Guys time for a part two for this development as it is now underway and rising

sounds cool to me, but as always with sequel threads we should have a link to the last one ;)

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=322184

A nice update from ACSA...

La Mercy Update Media Statement
Monday, June 09, 2008 | 00:00

The new international airport at La Mercy is taking great shape and although it has, historically not been a very smooth ride to get to the level it is now, it is rapidly becoming part of the Durban and KZN skyline.

The magnitude of the multi billion rand project has construction work taking place at about six areas on the vast site. With a project of this nature it is interesting to note the quantity off the materials being used on the site on a daily basis. Some of the interesting facts on the construction site include:

Material Quantity Equivalent to:
Runway & Taxiways 400 000 m2 100 Soccer Pitches
Terminal Floor Area 103 000 m2 27 Soccer Pitches
Earthworks 5.8 Million m3 2500 Olympic Swimming Pools
Concrete 100 000has, hi m3 50 Olympic Swimming Pools
Structural Steel 4 700 tonnes ½ the Eiffel Tower
Asphalt 230 000 tonnes 35 Km of 4 lane highway

There is about 100 park homes that on site which houses the various contractors and their staff which consists of over 2100 contractors and sub contractors. About 200 earth moving equipment has already moved about 4 million tons of earth on the site.

Due to the pace of the construction, it is very noticeable that the shape and scale of some of the construction areas on the site take a different shape as the weeks go by. Considering the fact that the completion target is set for the 1st quarter of 2010, some areas have had some major construction activities recently:

* Piling was completed on the northern elevated roadway ramp.
* The terminal building basement retaining walls have been completed.
* Concrete slab has been poured for the terminal building arrivals hall.
* Work has commenced on the construction of the northern ramp of the elevated roadway to the departures level.
*
Casting of concrete for the multi storey parking commenced including casting of the retaining walls of the cargo building.
* Work on the control tower and the lift shaft is in progress.
* The design and construction of the cargo building is in progress.
*
The runways and taxiways are on program with the road bed preparation on the shoulders of the taxiways been completed.
* The Tradezone area is being cut filled with bush clearing in progress.

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), together with the Dube TradePort (DTP) has a team on site to work with the contractor, the Ilembe Consortium. Heading the project for ACSA, Sean van der Valk, Project Manager, said, “We are working together with the contractor and the professional teams on site to manage the project but also to ensure the project is delivered on time”. He added, “As this green field project is going to be an historical event we are working towards delivering a world class facility with the co-operation and in consultation of all the relevant stakeholders”.

Issued by: Colin Naidoo
Manager: Communications and Brand
Durban International and National Airports
Airports Company South Africa

time is tight. images?

Dube website still got pics from Feb :rant:

how do i load a photo?

load it on a site like www.flickr.com and then past the url from there in here.

and welcome to the boards mate! go to the intro thread and just tell us a bit about ya.

thanx man!

Dammit, now I'm sitting here repeatedly pressing F5 in eager anticipation of said photo... :)

^^ hehe is F5 refresh?

look forward to the pic mate.

The 103 000m2 of the terminal building sounds quite a bit larger than what we all initially atticiapted, am i correct? also what is the size of the current DIA terminal?

I think the current terminal at DIA is somewhere around 30,000 m2. If that report is correct, it would make the new terminal bigger than JHB's domestic terminal.

Shacky, welcome to the boards! Hope to see you post often.

I think the current terminal at DIA is somewhere around 30,000 m2. If that report is correct, it would make the new terminal bigger than JHB's domestic terminal.

Shacky, welcome to the boards! Hope to see you post often.

prob asked this before. the capacity is 6.5 million pax?

wheres the pic :(

if flickr is giving u kak, try www.tinypic.com much faster :D

prob asked this before. the capacity is 6.5 million pax?

originally supposed to be 7m, but recent alterations to plans put it at about 7,5m

originally supposed to be 7m, but recent alterations to plans put it at about 7,5m

why do articles still say 6.5m? retards!
when will the capacity move closer to OR Tambo or CTIA? will an expansion begin soon after the world cup?

According to the master plans I remember seeing Mo, think they were moving to phase 2 for completion around 2025. Can't recall if it was for 15 or 20 million PAX though... maybe one of the Durban aviation gurus know for sure. However, would think, as for most things with ACSA, they'll be spontaneous, wait till the current terminal reaches 9million PAX and then scramble to implement phase 2! :lol:

Not forgetting phase 3 to be completed by 2060 :crazy:

Does anybody have any current pictures of the site?

why do articles still say 6.5m? retards!
when will the capacity move closer to OR Tambo or CTIA? will an expansion begin soon after the world cup?

Phase 2 of construction is supposed to start in late 2010 after the WC. this is more focused on the tradeport areas at first, with additional terminal expansions starting in about 2012. If growth does progress quickly, then this may get brought forward, but until greater foreign flights are enticed, domestic growth will not warrant the expansion until 2012

.....this is not the best pic.....but its on the Dube website.......

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x31/Upington/May08/Project2.jpg

Man why do they not release photos of this project's development? The secrecy is pathetic, something one would expect from the north koreans

Hmm...

Does anyone have e-mail addresses that I can send nasty mails to regarding the lack of up-to-date progress updates and photos (ESPECIALLY photos) of this project?

go to www.dubetradeport.co.za to track progress of the construction. Pictures are uploaded monthly. I think many people in this thread have obtained pictures this way.

I have sent them Ron, but to no avial, they have those stupid pano's that u cant make out shit from columns, I asked for High Res images, but nothing :(

heres a slightly bigger picture of the one form the article

http://i30.tinypic.com/2qnrrxl.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3012/2610262125_95ac5693cb.jpg?v=0

Found some pictures - on the ACSA website of all places.

I'm guessing that they're not that recent.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l116/ron2k-za/airport/3770_Building20Arrivals20Level20Sta.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l116/ron2k-za/airport/3770_View20of20Multi1900.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l116/ron2k-za/airport/3770_Control20Tower20Construction20.jpg

Ron you beauty! well the first pic is exactly the same as the one from the article which is dated 6 of June 08, so it could be recent snaps.

Durban's new airport faces risk to power supply



By SLINDILE KHANYILE

Durban - Disruptions at most 2010 World Cup projects around the country have emanated from labour disputes. But the construction site of the new King Shaka airport and a trade zone in Durban have been zapped by an incompetent electricity supplier.

The supplier appointed by the eThekwini municipality to build the La Mercy substation has been fired for not performing. Rohan Persard, the chief executive at Dube Tradeport, which is handling the project on behalf of the government, said on Friday that the substation was behind schedule by as much as four months.

Persard said the absence of the supplier was not a threat to the project, although it could be problematic when it was time to do the commissioning of the facilities next year.

"There is a temporary feed from Umdloti at the moment, which is fine," said Persad. "But when we start commissioning, we will need two. I am more concerned about whether it [the substation] would be ready on time, but this is really out of our hands because it is the city's responsibility to supply the power."

Sandile Maphumulo, the municipality's head of electricity, said a new contractor had been appointed to the project and would start working today.

Maphumulo could not say if the new supplier would be able to make up the lost time.

"The new contractor is doing evaluation on work done by the old one," said Maphumulo. "He has been given a schedule and timelines, but for details on whether he accepts those timelines and if he will meet them, only our architectural services can answer that."

Attempts on Friday to get comment from the architectural services and the names of the contractors were unsuccessful.

More than R2 billion of the R7.2 billion budgeted has been spent already on the road and concrete works.

Duncan Barry, the project manager from the Ilembe consortium, which is building the airport, said it had introduced an acceleration programme to make up for days lost when it was waiting on a decision from the department of environmental affairs and tourism.

Barry said: "We have increased resources, the plant [and] changed methods of construction in certain areas."

If the delay was not addressed, it would mean that the airport, which is supposed to be operational for the 2010 soccer World Cup, would be completed by July 2010 instead of March that year.

Incentives to entice global airlines to Durban airport

Julius Baumann
Aviation and Tourism Editor

KWAZULU-NATAL Tourism Authority and Airports Company SA are going all out to attract long-haul international airlines to the new Durban International Airport at La Mercy and are using attractive incentives to entice them.

However, the sky-high fuel price and slow economy are making their task extremely difficult, with many airlines cutting back on capacity or preferring to add flights to more established centres such as Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport and Cape Town International Airport.

Ndabo Khoza, CEO of the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Authority, said while the current economic conditions had hindered the province’s drive to attract airlines to La Mercy, he believed the situation would improve in the next two years.

“The economic situation is not permanent and we will continue lobbying airlines to add Durban to their networks,” said Khoza.

Earlier this year, Emirates announced it would be adding daily flights to Durban from December, but last month pulled the plug on those plans. “Although demand on our Durban route was strong and well received, the high fuel price has forced us to (re-evaluate) our route operations,” said Fouad Caunhye, Emirates’ regional manager for southern Africa.

Another obstacle facing the initiative was restrictive bilateral air policy agreements that made it virtually impossible for airlines to operate commercially viable flights from Durban.

Khoza said the tourism authority would continue to push for more air access to SA, and KwaZulu-Natal in particular, in a bid to grow the province’s slice of the international tourism market.

“At the end of the day, if the capacity is there we can create the demand and make the Durban route a sustainable one,” said Khoza.

While reluctant to give details of any incentives offered to airlines, he said that any route would be supported by a strong marketing campaign.

Durban has a large presence of domestic and regional carriers but there is no long-haul international airline represented at the city’s airport.

The La Mercy airport is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2010, boasting an ultramodern terminal.


http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/economy.aspx?ID=BD4A808082

My brothers firm are the Auditors for this place & they currently on site doing an audit, but my bro is not there, he told those morons to take pictures, Im hoping they do.

Would be nice if they'll stick their moronity where it came from and take them :P

flew over the site on friday on way back from Johannesburg and it is looking mighty impress, was bummed i didnt have my camera to get some shots of it. So far it is 36% comeplete according to the construction companies website. The control tower is nearing completion and from what i saw the passenger terminal is rising well. The vehcile ramps and the like for the terminal building are nearly complete and work on the parking structures has also commenced.

^^ those are good news.

Sons of b*tches arnt putting up updates!!!!

How big will La Mercy be in comparison with the current Durban Airport, Cape Town and OR Tambo?

bigger than current Durban & CT, but smaller than O.R. But they aiming the airport at the logistics side instead of a tourist depot.

How big will La Mercy be in comparison with the current Durban Airport, Cape Town and OR Tambo?


Four times the size of DIA.

^^ Yes, as far as I can fathom, KSIA will exceed CTIA in total area, but this also includes the Dube Tradeport and as he said "logistical" areas. However, after CTIA's upgrades, the terminals themselves and PAX capacity will still be higher at CTIA.

OK, thanks.

according to most recent articles 103000m2 of area has already been developed

^^ Yes, as far as I can fathom, KSIA will exceed CTIA in total area, but this also includes the Dube Tradeport and as he said "logistical" areas. However, after CTIA's upgrades, the terminals themselves and PAX capacity will still be higher at CTIA.
Post 2010:
ORTIA double the capacity of CTIA which will be double the capacity of KSIA.

If the Dube website reflects the latest info (and it is infamous for not updating anything), this is the latest update:

------------------

Progress updates are as follows:

Passenger Terminal Building:

The ground floor slab has been cast and the columns for the first floor slab are complete. This means that the Arrivals floor structure has been finished and the work focus is now set to switch to the construction of the first floor, which will house Departures.

Cargo Terminal:

The office block area is now in the process of being completed, with brick-work in progress, air conditioning ducting being installed, the ‘valuables’ cargo room being constructed, the steel structure of which is already 60% complete.

Trade Zone:

The levelling and compaction of the Trade Zone area is now 30% complete.

Support Zone (One):

The bulk earthworks for the Support Zone (One) are already 75% complete.

Main Runway:

With the main runway’s bulk earthworks having been completed and ducting for the ground lighting system currently being laid, attention has moved to the taxiways. All the taxiways have been levelled and bulk earthworks for these elements have begun. In addition, remedial work is currently being undertaken in areas where soil conditions are poor and the quality of compaction is accordingly weak.

