Mott MacDonald has been appointed to provide airfield facilities design consultancy services for Hong Kong International Airport’s (HKIA) three-runway system (3RS). The project is at the centre of Airport Authority Hong Kong’s (AAHK) expansion plans to help meet future air traffic demand and maintain Hong Kong's competitiveness as an international aviation hub.
The design of the 3RS airfield facilities comprises all airport pavement, airfield systems and utility services, as well as modifications to the existing north runway to enable the conversion of HKIA’s existing two-runway system into a 3RS. Once complete, the 3RS will allow HKIA to handle up to 102 million passengers, 8.9 million tonnes of cargo and 607,000 aircraft movements each year by 2030.
Mott MacDonald will work with Atkins as their key partner and will provide aviation consultancy services covering airport masterplanning and engineering. This includes the design of the apron pavement, aircraft parking stands and fully serviced contact gates, the delivery of airport systems engineering such as ground lighting and apron systems, as well as planning and engineering for a fire training facility. The consultancy will also be responsible for airport planning and will carry out a road traffic impact assessment, undertake studies relating to cargo, airflow and security and review airport height restrictions and airside fire station capacity.
David Mepham, aviation director at Mott MacDonald, said: “We are proud to continue our longstanding relationship with AAHK and are excited to be maintaining our involvement at HKIA. It follows our successful completion in 2015 as lead consultant for the scheme design of third runway infrastructure and concourse. This latest appointment further reinforces our aviation strength in Hong Kong, which is the technical centre of excellence for airfield work in the Asia-Pacific and Australasia regions.”
The 3RS project will draw on Mott MacDonald’s worldwide skills and resources. In addition to a core team based in Hong Kong, airport planning support will be provided from the United Kingdom, expertise on aircraft parking, stand pavements and the design of specialist systems from its offices in the US and airport advisory services will be provided from Australia.
Mott MacDonald has been working continuously at HKIA for over 20 years. The company set out the initial development strategy, led the design of Terminal 1, the North Satellite Concourse and was also involved in the design of Terminal 2. Mott MacDonald also completed the environmental impact assessment for the planned expansion of HKIA into a 3RS, paving the way for the development to proceed. The firm is also working on various other associated infrastructure and building contracts at the airport, including the recently completed Midfield Concourse.