German experts to train IGI security staff

IGI airport operator, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), has engaged a team of experts from Munich Airport Company (FMG) to implement an Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) programme. "Under the three-phase ORAT programme, all internal and external stakeholders, like DIAL staff, airlines, ground handlers, CISF, Customs, Immigrations and operational service providers would be exposed to new working environment, baggage handling and IT systems and other processes required for day-to-day as well as fall-back operations in T3," a DIAL spokesperson said.

Around 50 trial sessions would be carried out between January and June next year before the terminal building is commissioned and opened for commercial operations in July 2010. Since the new terminal building would have many new facilities, which presently are not being used in international departure terminal, ORAT would help prove the functionality of the systems, applicability of concepts and procedures and readiness of staff and to establish confidence of all people working in T3, he said.

Earlier, ORAT was successfully done at new domestic departure terminal (T1D) before it was opened for commercial operations in April this year. Also it was carried out for the new Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. During the three-phased ORAT sessions -- comprising start-up phase, trial operation phases and the terminal migration phase -- around 7,000 trial passengers would check-in and board after following the established procedure.

Also a test of baggage handling system and in-line screening system would be done with the help of 8,000 pieces of baggages of different shapes and sizes. "ORAT was designed and developed by the Munich Airport Company for smooth operations of any new terminal building and they have the patent for the whole operations," the spokesperson said.