Air Traffic Control Tower:

Construction of the 55m high air traffic control tower is complete and the fittings for the stairways and elevator shaft have been installed. The cabin structure, to be positioned at the top the tower to house the air traffic controllers, is currently being assembled at ground level and will be lifted into place on its completion.

Multi-Storey Car Park:

Construction of the multi-storey car park is progressing steadily with the support columns for the third and final floor now being erected.

Water Reservoir:

The floor and side walls of the reservoir have been completed. The decking for the roof structure is currently under construction. Once complete, the reservoir will have a carrying capacity of three million litres. It will provide for a three-day independent supply of water to the airport and, critically, will ensure instantly accessible water in the case of on-site fire emergencies.


http://www.dubetradeport.co.za/News/hotNews_4.asp

shite, if all that is true, thats an amazing amount of work done!

^^ its actually further than that article states. i read in yesterdays Northglen paper that things were further along. there's is not on the net. i'll type the article up later tonight :)

TYPE IT? No no... Durbsboi would just say...

http://www.netbanker.com/Images/scanner.jpg

lol

right on the money, speaking of scanning, I have to scan some stuff from this months construction review for bridge city, now I have to find that thread first...

^^ there is a links thread for a reason....

I didnt see it there, will try n scan that thing today

King Shaka International Airport, Durban, South Africa
Email Article Print
Key Data
Start Year2007Project TypeNew international airportLocationDurban, Natal, South AfricaEstimated InvestmentRAND2.5bn, $355mCompletion2010SponsorAirports Company of South Africa SA (ACSA), KwaZulu-Natal provincial government, Dube TradeportFinancingSouth African Government, KwaZulu-Natal provincial governmentFull specifications
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The South African government has decided to build a new international airport in the eastern port city of Durban before the country hosts the 2010 football World Cup (Durban being one of ten venues being used to host the tournament).

The government plans to spend at least $860m (R6bn) on investments in Durban in preparation for the football World Cup. Projects will include a new 85,000-seat stadium (King Senzangakhona Stadium - R2bn), a new airport (King Shaka) and trade port (Dube), a new tram system in downtown Durban, and upgrades to harbours, roads, railways and beaches.

"The King Shaka International Airport will be an integrated passenger and freight airport."New King Shaka Airport decision

Jeff Radebe, the South African Transport Minister announced that the airport at La Mercy, 30km north of the coastal resort city, will be operational, and the old Durban International Airport (DIA) decommissioned by the first quarter of 2010. Durban's existing international airport south of the city is the smallest of South Africa's three international airports and the runway is too short to allow a fully laden Boeing 747 to take off.

The key date in the process is that all construction shall be completed by December 2009. The airport will then be commissioned by the first quarter of 2010, well in time for the World Cup.

The new airport will be called King Shaka International Airport (KSIA) after the famous Zulu warrior king. Durban, which is South Africa's third largest city, is in the heart of the Zulu lands.

Studies have shown the existing Durban international airport terminal is too small to handle the growing tourist and commercial trade through Durban, South Africa's busiest port. Passenger growth at DIA has doubled since 2005 from two million to four million passengers a year.

Land dispute

The land dispute between Airports Company of South Africa SA (ACSA) and the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government has been resolved, paving the way for construction of the new of the new R6.8bn airport for Durban at La Mercy.

Dube Tradeport, the company established by the province to manage the new industrial development zone announced that construction of the new airport would begin in the second half of 2007. Dube Tradeport has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the national transport department and the provincial government in regards to the cargo terminal portion of the project.

The ACSA has also committed to selling its 206,899ha of land to the provincial government, and then managing the new airport for the first 10 years of its life (with an option to buy if required).

The development will be carried out by Airports Company of South Africa, a state-owned enterprise that runs airports throughout the country.

KwaZulu-Natal Finance and Economic Development MEC, Zweli Mkhize, has told the Board of Airline Representatives of SA, a body that represents all major airlines operating in SA, that four bidders had been shortlisted for the construction of the airport.

New airport apathy

There have been doubts about the new airport at La Mercy and there have been strong suggestions that international airlines are still likely to prefer to fly into Johannesburg and reroute their Durban-destined passengers on existing domestic flights. The ACSA is working towards the project having no negative impact on Johannesburg's airport, which handles the bulk of the country's international flights.

"The airport will then be commissioned by the first quarter of 2010, well in time for the World Cup."ACSA is also working on a plan to encourage international airlines to fly into the new airport, which will have longer runways and more modern facilities. It will also be integrated with the 35-acre Dube trade port and agricultural shipping zone that is being developed at a nearby site.

This will offer a cargo terminal, an integrated logistics platform, an agricultural export zone, manufacturing space, and opportunities for property development such as hotel, retail and conferencing space.

Johannesburg competition

Because of the altitude of Johannesburg Airport long-distance aircraft departing there usually require subsequent stopovers, owing to the reduced fuel load in order to reach the take-off velocity on the length of runway given. So airline operators might find more convenience in using the new Durban airport as well as saving on fuel costs.

It has been argued that politics and business have vested interests in keeping international air traffic in Johannesburg, regardless of the massive fuel savings to be had by international fights taking off from sea level and at a position far better suited to be a major distribution hub than Johannesburg.

King Shaka details

The King Shaka International Airport will be an integrated passenger and freight airport without the operational and logistic constraints associated with the old Durban International Airport.

The passenger terminal will initially have 18 passenger aircraft stands and a size of 19,500m², which is expected to cater for both domestic and international travel (six million a year). The initial capacity will allow for 7.5 million passengers a year with opportunities for significant expansion, should it be required (figures are projected at 45 million passengers by 2060).

The runway will be 3,700m long to accommodate the latest New-Generation Large Aircraft (NGLA) including the A380 Airbus, with the space to expand to 4,000m if needed. The passenger terminal will have greatly expanded retail concession opportunities.

Facilities for police, military, VIP, general aviation and aircraft maintenance operations will also be provided.

Contractors

The construction contract for the new airport was awarded to the Ilembe Consortium in December 2006. The consortium is headed by Group Five, Mvelaphanda Holdings and WBHO Construction (supported by the construction and management consultant Turner and Townsend).

The $938m contract was signed in June 2007 for the design and construction of the airport and the ground breaking ceremony occurred in September 2007 following a favourable environmental impact assessment.

"The new international airport will be built in the eastern port city of Durban before the country hosts the 2010 football World Cup."The airport will be located in close proximity to the main N2 freeway, and two main roads (the R102 and M4), as well as the main railway line heading up the Natal North Coast from Durban. A link road between the airport and the N2 will be constructed.

The losing bidders (Aveng Africa and 12 other companies) in the contract to build the new airport did seek an injunction to set the decision to award the contract aside and seek a review because the Indiza consortium was unfairly disqualified as a bidder. There was a delay in the construction but the matter is now settled and the timeline of 2010 still seems to be achievable.

Current King Shaka progress

In Mid-2008 there were 2,100 contractors and subcontractors on site along with 200 earth-moving machines.

The earthworks consisting of the movement and preparation of 5.8 million cubic metres of earth is now coming to an end and building work has started in earnest.

The terminal floor area will be 103,000m² and the runway and taxiways will cover 400,000² and require 230,000t of asphalt. The terminal building will require 4,700t of structural steel and is currently (June 2008) taking shape. The state of progress in June 2008 showed:

Piling work was completed on the northern elevated roadway ramp
The terminal building basement retaining walls had completed construction
Concrete slab had been poured for the construction of the terminal building arrivals hall (staging and decking in progress)
Work had commenced on the construction of the northern ramp of the elevated roadway to serve the departures level
Casting of concrete for the multi-storey parking commenced including casting of the retaining walls of the cargo building was underway
Work on the control tower and the lift shaft was in progress
The design and construction of the cargo building was in progress
The runways and taxiways were on schedule with the road bed preparation on the shoulders of the taxiways completed
The Tradezone area was being cut filled with bush clearing in progress

Can't the media ever get their facts straight?

The government plans to spend at least $860m (R6bn) on investments in Durban in preparation for the football World Cup. Projects will include a new 85,000-seat stadium (King Senzangakhona Stadium - R2bn), a new airport (King Shaka) and trade port (Dube), a new tram system in downtown Durban, and upgrades to harbours, roads, railways and beaches.

Firstly, the stadium capacity is closer to 70,000 if I'm not mistaken, secondly it's the Moses Mabidha Stadium now (and has been for ages now), and thirdly - tram system? Bloody lazy journalist.

It has been argued that politics and business have vested interests in keeping international air traffic in Johannesburg, regardless of the massive fuel savings to be had by international fights taking off from sea level and at a position far better suited to be a major distribution hub than Johannesburg.

Wikipedia copy/paste right there. Bloody lazy journalist.

The passenger terminal will initially have 18 passenger aircraft stands and a size of 19,500m²...

And we've already established in this thread and in the old one that it's going to be greater than 19,500m². Bloody lazy journalist.

The airport will be located in close proximity to the main N2 freeway, and two main roads (the R102 and M4), as well as the main railway line heading up the Natal North Coast from Durban. A link road between the airport and the N2 will be constructed.

Copy/paste from my own contribution to Wikipedia. Yes, you guessed it... bloody lazy journalist.

The terminal floor area will be 103,000m² and the runway and taxiways will cover 400,000² and require 230,000t of asphalt.

Well, at least they got the size right this time, but then, why is the 19,500m² mentioned above still present in the article?

Bloody lazy editor.


...

Not related to the Bloody Lazy Journalism, but while I'm ranting...

The ACSA is working towards the project having no negative impact on Johannesburg's airport, which handles the bulk of the country's international flights.

Translation: "Screw Durban and Cape Town, all international must go through Johannesburg".

ACSA, please just die already.

^^The 3.5million 'villagers' from Durban and 3.5million 'villagers' from Cape Town should march with their pitch-forks and flaming-torches to ACSA's offices in Jo'burg and demand vigilante justice!!! :lol: YES, I LIKE THAT!!!

Translation: "Screw Durban and Cape Town, all international must go through Johannesburg".

ACSA, please just die already.


ORTIA doesn't need ACSA either.

What should happen is exactly what happened recently in England with BAA. All airports worth a mention in SA are ACSA owned and it constitutes blatant anti-competitive practices. ACSA should be taken to the Competition Commission and forced to sell off at least one international airport and 3 regional airports immediately... before 2010, to allow international carriers in and our skies to open up.

I think you'd find ACSA suffering bigtime if they didn't have a strangle hold on all the airports....

Give one of the coastal airports to another company and that airport would be massively expanded and ORTIA would lose ALOT of freight traffic, and probably quite a bit of passenger traffic as well.

^^ Like I care about ACSA. I care about South Africa, our trade, our tourism, our global accessability etc. ACSA hurts freight trade, hurts tourism terribly, hurts consumers (traveler options and flight costs), hurts business, hurts international airlines. One company's monopoly should not supercede the good of the country. Why can Tiger Brands be fined millions for anti-competitive practices, why can Telkom get a competitor Neotel, yet ACSA is protected. They must be subjected to the same rules, competition, hard-ships, efficiency, customer service any legitimate company in the world must face.

Bull Sh^t! My proposal... SA should be divided into two "air-sectors" to give both airport operators a fighting chance of effectively luring airlines from their closer-respective parts of the world. Cape Town, George, Upington, Kimberley, PE airports should be sold off and within a de facto "Western Sector." KSIA, ORTIA, E.London, Bloemfontein, Pilanesberg, Polokwane can remain ACSA and become the de facto "Eastern Sector." This would allow the alternate operator to be competitive on Americas routes and CTIA to capture some additional European traffic, and ACSA airports to be competitive on routes to Europe too, Asia and Australia.

I think you'd find ACSA suffering bigtime if they didn't have a strangle hold on all the airports....

Give one of the coastal airports to another company and that airport would be massively expanded and ORTIA would lose ALOT of freight traffic, and probably quite a bit of passenger traffic as well.

This was supposed to be the case with King Shaka, they even got potential international operators involved, but Government said it had to go to ACSA...

Can't the media ever get their facts straight?



