Baggage Carousel Accessibility and Baggage Handling System (BHS) Peaking and Capacity Analysis for El Nuevo Dorado International Airport

The Grupo Operadora Aeroportuaria Internacional (OPAIN) concession has proposed to the Government of Colombia to fully modernize and expand El Dorado International Airport. The main goal is to efficiently accommodate and support 16 million passengers and 1.5 million tons of cargo annually by the end of the 20-year planning horizon. A major portion of the improvements and modernization is to implement a new passenger terminal, Terminal 2, by 2011 to handle international operations exclusively, while existing Terminal 1 becomes exclusive to domestic operations.

In order to assist in accomplishing the near-term terminal planning goals, OPAIN contracted aviatDesign, Inc. to prepare a Verification and Analysis Report for the proposed Baggage Handling System (BHS) for Terminal 1. The analysis included and assessment of the accessibility and maneuverability of baggage tugs and carts accessing and maneuvering around the baggage carousels and included the preparation of recommendations for enhancing the BHS carousel layout. Services also included a detailed peaking and capacity analysis for the proposed Baggage Handling System which was prepared on an annual demand forecast until the year 2011. An overview of services rendered include:

• A technical review of existing baggage carousel layout options.
• Proposed recommendations for alternative baggage carousel layouts.
• Simulation of real-time baggage tug/cart access and maneuvering in carousel areas for all development options utilizing Pathplanner^™ software.
• BHS Peaking and Capacity Analysis using PaxSTAR^™ predictive modeling software. BHS peaking characteristics were analyzed for 24-hour periods on an annual basis until the year 2011 in order to demonstrate the effects that the overall peaks will have on the BHS.
• Preparation of a BHS Verification and Analysis Report outlining all recommendations and results of the analysis.