BIAL sets up emergency handling hub at airport

BIAL sets up emergency handling hub at airport

K.V. Subramanya

AOCC is the first of its kind in the country

The AOCC is the nerve centre from where decisions will be taken in case of an emergency

Representatives of all stakeholder organisations are stationed at the AOCC

CHICKBALLAPUR: The Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has set up a new facility — the Airport Operations Control Centre (AOCC) — to ensure better coordination between various agencies connected with the operations of the airport and to enable it to take a quick decision during an emergency. Said to be the first such centre of its kind in the country, this one is at the Bengaluru International Airport at Devanahalli.

The AOCC is the nerve centre of the Bengaluru International Airport from where the collaborative decision-making process will be facilitated. Representatives of all the stakeholder organisations operating at the airport, including airlines, ground handlers, cargo handlers, flight catering, fuel suppliers, security (Central Industrial Security Force which provides air side security), immigration, customs, Air Traffic Control (ATC) and the airport operator, are stationed at the AOCC.

According to Albert Bruner, CEO of BIAL, the presence of representatives of all stakeholders at a single point helps them in taking immediate decisions, without wasting precious time, in case of an emergency. The AOCC, Mr. Burner said, is a pioneering concept in Indian airports.

Planning and allocation of resources and dissemination of information takes place at the AOCC. This set up encourages and enables automatic and seamless sharing of information. The AOCC, located in the arrival area, is “crucial in operational recovery in times of disruption and delays”. It helps enhanced predictability, resulting in better planning and real-time overview of operations, according to BIAL officials.