Johannesburg Upgrades for A380
Hi , Not sure if I am posting this in the right place -- please advise if it needs to go somewhere else. Got this info off the African Pilot newsletter apologies to those who also read the newsletter. Johannesburg International Airport prepares for the Airbus A380 Construction at Johannesburg International Airport has already commenced in order to accommodate the A380 Airbus and will be completed by the end of 2008 according to the Airports Company SA. Chief Airports' Planner Erik Kriel, explained to a group of journalists who were invited to an Airbus update that the project was estimated to cost in the region of R10bn over the next few years. Kriel said: "Due to the 2010 Soccer World Cup, the upgrading began about three years ago, but there will be more extensive upgrades to the runways and terminals. We expect traffic at the airport to double in the next nine to ten years. The Airbus A380 will carry about 550 passengers so we have to accommodate for the arrival and departure of 550 passengers at a time." The central terminal building, international and domestic terminals, arrival and departure terminals, check-points as well as the gate and stand capacity would be upgraded. The expansion and development of the retail mall and seating area would be completed by the end of next year. The old domestic terminal building that has stood empty for the past few years has already been demolished in order to make way new developments. The new 'air bridge' will project eastwards from the end of the present international terminal building and will contain two A380 parking bays with a further two bays situated on remote concrete stands. The new air bridges have been designed to load the two A380 passenger decks independently and when not in use for the loading of the massive airliner they can be used to load two smaller regional jets. The existing international terminal is a nightmare because it is very narrow and does not allow 'meeters and greeters' the opportunity to move around easily. This problem is to be solved by extending the area into the existing covered roadway and to build a new wider roadway towards the west of the terminal. "Everything at the airport will be extended and the bus station will be enlarged. We are also making provision for A380 carousels to ensure that the hundreds of passengers who get off the Airbus can access their luggage easily. Extra parking space will be built, but we were already working on that. I'm sure those of you who come to the airport often enough will be glad about this," added Kriel. Cape Town International Airport was the preferred diversion for the A380, and a new runway will be built allowing the present runway to be converted into a taxi way. The runway at Air Force Base Waterkloof is no longer serviceable therefore this airfield can no longer be used for diverting traffic. Congestion at Cape Town International Airport will also come under the spot light due to ever increasing domestic, regional and international airline traffic. ---------------+++++++++------------ We seem to have a similar problem here with the perceived conflict with ACSA and the DUBE company. ACSA spending money on upgrades that DUBE is meant to take responsibility for. Hhmm

Would Upington also be suitable as diversion airport? They have the longest runway in Africa made for shuttle flights and the weather shouldn't be a big problem there. Felix

A380 -- Diversion to Upington
Hi Felix, Exactly I think that Upington has the longest runway in the Southern Hemisphere -- please corect me if I am wrong. ( Apart from that American " Area51 " in Botswana some where near Gaberone. ) Problem is that there is not exactly much there in the way of entertainment. Also it is not just the runway but all the other ancilliary equipment that would be needed -- to get the people off the plane -- refuel etc etc. I am also under the impression that the A380 does not like " hot and high " What about Gateway ( old Pietersburg ) or Pilanesberg.?

Another mad idea from me.... I don't know Upington that well, but would it not make an ideal place to store older jetliners, like they do in the desert airfields in USA? Seems such a waste of a good runway, and the dry climate probably ideal for storage. Negative side is that probably once in storage, jetliners never fly again, and you would need some sort of scrap metal works.

Jet Airliner Storage
Go see the movie "Lord of War" to see what happens to standing unattended aircraft in Africa. I can imagine a whole new African village springing up made from aluminium parts from airliners. No wastage here -- just unconventional re-cycling

http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A204796 More info on the A380 upgrade project at JNB. Sean

This is very interesting! I think Upington is a perfect A380 diversion for JNB, but so will many other airports. The problem with A380 is not runway length, it needs no more than 744, actually less! It is a problem of width since it has a significantly larger wheel base. A380 could land DBN with no problem, it could take off as well (just with low weight) ... it just would not be able to turn off the runway since the wheel base is just too wide! Upington would also not have a problem with equipment since A380 can be serviced with equipment that can service 744 or A346, it would just take a bit more time than normal! I think that the money spent on the A380 in JNB and CPT is already quite large, hence I see it unlikely that ACSA will spend it in Upington unless the number of A380s coming into SA is very, very high, and this is not likely to be, only likely operators anytime within the next 10 years is EK, LH and VS!

AFAIK no money will be spent on upgrading DUR to A380 standards as KSIA will be A380-specific designed. Given the mandatory 10% fuel reserve airliners are designed to carry for diversion etc a JNB bound A380 could easily manage to get CPT so I don't think UPT will be seeing many A380s at this stage...

On the money!

Have just read the magazine of the pilots union of Germany and it said Lufthansa also targets Jo'burg as A380 destination (the only one in Africa). All others are in Northern America and Asia. I think it is quite likely to see Lufthansa A380s in time for the FIFA World Cup. Cheers, Felix