Approaches

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Not all our efforts last year were focused outside,
however, as we wrapped up expansion of the airport
terminal building.“The original building dates
from the 1960s. With the new US Preclearance
facility at the north end and the new commuter
terminal at the south end, the middle section of
the departures lounge didn’t match architecturally
with the newer phases,” explains Michael. From
fresh wall finishes to new flooring, floor-to-ceiling
windows to new lighting and more, we’re literally
putting the finishing touches on the public spaces
and creating one cohesive, modern look for the
inside and outside of the terminal.
Airfields form the core of any airport’s operations.
By virtue of their constant use, they must
meet exacting federal quality and safety standards.
In 2007, we marked the third year of a comprehensive
six-year airfield restoration initiative.
Over a period of five months, we restored onethird
of our main runway 05/23 by installing new
drainage, electrical systems, and runway lights,
and widening the runway by adding stabilized
shoulders, making snow removal easier, and milling
and paving the existing surface. We also milled
and replaced the asphalt on one-half of the apron
(the area behind the aircraft parking positions at
the terminal), with the second half scheduled for
2008. This $10 million project, completed on time
and under budget, was carried out with minimal
disruption to our guests and air carriers.
During 2007, we also moved forward with planning
and consultation on the proposed combined
services complex, designed to house our mobile
equipment and a new fire station. This project is
a major undertaking, critical to providing updated
and expanded facilities, and one welcomed by our
operations and emergency response crews.
Our current maintenance facility, where we store
and maintain all our heavy equipment for snow
removal and runway maintenance, is housed in
a 45-year-old groundside hangar, with no direct
access to the airfield. By moving this facility
airside, our snow ploughs, loaders, graders, and
other heavy equipment will not only be closer to
the runways, they’ll no longer be using public
roads to get there.
On the technology side, we leveraged our earlier
investments in a common network infrastructure
to realize new benefits in 2007 – such as free Wi-Fi
access throughout the terminal. This popular
service, enthusiastically embraced by both our
business and leisure travellers, made HSIA the
first major airport in Canada to offer this feature.
This common-use platform also means that
tenants and airlines can easily tap into our existing
integrated network for telephone and Internet
service. Not only is this an attractive convenience
for our clients and a revenue stream for HIAA, it
gives us better overall control of our technology
infrastructure.
From inside to outside, from airfield to groundside,
our physical vision for this airport continues
to take shape. As our facilities transform. As
our services expand. In Michael’s words, “We’re
approaching completion.”
HALIFAX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 5