Made in Holland - Saba

Sustainable plans for the futureIn a world of ever-increasing globalisation, borders that areincreasingly open and more and more transparency, the amountof air traffic will of course only increase. The question is ‘howcan we reconcile that increase with the growing demand forsustainability?’ The various parties involved in the Dutch aviationsector thought long and hard about this question, and theycame up with an ambitious plan for both the short and thelong term. Although the capacity of Schiphol Airport is due togrow by 20% by 2015, the aim is also to achieve a 20% cut inCO 2 emissions from all ground traffic and a 10% reduction perpassenger kilometre by 2015. The intention is to implementimprovements in infrastructure and technological innovations inaircraft construction that will make Schiphol the most innovativeand sustainable airport in the world.The parties involved want to tackle noise pollution in thesurrounding area by deploying anti-noise boxes for the benefit ofthe local residents and by building pyramid-shaped noiseprotectiondams at strategic points in the landscape to repel lowfrequencynoise. The transport infrastructure around the airporthas also been thoroughly analysed, which showed that passenger‘front ports’ have to be built, if the emission reduction targetper passenger is to be achieved whilst at the same time reducingcongestion on the road network around the airport. A ‘front port’is a train station some distance away from the airport that actsas a transfer location with railway lines instead of runways. Thiswould allow passengers to check in and drop off their bags inAntwerp in Belgium, for example. Another part of the plan is todevelop ‘ultra-green’ (i.e. extremely environmentally friendly)aircraft, which scientists at TU Delft have been working on forseveral months. The target is to produce an aircraft that emits50% less CO 2 and 80% less NOX, as well as being a lot quieter.secr.mediarelaties@klm.comwww.klm.nlwww.schipholgroup.nlwww.nivr.nlFlexible sorting machineVanderlande Industries, which is known worldwide for its baggage handling systems, is launching a new sorting machine called aBAXORTER, which can sort approximately 2,500 bags an hour. This new sorter is especially suitable for small to medium-sizedairports that have either entirely manual or only semi-automated baggage-handling systems, because it is flexible in terms ofthe number of chutes used for different types of bags and for different flights and destinations. The sorter enables these airportsto handle peak volumes and offers room for future growth. The BAXORTERTM provides a single system that can sort both newlychecked-in bags and transfer bags, en route to any destination, via various different chutes. In other words, the machine handlesboth final sortation and pre-sortation for the various flights. Baggage allocation is also automatic, which reduces the amountof manpower required and minimises sorting errors of the type that can occur when baggage handling is carried out manually.The BAXORTER is suitable for bags of all shapes and sizes up to 1 metre long and does not require the use of tubs. Thanks to itscompact design and ability to sort to both sides of the belt, the BAXORTER also makes optimum use of the available space. Inaddition, there is only a minimum amount of headroom required, because the bags are sorted horizontally.remco.visser@vanderlande.comwww.vanderlande.comNACO grooms Beijing for the Olympic GamesWith the Olympic Games on the horizon China wants to be certainthat it will be in impressive shape when the world comes to visitin 2008. And where better to start than at Beijing airport wherethe visitors will get their first impression of China? A plan wastherefore drawn up for substantial expansion and renovation ofthe airport, comprising a third landing strip, a new control tower,numerous hectares of apron and a third passenger terminal, inorder to create an airport that can handle the new generationsof jumbo jets, such as the A380. The new terminal, which isdesigned to handle some 45 million passengers a year, coversan area of approximately 600,000 m² and is connected to thetwo already existing terminals by a railway line. The contractwas awarded in 2003 to a consortium consisting of NACO(Netherlands Airport Consultants BV), the famous architecturalfirm Foster and Partners, ARUP Engineers and the Beijing Instituteof Architectural Design and Research. The project was completedwithin four years, which aside from being well in time for theOlympics, was an absolute record. NACO’s Master Plan ensuredthat the terminal is one of the most advanced in the world,both technologically and from an operational point of view. Forexample, the large dragon-like roof, which faces southeast,is specially designed to capture as much daylight and heat aspossible. The airport also has a state-of-the-art regulationsystem, which makes it possible to minimise energy consumptionand carbon dioxide emissions.ben.hasselman@naco.dhv.comwww.naco.nlwww.hollandtrade.com23