Firstly, the stadium capacity is closer to 70,000 if I'm not mistaken, secondly it's the Moses Mabidha Stadium now (and has been for ages now), and thirdly - tram system? Bloody lazy journalist.



Wikipedia copy/paste right there. Bloody lazy journalist.



And we've already established in this thread and in the old one that it's going to be greater than 19,500m². Bloody lazy journalist.



Copy/paste from my own contribution to Wikipedia. Yes, you guessed it... bloody lazy journalist.



Well, at least they got the size right this time, but then, why is the 19,500m² mentioned above still present in the article?

Bloody lazy editor.


...

Not related to the Bloody Lazy Journalism, but while I'm ranting...



Translation: "Screw Durban and Cape Town, all international must go through Johannesburg".

ACSA, please just die already.


I concur with you on every point you made. I was also baffled how any reporter or editor could report **in the same article** that the new airport would be 19,500 m2 (as small as DIA) AND 103,000m2. How dense can they be?

Personally I think airports shouldn't necessarily be under a single blanket company, or even 2 companies like an eastern sector and western sector.

CTIA should be dominant in the tourist trade, ORTIA in the business traffic and KSIA in the freight... At least in my mind thats the way things would pan out if each airport was fighting against the others for traffic.

let the airlines choose where they want to fly too. We are one country and in the end it all contributes to the country's economy.sorry to change the subject but just wondering if anyone has any pics of the current status of KSIA.

^^ EXACTLY!!! But ACSA won't let carriers do that. They hold the cards when it comes to landing rights. Anyways, yes... would be nice if we could finally see some cool new pics of KSIA... anyone drive towards Stanger lately??? :)

Can't the media ever get their facts straight?



Firstly, the stadium capacity is closer to 70,000 if I'm not mistaken, secondly it's the Moses Mabidha Stadium now (and has been for ages now), and thirdly - tram system? Bloody lazy journalist.



Wikipedia copy/paste right there. Bloody lazy journalist.



And we've already established in this thread and in the old one that it's going to be greater than 19,500m². Bloody lazy journalist.



Copy/paste from my own contribution to Wikipedia. Yes, you guessed it... bloody lazy journalist.



Well, at least they got the size right this time, but then, why is the 19,500m² mentioned above still present in the article?

Bloody lazy editor.


...

Not related to the Bloody Lazy Journalism, but while I'm ranting...



Translation: "Screw Durban and Cape Town, all international must go through Johannesburg".

ACSA, please just die already.


Capacity 69,000 to be exact. Option to expand to 85,000

^^ EXACTLY!!! But ACSA won't let carriers do that. They hold the cards when it comes to landing rights. Anyways, yes... would be nice if we could finally see some cool new pics of KSIA... anyone drive towards Stanger lately??? :)

you cant really see anything from the highway, koppies in the way

Ok met with the structural engineer for this place, he said his going to send me pics next week.

good stuff

C/O Avcom (www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=37399&start=15)

http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/download/file.php?id=41222&mode=view

http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/download/file.php?id=41221&mode=view

http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/download/file.php?id=41223&mode=view

Looking good! :banana: Have a look at the elevated roadway which is visible in the 1st and 3rd pictures.

awesome! tight deadline but great to see the progress.

http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/download/file.php?id=41223&t=1

(from Acsa)
La Mercy Update – August 2008

It is almost a year since the new international airport at La Mercy was issued the green light. Since that time to now the construction has made good progress and the airport is scheduled for completion by the 1st quarter of 2010. The multi billion rand project which has the making of an “aero city” is starting to look more like an airport than a construction site a year later.

With the terminal building construction generally on programme, the slabbing and concrete pouring of the arrivals and departure levels have been completed in June. The concrete pours of the airside corridor on the arrivals and departure levels have also been completed. While the construction is underway the professional teams are currently finalising the structural design including constant consultations with the design teams, architects and service providers in terms of building finishes, signage, way finding systems and lighting.

The construction of the basement surface beds of the multi storey park are well on track with the pile caps, ground beam, columns and shafts almost 80% completed. The design team involved with the construction of the cargo facility recently visited Dubai and Frankfurt to engage in a design workshop to ensure the facility at the La Mercy site is built to specifications and conforms to the requirements to meet the deadline of 2010.

The steelwork for the control tower has been completed together with the steel staircase and foundation work on the tower which has also commenced. The team is currently looking at the office layout and design which will be further consulted with Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) before it is finally signed off. The slab of the 1st floor of the Fire and Rescue building has been cast, with the construction of the drainage and training facility about to commence.

The construction of the 3.7km runway and associated taxiways is progressing well with cable ducts details across the runways are in the process of being set out. The designs for the Alpha, Bravo and Charlie aprons have been completed together with 75% of the bulk earth works to the alpha taxiway. At this stage 7 out of the 10 taxiways have been cleared and grubbed of all topsoil.

Sean van der Valk, ACSA Project Manager said, “ While the construction phase of the airport is being accelerated the teams are concurrently finalising some of the specialist areas which include, electrics, IT systems, cargo handling design, baggage handling sortation system and air bridge design.”

Sean also went on to say, “These associated services are crucial to the delivery of the airport. That is essentially why we are running most of the construction phases and specialist areas in tandem. This will assist us to synchronise the various critical path areas with design and development of the entire project.”

The over 100 park homes which provides office and operational space for over 2300 contractors, subcontractors and service providers, is a hive of activity on a daily basis at the site. As the pace of the construction is gaining momentum by the week, the “construction site” will soon be a world class airport facility.

Material Quantity Equivalent to:
Runway & Taxiways 400 000 m2 100 Soccer Pitches
Terminal Floor Area 103 000 m2 27 Soccer Pitches
Earthworks 5.8 Million m3 2500 Olympic Swimming Pools
Concrete 100 000 m3 50 Olympic Swimming Pools
Structural Steel 4 700 tonnes ½ the Eiffel Tower
Asphalt 230 000 tonnes 35 Km of 4 lane highway

Cigar & Briker, you beautys! thanks for these!!!!!

& to think they only started full swing work in Feb 08!!!

Fantastic! Thanks for posting these. Does anyone know what the two large structures are? I am supposing one on the right with the ramp is the main terminal building? If so, it's larger than I thought it would be. What's the structure on the left then? Seems too big and far away for parkade.

you guys are fantastic thanx!!!! it is beginning to look like an airport. And yeah, the main terminal area and the complex are looking bigger than i thought too

parking me thinks

According to the original plans it should definitely be parking, although its obvious that a lot has changed from the initial design. We know the ATC tower is up already - where is it?!? Traffic flow has been changed a lot too although the ramp looks brilliant! Here's the original plans:

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc67/stevehanauer/KSIA/masterplan2010large3rn.gif

Thats an old masterplan, this is a more recent one.

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/amgosai/masterplan_2010_large.gif

Thanks for reposting design. The plan and emerging project don't even resemble each other, in my opinion!

If the building on the right is the terminal, methinks the building on the left is too big to be the parkade. Perhaps one of them is the cargo terminal? Even the apparent terminal looks too big. The length is too long and the distance from ramp to far end of building seems too wide to be the terminal. This would seemingly make it larger than JHB's domestic terminal and CT's whole airport, even after its extensions. This can't be right.

But can't make out anything!?! Well, at least they've postponed starting the 2nd runway in this first phase.

Just thought should have all the pics in here...great find guys!!

The runway is looking like it is taking good shape

http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/download/file.php?id=41223&t=1

http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/download/file.php?id=41222&t=1

http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/download/file.php?id=41221&t=1

did anyone update the international thread? in the main airport section?

yip :)

thanks Mike

is the black bit in the last pic the runway? coz thats a hell of a long taxi to the terminal

It looks far, but in all honesty it aint that far, Ive been to airports that have even further terminals from the runways

It also gives them space for terminal and apron changes and expansions

What about access via roads? I haven't heard or seen anything about construction of infrastructure to actually get to the airport. That in itself will take a long time especially if bridges or tunnels need building...?

The major N2 highway runs right next to the airport on the eastern boundary and on the western boundary runs the R102, which is a secondary route.

The R102 is being upgraded from the Kwamashu highway interchange in the south (this links to the N2 near Riverhorse valley), all the way to Tongaat in the north. It is being transformed into a 4 lane route, with median barrier.

The N2 is gaining an extra lane in each direction after the Umhlanga/Mt Edgecombe off ramp. Two interchanges are being built. The first is a new interchange for the Umhlanga new town centre, the next is for the airport.

A link road will run from the N2 to the R102 from the new N2 airport interchange. Therefore access will be via two major roads.

The rail link in the area is also being improve, however there will be no airport rail station initially.

Hope this makes things a bit clearer. its far from being out in the middle of nowhere.

Distance to the CBD? approx?

Distance to the CBD? approx?

30 kilometres.

prob a little bit more, but in that region

Its prac the same distance for me to the old one, so its cool

^^ it is?

Cuts my journey time drastically

Actually, not too bad a thing, as long as transport to and from the airport is easy and efficient. Many cities around the world that have their airport too close to the CBD have capped height restrictions on their buildings, as it needs to conform to Civil Aviation regulations. So, not having an airport close to the CBD is not really bad thing, plus keeps the noise and pollution levels in check. Residential areas near airports never like it!

it will also stimulate alot more industry in the northern areas around Verulum, tongaat and the like. Which i personally believe is very good for those areas. Read a report that can be found on the eThekwini website about the growth effects of the airport on Tongaat, and the plans they have to transform the area and fully integrate it with the rest of the city.

Tongaat hulett and Elan groups are both about to launch sizable industrial clusters in the vicinity of the new airport and with industrial land in Durban being so scarce, expect them to be snapped up in seconds

^^ it is?

Cuts my journey time drastically

could be shorter given that the N2 heading up north from the M19 is straight & I can hit it flat out.

People on the south coast are going to be moaning about the distance to the new airport. But as thinking it's an ideal opportunity to develop Margate airport as the region will no longer be so convenient from DUR. The south coast is custom made for an LCC airline (established high volume leisure travel).

is margate airport big enough though to handle 737? flights clustered around the wknds would def be a good starting point. But they would prob need to start with a 60 seater odd plane.

^^ Taking a look at Margate Airport on Google Earth, it would appear that the runway needs to be widened and lengthened - there does seem to be room to the north to lengthen it, but not much room for widening it.

they can land the DCH propellar planes in margate Im sure

Margate would need to expand it's runway and terminal as the LCCs aren't going to invest in smaller aircraft. Would be very benefical for the south coast.

People on the south coast are going to be moaning about the distance to the new airport. But as thinking it's an ideal opportunity to develop Margate airport as the region will no longer be so convenient from DUR. The south coast is custom made for an LCC airline (established high volume leisure travel).

Airport threatens Loeries from roosting in Margate

By: Suren Naidoo
Margate wants the Loeries Awards extravaganza to roost in the town, but KwaZulu-Natal's new international airport at La Mercy, north of Durban, could see the South Coast hot spot losing the big event in 2010. That's because when the new airport opens in 2010, it will take more than two hours for Loerie Award delegates - more than 80% from Johannesburg and Cape Town - to drive from the new airport to Margate.

The Loeries took place in Margate for the fourth consecutive time this weekend, attracting more than 4000 advertising and design industry executives and resulting in a more than R20 million injection into the South Coast economy.

“We have to make a decision soon about whether the Loeries will come back to Margate next year, but looking further ahead to 2010 and beyond, the impact of the new airport is certainly a real concern,” said Loerie Awards MD Andrew Human.

“The new airport will add a further hour to travel to Margate and this will not work for us.

“Ultimately, it is the industry that will decide through the industry's Creative Circle and Loerie Awards committee, together with the sponsors,” he said.

Speculation

Every year since the Loeries has been held in Margate, there has always been speculation of whether the high-profile event would stay in the town. At sideline events and after-parties at the Loeries, there has been talk of new venues from Hermanus to Cape Town and even the KZN North Coast and Durban's International Convention Centre.

This year at the Loeries, there was also talk of having the awards coincide or dovetail with the big annual Design Indaba expo at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

“Every year, these views make the rounds at the Loeries,” said Human, but he did not want to be drawn into commenting on options that the Loeries committee would consider.

