New Information System Launched at Namibia International Airport
07 December 2007
First such system in southern Africa gets ‘thumbs up’ from passengers
Central to its plan to upgrade its passenger and visitor services and maintain its drive for world class status, the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) has installed a new Conrac flight information display system (FIDS) throughout the Hosea Kutako International Airport in the capital, Windhoek.
This project formed part of a large airport expansion programme planned.
The system, from the German specialist Conrac GmbH, comprises 32 of the latest technology display screens located throughout the airport building, linked to a dedicated computer network running purpose designed software.
Airport manager, Anton Theart, says the installation, which features large, 40in and 46in Conrac-manufactured liquid crystal displays (LCDs) was intended to give the airport a 'fresh look and feel' and has been positively received by passengers and visitors.
"The new full-colour screens, which replaced black-and-white TV-type monitors, are able to deliver comprehensive, detailed flight arrival/ departure information to passengers and visitors to the airport in a far more professional way - on a par with European installations," he says.
"They are also used for arrivals counter and boarding gate identification and other tasks."
Vicky Raimond-Muranda, the NAC’s communications officer, is also an enthusiastic supporter of the installation. "The new displays are significantly more attractive and readable – and they’re more flexible in terms of the messages we can deliver," she says.
With return on investment (ROI) high on the NAC's priority list, the fact that the large screens can be divided in half with one side carrying billable advertising from related service providers such as car hire and cell phone companies, tour operators and hotels is a sizable bonus, she confirms.
"There are many revenue generating aspects to the system. Currently we are buoyed by the positive feedback we are receiving from our flight information service. But we will soon be turning our attention to delivering other messages, adds Vicky Raimond-Muranda."
SOUTH AFRICAN CONNECTION
The display system was designed by Conrac's South African partner, Public Display Technologies (PDT) and installed by Namibian contractor, Thompson’s Radio.
According to Ralph Erdtelt, Thompson’s MD, the major benefits of the installation include its flexibility, expandability and fail-safe design.
"We currently have units installed in the departure and arrivals halls, the departure, arrivals and transit lounges, the two restaurants, the baggage handling department and at each departure gate," he explains.
"In the business class lounge and at the four gates the screens are split and are poised to accommodate video material as well as regular flight information.
"However, there is in-built flexibility, allowing us to reposition the displays as required and add to the system as necessary. For example, we have plans to include additional displays in the cargo terminal and the fire services complex, as well as in the new 'general aviation' terminal building – which is currently under construction."
All information is generated and supplied to the network by staff manning the information desk in the main arrivals hall. Data is input into a dedicated terminal, which is capable of individually programming each display on the network.
In this way relevant flight information, as well as advertising and other content and messaging, can be targeted at specific groups – such as arriving passengers, those passing through customs areas, or waiting to board.
Separate information aimed at visitors meeting arriving passengers can also be displayed in relevant areas.
RUGGED
Theart says the Conrac system was selected after considerable research: "We looked at a number of systems, but most of those proposed in response to our tender used commercially available screens without onboard computers. We wanted something more rugged – and significantly more durable – which we eventually found at Conrac whose industrial systems are purpose-built for applications such as ours."
All parties concerned were impressed by the seamless introduction of the new system which, says Ralph Erdtelt, was a function of the amount of detailed planning that went into implementation logistics.
"Our goal was to inflict the absolute minimum disruption on the smooth running of the airport complex. With this in mind, most of the display infrastructure – cabling, mounting brackets and power supplies - were pre-installed.
"Software and other checks were made beforehand, so when the day came to switch over to the new system, it was simply a case of replacing the old displays with the new ones, which were immediately up and running."
SPECIAL DOMAIN
Cornel van Lingen, MD of PDT, says the display of information in airports has always been Conrac’s special domain.
"The company boasts more than 35 years of experience in this arena and, being a pioneer, it was the first manufacturer worldwide to deliver 42in colour displays for an airport application – in 1997 at the Munich II Airport in Germany.
"Now with airport installations in more than 50 countries worldwide, Conrac is a market leader in terms of the supply of complete system solutions including the necessary computer hardware, software and training."
Looking ahead Anton Theart says the airport currently accommodates around 560,000 passengers and around 14,000 aircraft movements annually, but he is expecting these figures to climb substantially ahead of the 2010 World Soccer Cup which will be played in South Africa.
"For example, we believe that the German team will be based in Namibia, together with a large number of fans. Our objective is to be ready for the influx.
"Because Hosea Kutako International will be their first point of contact with southern Africa, it is important for us, the airport company, to deliver a world-class service to visitors as well as our concessionaires and the airlines here in Namibia."
Planning for the fervour with which the World Cup is expected to be received, Anton Theart says there are plans to include a large 82-inch Conrac LCD display within the airport precinct before the ‘big event’ which will be used to broadcast the soccer matches – as well as pertinent airport information.
SECURITY
In future the Conrac system will be integrated into the security services provided by the airport. Already it is seen as a valuable aid should an emergency evacuation be required, for example.
"Within seconds, we are able to add impactful scrolling text to the displays, carrying any appropriate message in 'ticker' format. While this feature has many useful applications, its emergency function is one of the most important from a security perspective," stresses Anton Theart.
Further ahead, Anton Theart says the proven system is ready for adoption in other NAC-run airports, including the Eros Airport in Windhoek and Walvis Bay’s Airport.
"We are also looking at installing our system in hotel lobbies in the city, where we will tie in with the DSTV satellite broadcaster, to present our arrivals/ departure information in conjunction with live TV programming.
"This will be a boon for visitors, who will be advised ahead of a trip to the airports should their planes be delayed or have their schedules altered in any way."
FOOTHOLD
The Hosea Kutako International Airport installation is the first for Conrac in southern Africa and the company is pleased to have gained a foothold here as a result.
According to Geoffrey Worsley, Conrac sales manager (International Projects), it also represents the first major airports contract won by Conrac in partnership with its local reseller, PDT.
"The NAC has seen the benefits of having a local presence for Conrac in southern Africa," says Worsley. "We will be offering them – and other local customers – the same levels of technical support and backup as we do in Europe, but through PDT our response times will be faster.
"We will also be carrying parts stocks locally to support our customers in the event of breakdowns or breakages."
An important component of Conrac's service offering is training. In conjunction with PDT, Conrac provides what it describes as a 'simple, user-friendly' training programme for airport information officials and duty controllers designed to facilitate complete familiarity with the system in two days or less.
"At the same time, southern African customers will always have immediate access to Conrac in Germany for troubleshooting and other advice if necessary," adds Worsley. It is our mission to maintain 100% uptime for our customers' systems – no matter where they are located in the world.
