The Airport Operations Service at Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTHA) plays a central role in daily airport operations. From the operations office, Airport Operation Officers monitor activities on and around the apron. Alarm notifications are also received here, and in the event of an incident, the appropriate emergency services and operational partners are called in.
When the Airport Operations Service relocated internally to a new location in the terminal building, it created an opportunity to redesign the working environment, with more space, better sightlines and a uniform setup suited to the mission-critical work carried out by the team.
Closer to the operation
Once aircraft are on the ground, the team is responsible for matters including aircraft parking positions and maintaining overall order and safety on the apron. At the same time, passenger flows are monitored from the office and a wide range of alarm notifications are handled. Especially during busy periods, a calm working environment is essential. The new space has a clear and well-organised layout, with more room for the team to work.
“It has become a well-organised working environment, with technology and facilities smartly integrated, while also being easy to manage and maintain,” says Pim Hesse, Duty Manager Operations.
A uniform TITAN setup
The previous operations room already featured two CREON TITAN workstations. These had been supplied approximately two years earlier and were relocated and reinstalled by CREON as part of this project. A third TITAN workstation was added for the Duty Manager Operations. As a result, the Duty Manager now has a fully equipped workstation providing access to the same information as the operators. This strengthens collaboration within the team and supports a coordinated approach to managing daily operations.
A uniform setup was an important requirement for RTHA. CREON also supplied a custom-made central console, designed and finished to match the TITAN workstations. “In a control room, overview and consistency are essential. Everything needs to be uniform and intuitive to use,” says Hesse. The compact design of TITAN also helps preserve clear sightlines. During peak periods on the apron, operators often choose to work standing up. The height-adjustable workstations enable them to maintain a clear overview of operations and respond quickly to what is happening outside.
Integrated radio communication
Radio communication is an essential part of the day-to-day work of the Airport Operations Service. Operators use different radio channels to communicate with other disciplines across the airport. Audio input and output therefore needed to be an integral part of each workstation.
For this part of the project, CREON worked closely with Abiom. Abiom supplied the audio system and speakers mounted to the TITAN workstations. Each operator has access to the relevant radio channels from their own workstation and can use foot pedals positioned underneath the desk to select the channel they want to listen to.
Close coordination between CREON and Abiom was therefore important. CREON contributed to the planning and engineering of the workstations, while the activities of both parties were carefully coordinated. This ensures that the workstation, audio equipment and operators’ day-to-day requirements come together as one integrated setup.