“The 30th Loerie Awards went off very well in Margate this weekend.

“It certainly ran well from a logistics perspective and I will freely say that this was smoothest Loeries to date in Margate.

“It is a huge logistic operation to host the Loeries and all the partners worked well to deliver a better event each year.

“The actual awards ceremonies are the most advanced audiovisual productions in South Africa, so this gives you an idea of the logistics needed for this aspect alone,” he said.

“Margate works for us now”

“Margate works for us now. It has a lot to offer from sufficient accommodation to being compact and dense enough, having everything within walking distance.

“It is a small town but big enough to host the Loeries and get the industry together to celebrate.

“There are pros and cons with any place you can host an event. For us, the two most important things to keep the Loeries in Margate is having a permanent venue and, more significantly with the move of the Durban airport, to have a fully-fledged commercial flight service to the Margate airport.

“The only way to have the Loeries in Margate in 2010 and possibly the future is to [have] an upgraded local airport for catering for direct flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town,” Human said.

Local authorities going all out

Hibiscus Coast Municipality deputy mayor Johnny de Wet told The Mercury at the Loeries that the event was a high-profile showpiece for the South Coast and that local authorities were going all out to make sure that it stayed in Margate.

“Hosting the Loerie Awards is a tremendous honour. The event also gives a big economic and publicity boost to the South Coast during this off-peak part of our tourism calendar. The organisers, sponsors and the local Hibiscus Coast and Ugu District Municipalities pulled together to deliver a top-notch event that we can be proud of and justifiably celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Loeries,” he said.

Chief executive of Ugu South Coast Tourism Michael Bertram said the fact that the Loeries had grown from attracting 1400 advertising delegates when it was hosted in Sun City back in 2004 to Margate hosting more than 4000 delegates showed that the South Coast town was “doing something right”.

He said: “From our side we believe things went like clockwork at this year's Loeries and the balmy South Coast sunshine also played its part. The stylish VIP area and the spectacular awards ceremonies were very well received by the industry. We were happy and we believe that we delivered, but we will have to get more comprehensive feedback from the Loeries organisers.”

Bertram said looking to the future, they were aware of the concerns expressed over the move of KZN's international airport in 2010 with the consequent impact that this will have on the South Coast not only for hosting the Loerie Awards but tourism access in general.

He said local authorities were working hard to fast-track the upgrade plans of Margate Airport to handle bigger commercial flights and more passengers.

Rakes in more than R20 million

Tourism KZN's James Seymour said the Loeries was now an important event for the South Coast and stakeholders needed to work hard to keep the event on the South Coast. He said conservative calculations show that the event rakes in more than R20 million for the local economy.

• Originally published in The Mercury and Travelwires.com on Wednesday, 30 July 2008.
SOURCE: http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/343/26903.html

^^ They're going to have to act fast...time to break out of that sleepy south coast mentality. Would also be pretty easy to run a tourist bus service from Shelley Beach to Southbroom going via the airport as all the hotels, holiday flats, restaurants, shops etc are pretty much on the same road (airport would be the only diversion and not a major one).

high speed rail network from La Mercy to Margate ? :crazy:

i personally think that they at least have their heads screwed on and are taking the airport issue seriously.

Margate (the south coast in general) has huge potential to develop further, if they can increase air access. If the airport there was to be developed with flights to at least Joburg and possible CT, then that would make the south coast a far more attractive holiday destination. As it stands currently, you have to fly to durbs and take a 80min drive to get there, thats hardly ideal. Direct flights would definately up the area's appeal alot.

Lets hope they progress with it, i am sure you would get interest from kulula and 1time...

high speed rail network from La Mercy to Margate ? :crazy:

That would be so awesome but probably not enough commuters to make it a reality at the moment..

DTP website has some photos up in PDF format. It's dated 30th July - if that was the progress two months ago, it's very impressive.

Link (http://www.dubetradeport.co.za/Construction/DTP-IJV-PM-XX-G1-B012-03(I02).pdf)

DTP website has some photos up in PDF format. It's dated 30th July - if that was the progress two months ago, it's very impressive.

Link (http://www.dubetradeport.co.za/Construction/DTP-IJV-PM-XX-G1-B012-03(I02).pdf)

Thanks Ron, an airport is emerging from that orange sandy mess, its looking very good!

Thanks for posting the update. It's exciting and amazing to see something of this magnitude come together from scratch. The passenger terminal looks bigger than I thought it would be.

Thanks for posting the update. It's exciting and amazing to see something of this magnitude come together from scratch. The passenger terminal looks bigger than I thought it would be.

I think it looks smaller than what the renders show, how many floors is the terminal going to be???

thanx for the new pics from all the angles, its great. dont forget that the terminal waiting areas on that long narrow strip need to be built still.

is it just me or does the parkade look rather far away? and in a wierd spot?

thanx for the new pics from all the angles, its great. dont forget that the terminal waiting areas on that long narrow strip need to be built still.

is it just me or does the parkade look rather far away? and in a wierd spot?

it does will be interesting to see how they connect it to the terminal.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3012/2610262125_95ac5693cb.jpg?v=0

is this render of the 1st phase or the final result. because it looks a lot bigger in this render than the current work

^^ I'm known for having a distorted sense of scale, but it actually looks about right to me. ;)

ya it looks the same to me hey. and that is the render of 1st phase. dont forget that render has that glass tube section infront of the main building section...that part is not built yet in the construction photos... to me it is that which is distorting your view

when you look at pictures like this and the current construction work it makes you realize just how small our current airport is, its quite frightening.

Dube TradePort Rapidly Taking Shape

The construction team responsible for Dube TradePort is really cracking on with the project, intent on the timeous delivery of this world-class airport and trade port facility.

Progress to date includes:

Passenger Terminal Building:

The Departures level slab, located on the first floor, is currently being laid while the air-side corridor is also being constructed. In addition, work on an elevated ramp has also commenced.

Cargo Terminal:

Installation of the steel roofing beams of the cargo terminal are nearing completion and already work on the roof sheeting has commenced.

With the brick-work below complete, building finishes, including such aspects as plastering, the installation of all electrical wiring and air conditioning equipment is being concluded.

Trade Zone:

The Trade Zone platform development is well underway and remains on schedule.

Support Zone (One):

The Support Zone platform is nearing completion.

Main Runway:

With bulk earthworks complete, critical layerworks are in progress over the full length of the runway.

Meanwhile AGL ducting for the complex ground lighting system continues being laid

All the taxiways have been levelled and with bulk earthworks complete, layerworks for the parallel main taxiway has also commenced. In addition, fuel hydrants are currently being positioned on the primary apron, while earthworks for the other aprons are being carried out.

Air Traffic Control Tower:

Construction of the main shaft of the control tower is complete. Work on the steel cabin structure, to be positioned at the top the tower to house the air traffic controllers, continues being finalised at ground level, after which the structure will be lifted into position.

Multi-Storey Car Park:

Construction of the multi-storey car park remains on schedule, with the second floor slab currently in progress.

Water Reservoir:

The fire water reservoir is almost complete.

Other Elements:

The development of the fuel ‘farm’ is progressing well. In addition, work is being undertaken on storm-water outfalls and the sewer reticulation system.

Maintenance buildings are being built and the air-side perimeter road is being constructed.

Lastly, surface-level car parks are being developed and the N2 access road is progressing steadily.

---

Source (http://www.dubetradeport.co.za/News/hotNews_5.asp) (DTP website)

It's undated, so I don't know how recent it is. It does however seem consistent with the photos at the beginning of September, as well as the PDF.

Pics from the PDF

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/amgosai/Sky%20Scrapercity/9-3.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/amgosai/Sky%20Scrapercity/8-3.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/amgosai/Sky%20Scrapercity/7-3.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/amgosai/Sky%20Scrapercity/6-2.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/amgosai/Sky%20Scrapercity/5-3.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/amgosai/Sky%20Scrapercity/4-2.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/amgosai/Sky%20Scrapercity/3-3.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/amgosai/Sky%20Scrapercity/2-3.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/amgosai/Sky%20Scrapercity/13-1.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/amgosai/Sky%20Scrapercity/12-1.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/amgosai/Sky%20Scrapercity/11-1.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/amgosai/Sky%20Scrapercity/10-2.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/amgosai/Sky%20Scrapercity/1-3.jpg

Hey, thanks for blowing these up, Bro. :cheers: Seeing the finer details makes a big difference.

I am a bit baffled why the parkade is so far from the main terminal building and how the two will be linked. Also, what the space to the extreme left of the main terminal (facing west; in front of parkade) is to be used for. Perhaps this space has been earmarked for future expansion of the main terminal building?

^^ That parking location is way odd! Usually the parkade is directly opposite the landside of the terminal building. Hopefully ACSA will build "travelators" (those conveyor belt walkways) between the parkade and the terminal, else it's going to be a real pain-in-the-ass.

from the materplan planes will park either side of the long airbridge thingy

I am a bit baffled why the parkade is so far from the main terminal building and how the two will be linked. Also, what the space to the extreme left of the main terminal (facing west; in front of parkade) is to be used for. Perhaps this space has been earmarked for future expansion of the main terminal building?

from the render it looks like parking for employees

from the materplan planes will park either side of the long airbridge thingy

Yeah the A380 capable gates are on the other side.

Looks huge! How about a monorail from the parkade? :nuts: :banana:

^^ That parking location is way odd! Usually the parkade is directly opposite the landside of the terminal building. Hopefully ACSA will build "travelators" (those conveyor belt walkways) between the parkade and the terminal, else it's going to be a real pain-in-the-ass.

From the master plans, it appears that the area where the parkade usually goes will eventually be used for future terminal expansion - so the parkade's position makes sense in the long term. It does seem rather ridiculous now though.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3012/2610262125_95ac5693cb.jpg?v=0

is this render of the 1st phase or the final result. because it looks a lot bigger in this render than the current work

I have to laugh at the people making these renders sometimes.... like where do they get the pictures of the aircraft... that Lufthansa jet looks like a B747-100... and the livery is from like 1967... ha ha ha

from the materplan planes will park either side of the long airbridge thingy

But the renders show cars parking behind the side of the airbridge opposite the parkade. Maybe in the long run it could be used. I assumed that the big gap opposite the parkade and next to the terminal was for future expansion of the main terminal building (which would then double its size with such an expansion).

The aerobridges on the opposite side are at the other end of "tube". There's 2 of them there.

I am a bit baffled why the parkade is so far from the main terminal building and how the two will be linked. Also, what the space to the extreme left of the main terminal (facing west; in front of parkade) is to be used for. Perhaps this space has been earmarked for future expansion of the main terminal building?

the gap area (according to something i read the other day - i cant remember where sorry) is to be open car parks at opening. That space will in future be terminal expansions and other things like that.

The area directly infront of the terminal is the outside cafes/green lung area.

but yes, the multistorey will be quite a walk away

will construction of the next phase carry on after opening of airport or is there going to be a gap between construction phases. another question, if the airport does really well and we see good growth in passenger numbers could they speed up construction to keep up with the numbers. I dont really want to wait till 2060 to see the completed project

^^ all completely depends on growth, no growth, no need to expand. Attract more cargo and passengers and expansion is inevitable. So its all in business, tourist authorities and destination managements hands

I have to laugh at the people making these renders sometimes.... like where do they get the pictures of the aircraft... that Lufthansa jet looks like a B747-100... and the livery is from like 1967... ha ha ha

lol, maybe its really old renders, remember, this airport was in the pipeline from the 1970's ;)

Its not that far! About the same distance as the eastern multi story parkade at CTIA to international departures. The Durban terminal aint that big so it makes it look like a huge distance. people will either walk or use those bus thingys they have at CTIA for the most distant outside parking.

