Beihai Airport (BHY), China

Beihai Airport is located in the Guangxi Province in southern China. Beihai is an open coastal city and special economic zone west of Hong Kong near the border with Vietnam, and is also the location of a major seaport. The new airport is needed to develop the city economically. The airport will see its runway extended as well as seeing additions to the airport buildings. The airport design is intended to be path breaking. It involves an innovative front-back steel structure as a roof, which is designed to maximise natural lighting. Among the items of equipment installed in the airport are: navigational aids: VHF communications equipment; meteorological equipment; power systems; airfield ground lighting; airbridges; integrated baggage handling; x-ray and security systems; specialist vehicles and MSSR.

BEIHAI AIRPORT DESIGN

The government of Beihai has requested the foreign design company appointed apply a new conceptual style of design to the Beihai Airport. The company will work jointly with Zhongnan Airport Design and Research Institute. The foreign company will provide the overall concept and design of specific imported products and materials, whereas the Chinese institute will take care of the design, inspection and approval of local products.

The new airport will use a front-back steel structure for its roof so that the most effective natural lighting can be achieved. The roof is composed of a triangular structure curving from 2D to compound 3D shape. It is open from the front part of the building down to the entrance of the hall. The back part is divided into two floors, with a waiting section and a commercial area.

BEIHAI AIRPORT CONSTRUCTION TIMESCALE

The delivery of equipment was to be made in 3 phases between 1998 and 2000. The initial delivery in Phase 1 was to be made within three months of the contract becoming effective in March 1998. This consisted of the equipment required make the airport's new 3,300 metre runway operational. The final two phases were completed in April 2000.

BEIHAI AIRPORT EXPANSION

The expansion of Beihai Airport is part of China's modernisation programme to meet the increasing demands from passengers and cargo. China has experienced average growth of 20% in passenger and cargo transport every year since 1980. There are about 100 flights per week linking Beihai with the capital Beijing, and other major cities such as Shanghai, Xian, Chengdu, Guiyang, Guangzhou, Shenzen, Zhuhai and Hong Kong.

The construction of the new runway will equip the airport for Category 1 operations. The runway has been extended from 1,800m to 3,200m and can now handle Boeing 777s and other modern aircraft. The expansion of the airport has allowed the introduction of new routes; scheduled services to 16 new destinations have begun.

BEIHAI AIRPORT LEAD CONTRACTORS

Thomson-CSF Airsys ATM signed a $21.6 million contract for equipment and services for the development of Beihai Airport. The contract became effective in March 1998, the equipment in the contract comprises: Navigational Aids: VHF Communications Equipment; Meteorological Equipment; Power Systems; Airfield Ground Lighting; Airbridges; Integrated Baggage Handling; X-Ray and Security Systems; Specialist Vehicles and MSSR.

Thomson-CSF Airsys ATM helped the Beihai Airport authorities in drawing up specifications for equipment. The delivery of the first equipment took place after just three months. The installation of the equipment was carried out by the customer with supervision by Airport Group specialist engineers. Jetway was awarded a contract to supply airline passenger boarding bridges at the new airport.