Ensuring safety and efficiency at Doha’s Hamad International Airport

Hamad International Airport (HIA) opened in early 2014 and has become renowned for its high-quality passenger experience and world-leading efficiency. Rightfully, the airport is the pride of Qatar, and the main operating base for national airline Qatar Airways, connecting Qatar to all corners of the globe. In the latest Skytrax World Airport Awards 2020, Doha’s Hamad International was ranked the 3rd best airport globally. How does the airport innovate and remain a world leader?

Bayanat Engineering, an aerospace solutions expert based in Qatar with a global reach of clients, has worked closely with Qatar’s HIA, ensuring its place as a major hub for air travel. A key factor in the success of HIA is its ability to provide reliable airport service, with on-time departures and arrivals. One of the main contributing factors to delays experienced by passengers at airports is poor weather. In order to combat this, Doha’s main airport features a state-of-the-art meteorological system, which was installed in partnership with Bayanat Engineering. By providing HIA with the best weather observation systems, it enables the airport to operate with increased efficiency, allowing more flights to arrive and depart.

Airports such as London Heathrow and New York’s JFK are famed for their high-frequency operations, with takeoffs and landings happening up to every 90 seconds. HIA is no different, with the airport capable of handling over 360,000 flights annually. Efficiency in Air Traffic Management is vital to ensure the airport can operate such a large number of flights in a safe environment. The high skill level of the Air Traffic Controllers is enhanced by modern innovations in training. Developments of Air Traffic Solutions and 3D simulators has enabled the training of Air Traffic Controllers in highly detailed scenarios, providing HIA with increased levels of safety and efficiency.

When aircraft take off for long flights with hundreds of passengers on board, they can reach speeds in excess of 150 miles per hour, in order to generate enough lift to get airborne. It is imperative to provide the plane with a safe and sterile runway environment from which to conduct this key phase of the flight. Ensuring that the runway is clear of Foreign Object Debris or FOD for short is vital to enable the required safety. Bayanat Engineering is currently installing FOD detection at HIA. Known as RunWize, the system will not only improve safety but will also improve the efficiency at Hamad International by providing guidance to airport workers as to the location of the FOD. The result is shorter runway closures and fewer resultant delays to flights.

The COVID-19 global pandemic has undoubtedly had a large impact on the aviation sector, with restrictions to travel being implemented by governments across most of the world. It has been a key priority for airlines and airports to ensure travel can continue and passengers are safe and protected. Bayanat Engineering and HIA have been at the forefront of installing temperature checks and body scanners, giving the ability to scan multiple people in a short period of time. This ensures passenger safety and efficiency, maintaining HIA as a 5-star airport.

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