ACSA have updated the photos on their site. I'll repost them here in the morning. They're not that great though.

its so small, cant see shit

http://www.acsa.co.za/uploads/images/5130_LM%20and%20DIA%20as%20at%20July%20%202008%20CN%20115.jpg

http://www.acsa.co.za/uploads/images/5130_LM%20and%20DIA%20as%20at%20July%20%202008%20CN%20114.jpg

http://www.acsa.co.za/uploads/images/5130_LM%20and%20DIA%20as%20at%20July%20%202008%20CN%20111.jpg

http://www.acsa.co.za/uploads/images/5130_LM%20and%20DIA%20as%20at%20July%20%202008%20CN%20105.jpg

ya the ones we got earlier were far better and newer than these :) but thanx anyway guys. ACSA not doing a good job at letting people know whats on the go

too true, however dpt of transport is visiting on Oct 24 - so watch the press.

deleted

^^ interesting mate, but then howcome ones at OR Tambo and CT are so close? even the one at current durban is close

deleted

Hmm. Interesting. Thanks for sharing.

shoo interesting stuff mate, thanx. You are a much appreciated fountain of knowledge

From tongaat hulett. These were taken in late July

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/Lamercy-july08.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/lamercy-terminaljuly08.jpg

are we the best freakin place to get updates on projects or are we the best?

are we the best freakin place to get updates on projects or are we the best?

yes we are:master:

are we the best freakin place to get updates on projects or are we the best?

Much respect for all the contributors.

Yes, most damn developers should just officially outsource updates to us because we do a FAAARRR better job than they do.

Yes, most damn developers should just officially outsource updates to us because we do a FAAARRR better job than they do.

Imagine if they let us build their buildings ;)

^^ I would love to design an airport... never done one yet!!! Would jump at the opportunity. Enough retail plazas, apartments, custom homes and offices for me. :)

^^ I would love to design an airport... never done one yet!!! Would jump at the opportunity. Enough retail plazas, apartments, custom homes and offices for me. :)

any ideas? been wanting to do something in sketchup but not clued up on space/areas/requirements.

I was working on an idea for KSIA a while ago before intial renders came out
http://i38.tinypic.com/2wda8aa.jpg

but yeh, ....didnt get much done, lol

any ideas? been wanting to do something in sketchup but not clued up on space/areas/requirements.
Nou vra jy my vas!!! Since I haven't done an airport, do not know the regulations. I guess there must be many. Do not know if IATA has regulations that are international, or whether our Civil Aviation Authority dictates the regulations regarding terminal and airport design... I know the FAA and TSA in America has some major guidelines.

Designing a "real working" airport will take a lot of research. Airports, if they work very well, need to be utterly perfectly designed for optimum customer and airline-user comfort, baggage handling areas/machinery takes up more of the design than one would imagine too!

Hiya...

Designing a "real working" airport will take a lot of research. Airports, if they work very well, need to be utterly perfectly designed for optimum customer and airline-user comfort, baggage handling areas/machinery takes up more of the design than one would imagine too!

And don't forget future expansion & technology; plus also rapidly changing world dynamics.

Cheers

RavenX

La Mercy airport reaches important milestoneOctober 07, 2008 Edition 2

Barbara Cole

IT is exactly a year since construction began on Durban's King Shaka International Airport at La Mercy and now a "significant milestone" has made the project even more of a reality.

This happened when the first steel supports for the roof truss were placed in the departures terminal, said the Airports Company South Africa (Acsa).

"With almost less than two years to go before the airport is commissioned for operation, the progress on site is really gaining momentum," said Acsa's Colin Naidoo, the communications manager.

It is hoped that the R7 billion airport will be ready in the first quarter of 2010.

The elevated roadway that will separate the arrivals and departures levels is now very visible, while the control tower is the most visible to motorists travelling from the north.

Arrivals

The construction of the columns on the arrivals level is about 92% complete while the brickwork has begun and "the departures level is taking shape, with the staging and decking and pouring of concrete having begun.

"The terminal airside corridor leading to the air bridges is now in progress with the construction of the ramps on the northern side already begun."

The multi-storey parkade, which will cater for 1 500 vehicles, is also progressing well: the basement is complete.

In addition, 70% of the engineering work is finished on the upper level.

Construction of the roof has begun with the structural steel phase already ahead of schedule. Over at the cargo building, 10 of the 22 columns on the slab have already been cast with concrete and work on the steel roof is about 80% complete.

Work on the upper layer of one of the taxiways is ahead of schedule "with the shoulder construction being accelerated to minimise the impact of the rainy season, while the work on the other taxiways is also progressing well".

As to the apron ground lighting, 8 800m of cabling had been completed and 12 000m of graded shoulder cabling had also been finished.

Network

The final touches are now to be put on the IT network system, while the structural engineering teams were looking at the baggage and handling system and the air bridges.

About 3 865 people were on the site last month, with 553 of them visitors.

barbara.cole@inl.co.za

Photos from BettiBlue:

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j112/SAsurfa/SSC/1stRoofTruss.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j112/SAsurfa/SSC/CargoBuilding.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j112/SAsurfa/SSC/ControlTowerwithCabpriortolifting.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j112/SAsurfa/SSC/MainAccessRoad.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j112/SAsurfa/SSC/N2Interchangesite.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j112/SAsurfa/SSC/Parkade.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j112/SAsurfa/SSC/TerminalAirsideCorridor.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j112/SAsurfa/SSC/TerminalDeaprturesRoadway.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j112/SAsurfa/SSC/Wholesitefromsouth.jpg

Awesome pics!!! :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:

The terminal building is looking good. The corridor that the aerobridges come off is impressive!

Thanks Betti/Lydon.

Terminal looks huge if you look at the scale of the workers!

i had no idea so much work had taken place:eek2:

durban ig going to be one beautiful city.....

thank you guys for the updatet and pics....

this id were its at....i
f you didnt know, now you know:applause:

Sorry, I'm joining a bit late. When are they planning to finish?

FANTASTIC PICS!! Thanks for sharing Betti!! Us geeks really appreciate stuff like this!!!

:drunk:

Thanks for the PICS BettieBlue

Photos from BettiBlue:

Here's Text to go with the Pics above:

Dube TradePort Rapidly Taking Shape

The construction team responsible for Dube TradePort is really cracking on with the project, intent on the timeous delivery of this world-class airport and trade port facility.

Progress to date includes:

Passenger Terminal Building:
The Departures level slab, located on the first floor, is currently being laid while the air-side corridor is also being constructed. In addition, work on an elevated ramp has also commenced.

Cargo Terminal:
Installation of the steel roofing beams of the cargo terminal are nearing completion and already work on the roof sheeting has commenced.

With the brick-work below complete, building finishes, including such aspects as plastering, the installation of all electrical wiring and air conditioning equipment is being concluded.

Trade Zone:
The Trade Zone platform development is well underway and remains on schedule.

Support Zone (One):
The Support Zone platform is nearing completion.

Main Runway:
With bulk earthworks complete, critical layerworks are in progress over the full length of the runway.

Meanwhile AGL ducting for the complex ground lighting system continues being laid

All the taxiways have been levelled and with bulk earthworks complete, layerworks for the parallel main taxiway has also commenced. In addition, fuel hydrants are currently being positioned on the primary apron, while earthworks for the other aprons are being carried out.

Air Traffic Control Tower:
Construction of the main shaft of the control tower is complete. Work on the steel cabin structure, to be positioned at the top the tower to house the air traffic controllers, continues being finalised at ground level, after which the structure will be lifted into position.

Multi-Storey Car Park:
Construction of the multi-storey car park remains on schedule, with the second floor slab currently in progress.

Water Reservoir:
The fire water reservoir is almost complete.

Other Elements:
The development of the fuel ‘farm’ is progressing well. In addition, work is being undertaken on storm-water outfalls and the sewer reticulation system.

Maintenance buildings are being built and the air-side perimeter road is being constructed.

Lastly, surface-level car parks are being developed and the N2 access road is progressing steadily.

Cheers

RavenX

PS: See http://www.dubetradeport.co.za/News/hotNews_5.asp for original posting of text above

Exellent pics Bettie

It's really impressive how much has been done in just one year.

And I agree: the scale of the trucks and workers to the structures gives us a good indication of how massive the structures are. Well, compared to the current Durban airport, anyway.

Moreover, the size of the overall property is just staggering (it's bigger than Heathrow and OR Tambo). Looks like the drive from the N2 to the airport will a few minutes itself.

Thanks again for sharing, Betti. You are a star. These are the most detailed pics we've seen thus far.

Should be ready by 2009

There is sooo much happening out there, but we do not get all the info - god knows why. I would be proud to tell all, but it is all hush hush. I'm trying though

these okes are motoring with this

RavenX - i still need to speak to you
Regards

Should be ready by 2009

I think the project is scheduled for completion by March/April 2010. It has to be commissioned at least a few months before the WC in June.

^^ u cant tell all???? :( but thanx SOOO much for the pics, it is really looking something special now.

I agree greg, that coridor for the air bridges is quite something, hopefully got a good selection of places in it.

The drive from the highway to the terminals looks a good few km's

Betti, slightly off topic, but you may want to investigate what's happening with the Point Waterfront. A Point Development Management Association meeting was held about 2 weeks ago and terms of reference for the small craft harbour were decided upon. I missed that meeting but there should be minutes somewhere (and can probably get for you). It seems as if something is happening re: small craft harbour and the Minister of Environmental Affairs's decision re: environmental impact assessment study for the harbour. But nothing official yet, as far as I know.

I think the project is scheduled for completion by March/April 2010. It has to be commissioned at least a few months before the WC in June.

thats commissioning and opening of the airport. from what i gather construction is to finish in 2009

Should be ready by 2009

It should be ready in march 2010

If you guys have any questions or ideas - please let me know
ta
Betti

I'll look into the waterfront thingy
got some more airport pics too
will send to greg because I am just way too blond to figure out technology (I think my 7 yr old son knows more than me ( ;

Hiya,

Circa September / October 2009, is the date given for the first wide bodied plane to land and takeoff at KSIA. This will be expected to be a cargo carrier, as the Cargo Terminal & Control Tower are set to be operational at that time. (infact the iLembe contract stipulates it.)

There will be emergency rehearsals / testing of facilities / infrastructure from September 2009 up to March of 2010, and then the FAA /IATA will give the all clear and declare it open for business to passengers...

Huge fanfare / cutting of ribbons / popping of champagne bottles / and much officials merrymaking...

Emirates Air Airline A380 is expected to be the First International Passenger Airline to make it's arrival... possible together with SAA's new A340-600 and 747 ER & and perhaps BA, Comair, Virgin Atlantic (Pacific(?)) and maybe Quantus... or any number of eastern airlines making a show of it all. (Would be great to have all the Eastern Flags Flying on those 10 Story Tails. !! ~ Come on Media/Marketing People ~ Do Ya Thing!)

And then the Low Cost Airlines will band together and demand that Durban International remain open as an alternative as with Landsaria.

Cheers

RavenX

More great stuff from Betti:

http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/7425/ntlamercygraphic4ts7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/3397/ntlamercygraphic34cb8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Just to let you know - its fun chatting

Fan-bloody-tastic!! Thanks for sharing / posting.

Love the tubing effect. Also, it seems as if the 'big' planes are reserved for the parkade-side of the airbridge corridor.

Other things I'm curious about:

1. What are the grey and white strips in front of the terminal building and around the undercover parkade? Additional parking bays? If so, that's an enomous amount of parking!! Would put Gateway to shame!

2. What's the green feature in front of the terminal building and next to the parkade? Seems to be a sunken amphitheatre garden.

3. What's the dark blue feature between the terminal building and green amphitheatre thingee? Retail component (if I remember correctly from previous renders and reports)?

4. In which directions are the planes landing? North-south, or south-north? I was under the impression the planes would be landing in a south-north direction (flying over Durbs, then Umhlanga). However, render seems to indicate north-south, unless my spatial orientation is incorrect. From what I know, the runway is parallel to the N2. If so, and if the render is correct (north-sound landing), the planes won't be flying over (m)any residential areas (north is currently bare) before landing, thereby minimising noise pollution. Take-offs, on the other hand...

Hiya,

Circa September / October 2009, is the date given for the first wide bodied plane to land and takeoff at KSIA. This will be expected to be a cargo carrier, as the Cargo Terminal & Control Tower are set to be operational at that time. (infact the iLembe contract stipulates it.)

There will be emergency rehearsals / testing of facilities / infrastructure from September 2009 up to March of 2010, and then the FAA /IATA will give the all clear and declare it open for business to passengers...

