PROJECT BACKGROUND: 
The project was inspired after a feasibility study done in September 1994, which highlighted several key areas for development of Male’ International Airport. The components of the project were eventually finalized in August 1996. Financing commitments for the project was finalized in July 1998, the financiers being the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, Saudi Fund for Development, OPEC Fund for International Development and the Government of Maldives.
Sir Frederick Snow International (UK) was selected as the Consultant for the project and the agreement for the Consultancy services was signed on 2nd November 2001. The Scope of the project has now been changed to include the procurement of an MSS Radar and extended VHF System. These two components were earlier treated as two separate projects outside of Phase IV. 

PROJECT COMPONENTS:
Phase IV project consists of the following components:-

Control Tower
The new Control Tower is to be located on newly reclaimed land to the East of the runway. The tower cab is to be of a size to accommodate up to 8 staff, with a height of 30m to the eye level of the controller. The tower is to have a slender, reinforced concrete stem containing a lift and a staircase. The tower cab is to be a pre-fabricated light-weight structure. Rest rooms, toilet and a small kitchen area are to be provided at sub-cab level. Dedicated, shaded car-parking space also to be provided.
 

ATS Building
The ATS building is to be of single level construction and located adjacent to the Control Tower, with a lightweight covered link walkway. The accommodation to be similar to that currently existing, but expanded to include for additional and upgraded equipment. The main control room to have an increased ceiling height, and be adequately sound proofed. The general ground floor level, and the invert of all floor ducts, to be raised to avoid flooding in the event of seawater washing over the site. Dedicated, shaded, car-parking space is to be provided. 

Energy Centre
The new energy centre is also to be located on newly reclaimed land to the East of the runway, with the exhaust from the generators directed to the East. The building is to be of one level, from steel-framed construction for the generator hall and workshop areas. The main generator hall is to be of double height. Office area shall be reinforced concrete and block walls The general ground floor level, and the invert of all floor ducts, to be raised to avoid flooding in the event of seawater washing over the site. A full range of workshops and office areas have been defined and included in the scheme. Dedicated, shaded, car-parking space is to be provided. A small fuel tank farm is required adjacent to the centre, for the storage of fuel. Eventually a fuel pipeline may be run from the existing fuel tank farm, to reduce the movement of fuel by vehicles. Areas for high pressure spraying, and washing down, are to be included. 

The new energy centre will accommodate two new gen-sets of 2.2MVA each. Additionally, some existing gen-sets will also be relocated. The distribution system will be on 11Kv with necessary substations.

Extensions and alterations to the existing Terminal building.
 

The Existing Arrivals Building
An assessment to utilise the existing arrivals/departure for domestic passenger operations revealed that it will limit the present capacity of this building to international passengers. The existing Arrivals/departure building will not be altered. However, a domestic arrivals/departure facility (within an existing administration building) will be provided.

 

Domestic Terminal
Presently there is no segregation of International and Domestic passengers for check-in. 
A separate domestic terminal is therefore required to separate international and domestic passengers. It has been decided that the domestic terminal will now be housed within the existing Administration Building. 

 

Existing Departures
The first floor of the existing departures building will be refurbished, and extended. International facilities on the first floor is to be expanded and shall include a new departure pier extension, with three lounges, security and government controls, retail area and passenger amenities.

 

New Departure Pier
It is forecasted that Malé International Airport should be able to handle about a million passengers per annum within the next 4-5 years. In-order to handle this capacity, a new departure pier will be constructed from the South of the existing departures terminal, containing three gate lounges, and support facilities, at first floor level. 

 

Radar and Extended VHF System
A greater portion of Male’ FIR is oceanic. Male’ International Airport serving a FIR exceeding 500,000 sq nautical miles experiences over 150 movements daily. The Air Traffic operations at Malé International Airport are a unique mixture of wide body international traffic and seaplane feeder traffic to the tourist resorts. The number of fixed wing scheduled and non-scheduled movements is relatively small. HF and VHF is used for communication within the FIR. HF is primarily used outside the TMA boundary. All aircrafts follow procedural control within the FIR.
The particular operational problems caused by this operation are:- 

· the integration of the seaplane VFR activity from the water runway with the wide body IFR arrivals and departures. 
· the need to backtrack the runway for both landing and departing flights
· the lack of radio coverage for the seaplane activity in the tourist resort area.

These three major problems limit the ability of the ATC operations to plan tactically without placing restrictions on traffic. These restrictions cause excessive intervals between arriving and departing traffic and the holding of the seaplane traffic
These requirements are the pre-requisites for the ATM upgrade.
Under the Phase IV project, a Secondary Surveillance Radar and an Extended VHF communication system would be installed. 
The new Air Traffic Services (ATS) building will accommodate the new Area Control Center (ACC). It will provide Flight Information Service (FIS) north and south and en-route control sectors within Malé FIR. The provision of Radar within the north sector will in future be augmented by ADS outside radar coverage. 
The VHF communication system would virtually replace the existing HF communication system as the new system is expected to cover a greater portion of Malé FIR. This component will provide extended VHF air-ground coverage for the Maldives Flight Information Region (FIR) to contact controlled aircraft using VHF stations. It will also provide extended VHF air-ground coverage for the Maldives Flight Information Service (FIS) for Low Altitude VFR flights and establish communication links for AFTN and ATS direct speech circuits for Male’ ACC and regional airports. 

 

For more information, please contact:

Projects and Planning Services Section
Malé International Airport
Republic of Maldives

Fax: +(960) 325034
Tel: +(960) 323508
e-mail: projects@airports.com.mv