on them.

Compliance with FAA and International Flight Standards. All airport operations must comply with standards set by local and international aviation authorities. Whenever a new infrastructure is constructed, it must comply with the most updated standards stipulated by these governing bodies to ensure safe and efficient operations.

Environmental Impact. As one might expect, running an airport will have its toll on the environment, and civil engineering consultants can help operators determine ways of lessening this. Whether it be reducing noise pollution or soil remediation, a trusted consultant can offer wise and valuable counsel.

An airport is more than just a transport terminal—it’s also a barometer for the progress of a city where it’s located. After all, more flights mean that locals have more disposable income to allot for travel, and indicates that more tourists are flocking to a destination. With the help of a trusted civil engineering firm, you can rest assured that the improvements made to an existing airport are not just safe but also constructed within budget and with excellent results.

Sources:

Airport engineering, slideshare.net
A Look into the Future of Airport Planning, Design, and Construction by Analyzing Current Issues, onlinepubs.trb.org
FAA announces $282.6 million in infrastructure grants to 67 airports in 29 states, eturbonews.com
More Passengers than Ever Before at Armstrong International, flymsy.com