Huge fanfare / cutting of ribbons / popping of champagne bottles / and much officials merrymaking...

Emirates Air Airline A380 is expected to be the First International Passenger Airline to make it's arrival... possible together with SAA's new A340-600 and 747 ER & and perhaps BA, Comair, Virgin Atlantic (Pacific(?)) and maybe Quantus... or any number of eastern airlines making a show of it all. (Would be great to have all the Eastern Flags Flying on those 10 Story Tails. !! ~ Come on Media/Marketing People ~ Do Ya Thing!)

And then the Low Cost Airlines will band together and demand that Durban International remain open as an alternative as with Landsaria.

Cheers

RavenX


It would be great if the first passenger plane to land is an A380! The airport is, after all, the first airport in the world to be built from scratch especially for the A380.

Just to let you know - its fun chatting

Same here!! And it's good to finally have some gals regularly contribute to the boards!! :cheers:

4. In which directions are the planes landing? North-south, or south-north? I was under the impression the planes would be landing in a south-north direction (flying over Durbs, then Umhlanga). However, render seems to indicate north-south, unless my spatial orientation is incorrect. From what I know, the runway is parallel to the N2. If so, and if the render is correct (north-sound landing), the planes won't be flying over (m)any residential areas (north is currently bare) before landing, thereby minimising noise pollution. Take-offs, on the other hand...

Depends on which direction the wind is blowing. Aircraft takeoff and land into the wind.

Depends on which direction the wind is blowing. Aircraft takeoff and land into the wind.

Oh, didn't know that. In all my trips from CT, PE, EL to Durbs, I always landed in a south-north direction.

Hiya,

Here's some Master Plan layouts as available on Dube Trade Ports Web Site http://www.dubetradeport.co.za/ (Gotta look hard for these there! They are there I swear!)

It's Bigger, It's Better, It's Happening ~ Africa's Global Trade Gateway (ACSA Slogan for La Mercy KSIA by the way)

2010 - Phase 1
http://i33.tinypic.com/at4br.jpg

2035 - Phase 2
http://i35.tinypic.com/do77yt.jpg

2060 - Phase 3
http://i33.tinypic.com/oataap.jpg

2080 - Just for kicks ~ and a bit of fun... Well the UAE have a HUGE interest in KZN at the mo' & why not. We got everything they don't have!

http://i38.tinypic.com/2h4gkeh.jpg

Cheers

RavenX

Spit! That looks ridiculously massive!!

Oh, didn't know that. In all my trips from CT, PE, EL to Durbs, I always landed in a south-north direction.

That's coz those pilots that live in those little sea side resorts haven't got a clue how to fly/land ~ or maybe everytime they crest our southern hills the get WOWED by the view !!!:nocrook::pepper::pepper::pepper:

Plus aren't they a little shy of losing an engine or two ?? :hilarious:hilarious:hilarious

Anyways, enough hilarity.... Predominate Prevailing Wind direction for DBN is South to North... therefore Aircraft must Take-off & Land into Prevailing Wind for Max Lift, so they Take-off to the South & Land from the North. 99.9% of the time, unless they have Pilots from cozy little seaside resorts to the south

Now... hehe ~ for all them Umhlanga / Mount Edgecombe Peeps... Descents & Landings are Quick & Quite... Takeoffs & Climbs are Slow & LOUD.... you gonna get real pissed with all them A380's Super Heavy's pushing max thrust over your rooftops.

Cheers

RavenX

Hiya,

http://i38.tinypic.com/2h4gkeh.jpg

Cheers

RavenX

PS: By the way ~ That "ridiculously massive" Airport goes by the eloquent name of "The World Airport" and it's real, & its happening! and look closely... it doesn't have a Control Tower anywhere!

It does I was out there last week looking at a potentail developmnet and the tower is nearly 200m tall and is the tallest in the world (same height as 50F tower)
Airport is now called Al MAktoum international and check the Dubai threads to see our other airpoert we are building in addition to DXB which is seriously massive with terminal 2 and 3 stretching 2.4km long

its unreal how busy this forum is getting!! good on you all! I feel its info overload time, but its super!

RavenX...your thing about the opening and the planes, is that true or what u wish to happen? would be super...thing is how likely is the airport to start attracting planes to divert to it as a location. Cargo is a given and clearly understandable from the positioning of the Dube tradeport. But from the passenger side things will need the convincing shove.

RavenX...your thing about the opening and the planes, is that true or what u wish to happen? would be super...thing is how likely is the airport to start attracting planes to divert to it as a location. Cargo is a given and clearly understandable from the positioning of the Dube tradeport. But from the passenger side things will need the convincing shove.
You're in marketing, what do you think?

Okay, getting passenger airlines to land at KSIA is easy, why? how many airlines have brought into the A380 concept... How many airports are ready / prepared to handle 600 - 800 arriving / departing passengers per flight. Any destination that is capable of the A380, is pure marketing, for the Airline.

And KSIA is brand new from the ground up & in Africa.

"Fly Emirates, aboard our luxurious A380, to destinations around the world..."

hmm, ~ Say you ~ what destinations exactly??

How many A380's need airports to land at?

Funny thing is, Cargo KSIA's life blood, has been the hardest to get Carriers to buy-in, hence the Cyber Port ethos.

The Glitz, The Glamour is the Passenger Terminal, ~ the real income is the Cargo facility.

So what ever you can dream up... for the opening of KSIA... what ACSA have in mind is HUGE....

"...thing is how likely is the airport to start attracting planes to divert to it as a location.
~ It's already started... Emirates / Virgin Pacific / Quantus / BA / Thai / Singapore /Air India ~ They are all there, ready & waiting, and Emirates will be the first.

Cheers

RavenX

Who wants to know what 7.5MPPA stands for?

Answer = 7.5 Million Passengers Per Annum.


http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/7425/ntlamercygraphic4ts7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



I had my fill of abbreviations when I got near this project to last me a life time. (one conversation I remember from last year...
"ACSA... ? What's ACSA? Do I have to provide for it in one of the buildings? And who's supplying it?" ~ "Supplying what?" ~ "ACSA?" ~ "Pardon")

Cheers

RavenX

So what ever you can dream up... for the opening of KSIA... what ACSA have in mind is HUGE....


~ It's already started... Emirates / Virgin Pacific / Quantus / BA / Thai / Singapore /Air India ~ They are all there, ready & waiting, and Emirates will be the first.

Cheers

RavenX

hmmm...when will start hearing from there mouths? 2010 time only?

^^ Dysan1, Here's this article from page 8 or something of the Mercury from a while back

THE MERCURY, TUESDAY 06 MAY 2008

Durban to get daily direct flights to and from Dubai

May 06, 2008 Edition 1

BRONWYN GERRETSEN

EMIRATES Airlines, one of the world's top carriers, will make daily direct flights from Dubai to Durban from December 2008.

The Emirates decision follows its successful commencement of operations in Cape Town earlier this year and will allow for a build-up of passenger traffic ahead of 2010. In a statement issued yesterday, Emirates said Durban's advantageous location made it a natural hub for trade with the Indian Ocean and Asian Pacific countries, boosting its status as Africa's largest port and the world's ninth-busiest.

Emirates president Tim Clark say; "Our flights will provide travellers from key cities in Europe, the Indian sub-continent and the Middle East a direct access to Durban and will strengthen inbound tourist arrivals. At the same time, it will open up a direct link to more than 90 global destinations for Durban's outbound travellers, who can now avoid travelling via Johannesburg."

Clark said Africa was key to Emirates' global expansion strategy and the airline operated 86 flights a week to 15 African gateways."Owing to the continent's growing economy and demand for air travel, these flights operate at robust seat factors of more than 80%. Emirates
will continue to spread its wings in the African skies."

Emirates will serve Durban with an Airbus A330-200 aircraft offering 27 business class and 251 economy class seats.


Cheers

RavenX

^^ yeah we know about Emirates, that was announced and then postponed til next year. But what has been coming out of the mouths of the other airlines is that they do not have KSIA on their horizons or agenda's. Do you know otherwise? BA explicitly stated that they would not fly there

^^ yeah we know about Emirates, that was announced and then postponed til next year. But what has been coming out of the mouths of the other airlines is that they do not have KSIA on their horizons or agenda's. Do you know otherwise? BA explicitly stated that they would not fly there
Not from europe, no... and then 2010 happens and whamo... they are flying...

Where you say; "...they do not have KSIA on their horizons or agenda's." in airline speak, mean's "We'll announce our flights nearer the time... until then we are in negotiations with getting our demands met"

Follow what Virgin Pacific is saying, as they are very transparent and open on their business deals ~ BA's is not a reliable source of info, and often says one thing and does another...

The real issue is the cost of landing at an airport, and a number of large airlines (BA being one of them) have PR that is geared to discredit airports, threaten to remove flights, discourage other operators, etc. in their jostle to secure the lowest rate for the most gates.

I remember the bad press & rumours they (being BA) made about Virgin & Virgin Atlantic and the accusations that abounded.

Also, keep in mind how many Airlines do rely on Gov. funding... and what they have to say publicly to get it.

As they say, the chalk is in the cheese.

RavenX

I'm still surprised that they have designed an airport from scratch and it looks like they still might be bussing passengers from smaller planes to the terminal?!!!

even if any international airlines were interested it would be kept to a minimum coz acsa make the final decision and unfortunately if it means that ORTIA will lose out then no1 will get it

even if any international airlines were interested it would be kept to a minimum coz acsa make the final decision and unfortunately if it means that ORTIA will lose out then no1 will get it

Good one... but not true... even in the slightest.

ACSA is governed by a higher authority, 3 of them, well 4 really, the FAA, IATA, ATNS & SARS (what's SARS doing there... well they do what the United States Department of Transportation Security Administration do in the States ~ Protect you, the passenger.)

ACSA just provides & manages the infrastructure... Nothing more, nothing less. Think of ACSA's Airports as Shopping Malls and ACSA as the Developer / Operator of these shopping malls.

Cheers

RavenX

I'm still surprised that they have designed an airport from scratch and it looks like they still might be bussing passengers from smaller planes to the terminal?!!!

This is because, there are provision made for a larger number of Aircraft Gates than there are airbridges available... that's due to cost... to provide an Airbridge for each aircraft, would make it to expensive for our local carriers, due to certain logistics, coupled with that, there are a number of aircraft in service, that cannot be connected to an airbridge, due to their low height, or the distance from the wing to door.

There are additional factors as well, like refueling points, distances from other aircraft & service / attendant vehicles, etc. ~ Busing works very well, and at least, you don't have to go a 5 mile long trip to get to the plane as you do at OR Tambo.

Cheers

RavenX

I personally enjoy the bus trips, u get to see the airport from a different point of view...

I'm still surprised that they have designed an airport from scratch and it looks like they still might be bussing passengers from smaller planes to the terminal?!!!

not always the case, just because the aircrafts are parked there doesnt mean they are there since landing, Ive been to the far east and what happens is the plane lands, go's to the air bridge, offloads passengers & cargo, then moves to a parking spot on the apron, gets refeuled cleaned, etc... then moves back to the air bridge, loads cargo, passengers & takes off.

Thanks again to Raven for all the info mate, you're a star & Bettie for all the pics. We could talk a million words in here but pictures does really do justice!

