Iran's new gateway makes steady progress
BY: Gunter Endres
Jane's Airport Review
September 1, 1999
By the end of 2000, Tehran, capital of the Islamic Republic of Iran,
will have a new US$1 billion airport capable of handling 4.5 million passengers
and 120,000 tonnes of cargo. Work on the new Imam Khomeini International
Airport (IKIA), being built 35km to the southwest of Tehran between the
Qum and Saveh highways, started in 1994 and Phase I construction work is
more than 60% complete. The new airport is the result of a report prepared
by the Civil Aviation Organisation of Iran (CAO), which focused on traffic
forecasts for the early years of the new millennium, and recognised the
inability of the present Mehrabad Airport (THR) to be upgraded and expanded
to meet expected growth levels for Iran's major gateway.
Of the US$1 billion cost for Phase I, US$600 million has so far been
allocated by the Iranian government, to be topped up as required. Another
US$100 million has been assigned to associated investment projects, which
will be carried out by either private or public enterprises. These include
aircraft hangars, in-flight catering, airport hotel, duty-free shops, fuel
supply and passenger and cargo handling. Letters of interest are being
elicited from local and foreign companies.
Aeroports de Paris (ADP) has been responsible for the master plan and
preliminary design, and is undertaking supervision of procurement, installation,
commissioning and testing of airport equipment and systems, as well as
co-ordination and integration. Main contractors are two Iranian companies,
Dey and Melli Sakhteman, both of which are affiliated to the Mostazafan
and Janbazan Foundation (MJF).
Overall responsibility for the project rests with the Ministry of Roads
and Transportation. Design and engineering is now 90% complete. Depending
on the actual demand, the design allows for an expansion to 10 million
passengers and 220,000 tonnes of cargo within five years, with a final
phase scheduled to increase capacity to 20 million passengers and 452,000
tonnes of cargo.
The air traffic control tower and technical block are virtually complete,
while the airfield area is also close to being finished. A small amount
of land still needs to be purchased, but is unlikely to hamper further
progress. The 56.9m high concrete control tower has an area of 1,100m[2],
while the four-storey, glass-fronted associated technical block takes up
6,800m[2]. Navigation aids include the 755 DVOR (Doppler very-high frequency
omnidirectional radio range) supplied by UK company Fernau, the 2020 DME
(distance measuring equipment), and the Normarc ILS NM 7000 instrument
landing system, providing the airport with CAT III approach and landing
capability.
Phase 1 provides for a single 4,200 x 45m North Runway, constructed
with 10.5m wide shoulders. The runway surface is largely made up from 530mm
thick asphalt, with the exception of two 450m touchdown zones, which are
formed from a 380mm thick concrete layer. A total of 12.8km of taxiways
link up runways with passenger and cargo terminals, hangars, and a 30m
wide engine test pad. More than 450,000m[2] of apron area is also constructed
of 380mm concrete.
The passenger terminal is taking shape, with the graceful lines of the
roof lending substance to the outline of the 78,357m [2] building. The
three-level structure comprises a basement, departure and arrival halls
at ground level, as well as a mezzanine arrivals floor. Public areas encompass
restaurants and retail outlets. Fourteen airbridges provide the link between
aircraft and piers and gate lounges. The terminal apron can accommodate
a total of 24 aircraft. An 1,800-space enclosed two-storey car park is
being built adjacent to the terminal, which can be reached via enclosed
foot bridges. Two-level access roads serve to separate arriving and departing
passengers. Supporting structures include administration, services, maintenance,
airport police and security guard buildings, and there will be close to
100 residential buildings on a 10,000m[2] complex. Of these 47 have been
completed, with the remainder to be erected as required.
The relatively remote location of the airport has made considerable
demands on the supply of utilities. A branch line has to be laid from the
main gas trunk line to the east of the Qum highway, while wells have to
be drilled to supply the airport with water. This will be sufficient for
the first few years of operations, but the eventual aim is to transfer
and treat water from Tehran's reservoirs. Tehran Refinery is establishing
a fuel supply through a new 250mm diameter pipeline, 33km long. Distribution
of utilities around the airport will be facilitated with a 2,850m concrete
tunnel 4m wide and 3.5m high. Some 200ha have been allocated for landscaping
within the first phase, with extensions planned in future years.
The main power supply will be taken from a line passing to the west
of the airport site and construction of a 230/20kV substation is under
way. Telecommunications contracts have also been awarded and work is in
progress to link the new airport to Mehrabad. Some 400 communication lines
will be operational in the early years and are proposed to be increased
to 2,000 lines in the future. Access to the airport will be via highways
from the city of Qum and from the Saveh highway, a distance of some 20km
to the passenger terminal. A rail connection linked to Tehran's metro network
is also available. Access, re-circulation and security roads within the
airport operational areas add up to a total length of 40km.
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