Leeds Bradford Airport case study: new radar consoles
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Leeds Bradford Airport had a requirement to refurbish the entire radar room, which included a strip-out of the old furniture and replacement with an ergonomically designed new console for four operators. Several technical updates and new generation radar and associated equipment were introduced, replacing older systems.
CLIENT OVERVIEW
Leeds Bradford International Airport is located in the City of Leeds Metropolitan district, in West Yorkshire, UK. It was opened in 1931 and was known as Yeadon Aerodrome. It boasts the highest airport in England, at an elevation of 681 ft, and is the 16th busiest airport in the UK, serving the cities of Leeds, Bradford, Harrogate, York, and the wider Yorkshire region.
PROJECT SCOPE
Thinking Space was tasked with providing brand new furniture and was able to color match the technical furniture to the new color scheme, resulting in a coordinated and impressive technical look. In a complex room shape below the main control tower, with sloping faceted windows, internal support columns, and a sloping door, Thinking Space needed to ascertain everything that operators must touch, reach, and view. Thinking Space worked very closely with LBA’s technicians to establish a workable design to fit within the envelope and constraints of the room, of which the possibilities for future expansions and future-proofing were of paramount importance. Lengthy and detailed discussions were first held on-site and then at the Thinking Space factory in Hampshire, followed by the testing of the proposed design solutions.
PROJECT EXECUTION
The old, fully enclosed consoles were replaced with a new open framework console, creating more space and light in the room. The four-person console located the supervisor at one end, with two radar operators and an assistant alongside. Each required viewing and interaction with multiple monitors, equipment pods, and desktop flight strip holders. PIP housings and equipment pods were custom-designed, as well as a mobile flight strip printer trolley for the room.
With the client undertaking the refurbishment work, a temporary radar room was set up elsewhere, allowing Thinking Space to install the console without affecting day-to-day operations. However, as in most ATC environments, access was difficult because the radar room was located up a narrow staircase. Thanks to careful planning and sizing of the modular console, the parts were transported to site and carried up the narrow stairs, where final assembly and finishing of the console was completed within the radar room space.
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