(one conversation I remember from last year...
"ACSA... ? What's ACSA? Do I have to provide for it in one of the buildings? And who's supplying it?" ~ "Supplying what?" ~ "ACSA?" ~ "Pardon")

You've just made my morning. :lol:

i have never heard of virgin pacific...is that an in joke on atlantic?? :)

^^ Yeah, there's no such thing. V Australia (when they start up) is probably the closest thing you'll get.

howzit everyone im new here ,
in fact im not iv been following the south african forum for more than a year now alomost every day, and so i just thought id finally sign up and put in my comments!
this is a great project and moving really fast! i love it but i have to say though its not popular on the north coast.
Those rich guys living in their peaceful world in zimbali are not impressed! i stayed there for a month back in january and the people around the ballito area are very negative about KSIA, and i fully understand, since i live 10 minutes away from gatwick airport in uk i can asure you that noise pollution is a veray big problem!!!the only diference is the north coast is a holz destination and i dont think people will enjoy hearing aircrafts all day. I wonder how KSIA will affect the porperty market in places like ballito westbrook salt rock and specially in Zimbali where houses are selling for 35 mil???
I also saw ravenx saying that the prodominent wind is coming from the south and i have to actually argue that point, i surfed ballito for 3 years and wind is very important to us surfer boys and i have to say to most predominent wind in that area from my xperince is the NORTH EASTERLY wind, so my opinion on that, is that airplanes will most definately land from the south and take of north, and if im correct the whole gateway area will enjoy most of the noise pollution...
apart from that il try and get some pics of the fairmont development in zimbali!
finally great pics everyone i have to say this is the only place people can actually get updates si id just like to say thanx to all for the great work
cheers

The Pics are fantastic and it is amazing the progress made! As or the take off and depature noise, that is he least of your worries, a friend of ine lives near the current Durban airport (about 3 Km's) and he says the main problem he has is exhaust dust. If you walk outside either your feet or shoes are black with soot, it is not apparent and visible just small particles which are on his outside varandas.

I know the above is off topic as KSIA will do wonders for the whole of KZN and Durban in particular, I mean how many airports have been designed from scratch to accomodate the A380?

I think Durban will get a whole lot more tourisim and with land prices being more reasonable than some other provinces, will probably have some more manufacturing and possibly even more international offices move over with direct routes to Europe, Asia and possibly the US.

Property prices in KZN are certainly that much lower than CPT with the exception of Zimbali and few other premium estates and it would be fairly attractive to foreign firms to have South African offices in a more reasonably priced area with frequent direct air routes. Here is hopeing the routes a frequent!!

Welcome Mr T, thanks for joining ,and you make some very valid comments. The location of the airport isnt the best for our rich buddies but Im not sure how bad the noise will be. Ive stayed at a relatives house in Isipingo for a few weekends, they live no less than 2km's from the runway & the noise does get bothersome, at times the windows rattle!

Now if you take the our friends in Zimbali, the runway touch down point if the planes land from north to south, is approx 9km's away from them, now from what I recall most planes decend at DIA they get really low at about 5Km before the runway, the noise at that time isnt that loud because they slowing down at a constant rate. Also the Airport is situated on top of the hills & some noise may get deflected by the surrounding hills. We will only know for sure when its up and running. If the planes land the other way around, i.e from Gateway the distance to Gateway to the touch down point is roughly 12 Km's. So thats not all that bad either, but yes the guys in Umdloti, Westbrook and La mercy will be affected.

Airport development anywhere in the world is always the same - "I want it but not in my backyard". King Shaka airport is no different. While the residents and holiday makers who frequent Ballito, Salt Rock and Zimbali will love the easy, quick access to their destination from the airport, they will hate the noise and complain like hell. The fact of the matter is that the current Durban airport is awful and cannot take large aircraft due its size which places the destination at a disadvantage compared to Cape Town which has direct connections to European cities. The new airport will be a massive boost for the region and open up the possibility of direct flights from overseas.

The greater good of the region has to be more important than the self-interests of the rich property owners nearby!

@Mr.T.,

Sorry, my bad, I should have mentioned, upper level wind, ~ Coastal Low Level wind is affected by Land & Sea Air breeze. Light Aircraft are affected by these... often you can see the aircraft at Virginia taking-off & landing in the opposite direction to those Jets at DIA.

Best way to see the affect of upper level wind, is from looking at the clouds, and the direction of waves / ocean swells, (which are not affected by land/sea air breezes.)

To the rich and famous around La Mercy... All international Flights will have an approach path over the ocean, and there are take off proceedures that will prevent a wide bodied aircraft from applying full thrust until above 10,000 feet. ~ Also, once an aircaft reaches take-off velocity, they throttle back to cruise climb velocity, about 30% of take-off thrust. ~

@Nipper ~
Carbon Dust / Aviation Gas Droplets ~ This is a known concern, & if it is noticed that there is an unacceptable build-up then those Aircraft not fitted with scrubbers on their engines, will either be denied access or have them retro-fitted.

Cheers

RavenX

Cant help thinking that this is what needs to be done with OR Tambo airport.....Start from scratch! For the last few years OR Tambo is in permanent upgrade mode. Wouldnt starting form scratch have been a relatively cheaper option.

I drove past the new N2 access ramps today, nice to see things are moving along at speed!

I think in an area like Gauteng, where urban land is at a premium, just acquiring enough land for an airport of OR Tambo's size would cost above R1billion, if you'd have the airport with decent access to both PTA and JHB (not out in the middle of nowhere!). Yes, OR Tambo's configuration is far from ideal, but I think the logistics of "moving" SA's main international airport would have been immense. Remember, it would also mean realigning the Gautrain, spending billions on new road/freeway, sewage, electrical and water infrastructure.

KSIA was built on land already earmarked for a new airport from way back in the 70's and government already owned the land. There is no "earmarked" land in Gauteng for another international airport.

Perhaps the best solution is to use Lanseria at optimum and encourage most domestic business traffic to use it, and international and connecting traffic to use OT Tambo? :)

Its all in the pipe line, OR Thambo will get a new stand alone terminal with connections to the existing terminal and a future connection to the Gautrain.

Its been mentioned in other threads before, its known as the "Midfield Complex" and will be placed in between the two existing parrallel runways. Phase 1 planned to be operational by 2014.

does ORTIA even need a new terminal, i mean its not like we have hundreds of international flights a day. we can barely maintain the current international flights with a few airlines pulling out of SA. I think that once CPT and KSIA are complete our capacity for passengers will be more than enough. you dont want to have a billion rand terminal being built and then sittin there gathering dust because there arnt enough flights to warrant its use.

You have to plan for the future though, the new terminal isnt the solution to todays problems its the first phase in a master plan that will see the airport grow over the next 60 years.

does ORTIA even need a new terminal, i mean its not like we have hundreds of international flights a day. we can barely maintain the current international flights with a few airlines pulling out of SA. I think that once CPT and KSIA are complete our capacity for passengers will be more than enough. you dont want to have a billion rand terminal being built and then sittin there gathering dust because there arnt enough flights to warrant its use.

When the current traffic levels of ORTIA are compared to airports around the world, the question is not whether ORTIA needs another terminal but rather why waiting this long. ORTIA already handles nearly 42% of the traffic levels of Frankfurt in facilities about 20% of that of Frankfurt. Frankfurt is already expanding the current facilities and building terminal 3 in the area previously occupied by the US air-force.

The growth of OR Tambo over the last 15 years can also only be described as remarkable. From about 3 million passengers in 1994 to the current 22 million per year (both arriving and departing).

Airports like KSIA and CTIA will always be secondary airports to ORTIA. Durban may perhaps get more flights than today and perhaps more dedicated holiday charter flights, but business people will continue to fly to ORTIA and not Cape Town or Durban. Business decisions for Africa is mainly taken in Johannesburg.

In the normal area of ports, the same thing is happening. Maputo believes that it can serve Gauteng as easy as Durban in regards to containers, yet the number of containers passing through Maputo Container terminal is about 5% of the number passing through Durban. The majority of the containers departing Maputo on sea is anyway transshipped in Durban.

The same is happening in Durban Airport and Cape Town Airport. People depart the two airports and transfer in the biggest hub airport in Africa, ORTIA, to flights to all destinations in the world.

The same is happening in Durban Airport and Cape Town Airport. People depart the two airports and transfer in the biggest hub airport in Africa, ORTIA, to flights to all destinations in the world.

Only because current ACSA policy dictates. its not from airline or people's choice

It is not ACSA's policy - it is the airlines' policy to use a hub-and-spoke system. Because Durban and Cape Town are subscale and cannot get the load's onto direct international flights, the passengers come to Jo'burg (along with paasengers from Namibia, Mozambique, Zim and Botswana) such that the international flights can get high load factors. What does ACSA have to do with this?

Back to the topic, guys, ~ thanks, ~ OR Tambo does have it's own thread, I guess.

Cheers

RavenX

Earlier there was lots of talk about just how much bigger the KSIA site is than the current DIA, and since I was playing on Google Earth earlier, here's a quick comparison.......

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc67/stevehanauer/KSIA/DIA2.png

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc67/stevehanauer/KSIA/KSIA.png

finally some sort of update from the acsa and dube guys - the mercury and tribune had some great updated pics on the project... will try to post but I've got quite a busy day...

Here's the mercury article... check the irony of the part in red... - (the reason people are still asking if its happening is becuase they - acsa and dube - are not COMMUNICATING!!!)
... Anyway this update is welcome... maybe its the start of great communicating to come!

>>

New airport development on track

October 20 2008 at 09:54AM

Related Articles
Airport emergency plan
Early finish for La Mercy airport

By Suren Naidoo
Construction on KwaZulu-Natal's new R8-billion Dube TradePort and international airport development at La Mercy is on track, despite the mammoth project starting almost 70 days late because of the delay in its environmental approval last year.

The complex is on target to be opened in May 2010 - before the Fifa World Cup - with construction on the sprawling site streaking ahead, having already reached the roof stage.

This is the word from Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa) and Dube TradePort bosses Terence Delomoney and Rohan Persad respectively.

More than 200 tourism and hospitality leaders at a combined industry workshop in Durban last week were wowed by Delomoney's presentation and progress update on the landmark development north of the city.

"People are still asking if this new airport at La Mercy is on the cards or if construction is happening. The answer is an overwhelming yes. It's bigger, it's better and it is happening. This new facility is rapidly taking shape and is on track to open in May 2010," said Delomoney.

"While Acsa signed the construction contract with the Ilembe Consortium in June 2007, we only got a positive EIA (environmental impact assessment) record of decision on August 23 (2007) and physical works commenced at the La Mercy site on August 31.

"Although there was a delay in EIA approval, which caused a bit of pain, the project is on track for completion in April 2010.

"We are looking at commissioning the new airport on May 1, 2010, as ideally planned, but regardless of that target being achieved, the airport will open in that month...We have sectional handover dates. The contractual completion date with Ilembe is inclusive of testing and a commissioning period of four months," said Delomoney.

"There are appeals that still need to be dealt with by the department of environmental affairs and tourism, but in terms of the record of decision we are within our rights to continue construction as long as we conform to its strict conditions," he said.

Persad was happy with the "great construction progress on the development".

"The fact that the roof structure and covering is already going up on a number of the buildings on site ahead of our rainy season means that construction can continue at this excellent pace," he said.

"What has been achieved so far is especially impressive in light of the project having to wait some 70 days as a result of the delay in the EIA approval. By our accounts, the contractor has already made up this time through a subsequent expediting agreement having been signed between Acsa and the Ilembe Consortium," he said.

Delomoney said the control tower was the most visible aspect of the development from the N2 and the cap was expected to be lifted to the top of the structure in November.

"We have already reached the milestone of putting the trusses for the roof of the main terminal building, while the roof coverings are almost complete for the trade port terminal and fire station buildings. Construction on the big interchange from the N2 for the new airport by is also well under way.

"Acsa is investing about R6,8-billion in the airport, which is the major component of the development, but overall the project is seeing government putting in more than R8-billion in fixed infrastructure. It will serve as a catalyst for economic growth and job creation in the region and South Africa," said Delomoney.

* This article was originally published on page 4 of The Mercury on October 20, 2008
SOURCE: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=181&art_id=vn20081020054510558C232312

f*ck i had this okes email addy. i lost it now XD

New renders, courtesy of ACSA. I notice that the "KFC buckets" seem to have been done away with. :lol:

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l116/ron2k-za/airport/5130_pic1_large.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l116/ron2k-za/airport/5130_pic2_large.jpg

^^ sick that looks awesome

Love the flow of the roof, simple yet effective, brilliant design, shot for the pics Ron, and yeh pitty about them buckets :lol:

Oooh...looks very good!!!

