I don’t know why ‘it’ has been bugging me other than the fact that ‘it’ is prevalent at almost every major gateway airport I have had an active business interest in. Prevalent in that many airport owners, major tenants, and many, many, many consultants seem oblivious to the fact that ‘it’ is a pivotal factor and determinant in the financial and operational efficiencies so necessary in an airport system.
The ‘it’ I am referring to is the appalling failure of many airport managers, airport tenants, and especially aviation consultants to recognise that an airport system is a composite of enterprises and business entities (airport management + air carriers + tenants + governing authority – all interdependent) and must be managed as such.
Every airport system is an entity, is unique, and is a combination of numerous and diverse airport, airline and tenant operational and business systems and subsystems. Integration of this Pollyanna of systems is complex and requires state-of-the-art know-how regarding communications, information systems technology, systems integration and, most important, the make-up and intricacies of the airport system.
To achieve this, the airport’s governing authority and management must take the lead and provide a key piece of airport infrastructure necessary to operate a modern airport system efficiently, safely and cost effectively. That piece is a sophisticated, flexible, information technology platform that all airport users can access. Such a platform will provide the basic architecture necessary for the exchange of accurate and up-to-date information by all airport users and provide intranet, extranet and internet access.
The complexity of airport operations makes it essential that the individual functional areas be automated and integrated as a single system providing airport management and all tenants the ability to conduct their business in a seamless, secure manner and yet interface at will with any other agencies on or off the airport(s) system.
Edward G. O’Rourke A.A.E., President, ASMI
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