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l116/ron2k-za/airport/5130_pic2_large.jpg

I absolutely love this pic. the amount of vegetation is fantastic for an airport. i am also very curious as to what that glass domed structure to the very left of the pic is...is that the cafe gardens area we saw in earlier pics? if so then i love the idea of the restaurants out in the gardens!!!

uh what glass dome :sly:

^^ the structure is glass, with the domed sweeping roofy thing. on left near where the cars driving on lower level

oh that, doubt its a restaurant, prob Taxi/ bus station

well if you look at the earlier renders, there were cafes in the green area in front of the terminal

Cross-post from Durban thread, originally posted by BettiBlue.

--------------

THE barn swallows of Mount
Moreland have arrived two
weeks early, apparently unperturbed
by the development at
the La Mercy Airport site.
Hilary Vickers, chairman of
the Lake Victoria Conservancy,
said the first swallows were spotted
on September 29.
“It is not unusual to see the
first barn swallows at this time
of the year, but it is unusual to
see them arrive in such large
groups.”
Vickers said for the past two
years the bulk of the swallows
had arrived by October 20, when
the first “mega shows” were
observed.
Vickers said she was not sure
why the arrival pattern had
changed, but it could be the
impact of climate change or that
conditions were ideal on their
11 000km flight south.
Birds in the roost at
Umzumbe on the South Coast
arrived at the same time as
those at Mount Moreland.
The Airports Company of
South Africa (Acsa) has set up a
research project, as stipulated
by the Department Record of
Decision, looking at the swallow
roost and wetlands to establish
information for the future conservation
of both. This process
is being guided through the
Swallow and Wetlands Forum
set up by Acsa.
There were initial fears that
the 1.3 million birds could pose
a risk to aircraft in the future, or
would be forced to leave their
natural habitat. However, these
fears seem to have been allayed
by a specialist report and radar
monitoring exercise.
The report by Albert Froneman,
head of the Airport
Wildlife Hazard Management
Project, and radar ornithologists
Jon Bortle and Ron Merritt,
said birds and planes could
co-exist, but it was important
that additional bird and wildlife
attractions were not developed
close to the airport.
The report points out that
bird strikes are a serious safety
concern for the aviation industry
and it is a legal requirement
for airports to have a plan to
deal with bird hazards. It is estimated
that birds cost the worldwide
aviation industry more
than $1 billion (R10 billion) a
year.
The report said although
swallows only weighed 17.9g,
large numbers of small birds
could block air pressure sensors
used to control the fuel
scheduling for engines.
“On a twin engine aircraft a
large flock of swallows could
even result in a considerable
loss in power if both engines
were to ingest the birds. A compressor
blade failure may occur
and this would, in all probability,
result in a loss of thrust,” the
report said.
But bird strike risk could be
lessened, they said, if the correct
measures were implemented.
This included reducing
numbers of insects in airfield
vegetation where the birds forage.
“A co-existence model
between the swallows and the
proposed airport is definitely
possible,” the report stated.
This will require special
radar equipment, which is in
the process of being ordered.
The radar can pick up swallow
activity and warn the control
tower to delay a departure or
landing when there was bird
activity – usually at sunrise and
sunset.
The new airport would need
a full-time bird hazard control
unit with enough staff to cover
all daylight hours, seven days a
week. Most birds are mainly
active during the day.
“It is unlikely that the passage
of aircraft overhead will
have any negative effect on the
swallows roosting in the reed
bed,” the report said.
And now the world-famous
swallows are back to enthral
visitors with their spectacular
displays. The first ringing workshops
of the season will take
place on October 24 and 25.
“Previous catches suggest
that the juveniles arrive first.
This creates yet another question
to be answered: how do they
find their way? It would seem
that there is plenty to learn from
this season’s swallows,” Vickers
said.

Airport begins to get wings
JANI MEYER
IT WAS once a sprawling
cane field and an enclave
for those wanting to get
away from the hustle and
bustle of the city.
But when the airport at La
Mercy is in full swing in less
than a year, this once-peaceful
spot – where bird lovers flock to
watch Mount Moreland’s
famous barn swallows – will be
filled with the sound of hundreds
of aircraft as the airport
becomes one of the busiest in
Africa.
It may not be moving mountains,
but the construction at
the new La Mercy airport is
getting close.
Airports Company of South
Africa (Acsa) spokesman Colin
Naidoo said that in the past
year contractors had moved
more than four million cubic
metres of earth, laid 2 596 000
bricks and used 184 tons of
steel. On completion, the
amount of steel used would be
the equivalent of half of the
Eiffel Tower.
Glazing
The terminal building alone
will require 11 000m2 of internal
glazing and 25 000m2 for the
external corridors and facade.
The transformation of the
former cane field is taking
shape on a daily basis, with the
most visible feature, the airport
control tower, almost completed.
“The airport is well on track
to be operational in time for the
2010 Soccer World Cup,” said
Naidoo.
It has been just more than a
year since the first sod was
turned and now, with a workforce
of more than 4 200 contractors,
the R6.8 billion airport
is rapidly taking shape,
changing the landscape
dramatically after it had lain
dormant for more than three
decades. Naidoo said the slab
for the arrivals terminal floor
was complete and work had
started on the steel roof.
Engineers at the site said
the airport was divided into
several sections – southern,
central and northern corridors.
The central corridor is
the main terminal building,
while aircraft will be “parked”
in the northern corridor.
Naidoo said the external
construction of the southern
structure was complete while
the northern section of the
structure would be completed
this month.
Roads
The brickwork in the multistorey
parkade is almost complete
and Naidoo said construction
was going swiftly.
Work is also continuing on
the taxiway aprons, the main
access and internal roads and
the N2 interchange.
With less than two years to
go before the airport is operational,
Acsa project manager
Sean van der Valk said they
were pleased with the progress
and were doing everything possible
to meet deadlines.
Van der Valk said, “Our
specialist teams are busy
putting the final touches to the
IT network systems, while our
structural engineering teams
are looking at the baggage
handling system and the air
bridges, the design of which
has already commenced.”
The airport was expected to
be finished in early 2010.
Project control manager
Steve Buwalda said, “The roof
wetting will take place once
the terminal building’s roof is
complete, which will be in July

SCALE OF THE PROJECT
Runway and taxiway pavements: 400 000m2, or 100
soccer pitches
Terminal building: 35 000m2, or nine soccer pitches
Electrical cabling: 700km, or the distance between Durban
and East London
Structural steel: 4 700 tons, or half the Eiffel Tower
Asphalt: 230 000 tons, or 35km of four-lane highway
Concrete poured: 100 000m3, or 50 Olympic-sized
swimming pools

Although the main terminal building of the new airport will be just under double the size of current airport terminal (current 19,000 m2 vs new 35,000 m2), I think the main section of the new terminal building (excluding air-bridge corridor) will actually be shorter in length than current DIA. The major difference is that it will be over at least 2 major levels (arrivals / departures) and much more airy. Either way, I think it's going to be a major step up from what we have now and I am looking forward to eventually seeing and using it.

^^ yeah, drop offs could get rather crowded

I just hope they wont have those pesky cops at the drop off's giving me R500 fines for nothing! :rant:

He said I was obstructing traffic! my car was 20cm out of the line! how the F*ck was I obstructing traffic! plus the other loosers who cant position their cars in the drop off bays took up most of the space so I couldnt squeeze my dads yacht in there!

Although the main terminal building of the new airport will be just under double the size of current airport terminal (current 19,000 m2 vs new 35,000 m2), I think the main section of the new terminal building (excluding air-bridge corridor) will actually be shorter in length than current DIA. The major difference is that it will be over at least 2 major levels (arrivals / departures) and much more airy. Either way, I think it's going to be a major step up from what we have now and I am looking forward to eventually seeing and using it.

Terminal area is 103,000m2. 35,000m2 must be per floor.

I just hope they wont have those pesky cops at the drop off's giving me R500 fines for nothing! :rant:

He said I was obstructing traffic! my car was 20cm out of the line! how the F*ck was I obstructing traffic! plus the other loosers who cant position their cars in the drop off bays took up most of the space so I couldnt squeeze my dads yacht in there!

u stopped in the drop off bays while towing a yacht? i'd have fined u too! :lol:

Terminal area is 103,000m2. 35,000m2 must be per floor.

Doesn't look 103,000m2 to me (which is about the size of Pavillion Mall, if I'm not mistaken). In fact, I think the KSIA website also states that the main terminal is 35,000m2. Maybe the 103,000m2 is all the facilities together (passenger and freight terminals etc). Perhaps BettiBlue can do some digging and get clarification for us.

Doesn't look 103,000m2 to me (which is about the size of Pavillion Mall, if I'm not mistaken). In fact, I think the KSIA website also states that the main terminal is 35,000m2. Maybe the 103,000m2 is all the facilities together (passenger and freight terminals etc). Perhaps BettiBlue can do some digging and get clarification for us.

According to another story in the mercury (inside biz section) today... the entire main terminal building is 103 000m2 "three-and-a-half times the size of the current DIA terminal"

It says the cargo terminal will have a capacity to handle 100 000 tons - but I also read somewhere that the cargo terminal will be 10 000m2 in the opening phase...

romanSA - I'm sure that 103 000m2 is correct - which also includes all the offices, boardrooms and retail - that's besides the main passenger aspects like the big new mechanical baggage system, huge domestic and international checkin sections and the tunnel structure that the 12 airbridges are linked to...

u stopped in the drop off bays while towing a yacht? i'd have fined u too! :lol:

lol, meant my dads car is a yacht, they dont make them S-Class merc's small anymore!

Oh, went to check a site in Mandeni now, in Zululand, and as you pass Sibaya, the next hill you go over, you have a clear shot of the airport. It looks amazing! you can clearly see the terminal building, along with the cranes, parking lot & the control tower!

^^ i love that so many hills surround the airport...will do alot to reduce noise!

Doesn't look 103,000m2 to me (which is about the size of Pavillion Mall, if I'm not mistaken). In fact, I think the KSIA website also states that the main terminal is 35,000m2. Maybe the 103,000m2 is all the facilities together (passenger and freight terminals etc). Perhaps BettiBlue can do some digging and get clarification for us.

If you think about it, its a two story terminal, plus a double story long apron area for boarding...thats alot of space. Dont forget that the pav is 120000m2 of leasable space...that excludes walkway areas, service areas....

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l116/ron2k-za/airport/5130_pic2_large.jpg

I absolutely love this pic. the amount of vegetation is fantastic for an airport. i am also very curious as to what that glass domed structure to the very left of the pic is...is that the cafe gardens area we saw in earlier pics? if so then i love the idea of the restaurants out in the gardens!!!

praise to the architects. excellent!

sho looks very very nice. ORTIA should think of using more vegetation. far too much concrete all over the place!

Too much vegetation will attract birds - its in the EIA's specialist report. The report also warned that projects like Zimbali should not have big water features that could attract geese etc
Have more on this if interested. Going to the site 2 morrow
Betti
Also got nice pics - send private message so I can email it

Also saw abit of the Zimbali hotel, that place is looking impressive......Raven you said you got some pics :D

Also got nice pics - send private message so I can email it

PM sent. :)

Too much vegetation will attract birds - its in the EIA's specialist report. The report also warned that projects like Zimbali should not have big water features that could attract geese etc
Have more on this if interested. Going to the site 2 morrow
Betti
Also got nice pics - send private message so I can email it

it completely depends on the type of plants used. certain plants have no attraction for birds, others can even distract birds as disuade them from an area. so plants are a must, this is leafy tropical KZN!! But sure, we dont want colonies swooping the airport

Also saw abit of the Zimbali hotel, that place is looking impressive......Raven you said you got some pics

Sorry, can't post them, (the renders), as they are property of the client... and here I'm referring to Zimbali Lodge.

w.r.t. KSIA & the greening there-of, yes there will be extensive greening of KSIA. Plants are chosen by three criteria ~ Unattractive to Birds, unattractive to insects that attract birds, and unattractive to other fauna ~ thus the greening of KSIA is the same as that for what is commonly called a "green desert"

An interesting aspect of this is the "Agri-zone" designated area of the Dube Trade Port... and how these issues are addressed w.r.t. the production of farm produce that does attract Birds, Insects & Fauna. ~ I wonder if there are any design proposals out there...?

Cheers

RavenX

^^ we have posted them already in its thread....we looking for construction pics... :)