Fraport: "Great Day for Aviation and the Frankfurt Region" Green Light Given for Building A380 Maintenance Base at FRAU Frankfurt am Main (Germany) 28.06.05 (
28.06.2005, 15:05
"Immediately after the vegetation period - i.e., fromSeptember - we will now be able to start cutting trees andclearing the site for construction," said Prof. Manfred Schölch,Fraport AG's executive board vice chairman. He reiterated thatFraport had abstained from immediate enforcement of the zoningdecision, thus tacitly accepting considerable difficulties forthe project schedule. Respect of the court and the desire to avoid emotionaltensions for airport neighbors made this necessary, Schölchfurther explained. Now, it is hoped that the plaintiffs,citizens' action groups, and other organizations will alsoaccept the court's decision and will not disturb the start of theproject with any impediments. Fraport had expected the orders to hear evidence - alsopronounced in the proceedings involving the communities ofMörfelden-Walldorf, Raunheim, and Neu- Isenburg. "During theoral proceedings, the VGH court made it clear that there isstill need for clarification regarding the aircraft-engine testruns, which in individual cases may be required aftermaintenance," Prof. Schölch explained.
Depending on theresults of the evidence hearing, it is conceivable that thecourt will decree noise abatement measures.
However, this willnot affect realization of the maintenance base. Even so,Schölch expects that the expert noise studies, which Fraportsubmitted for the zoning procedure, will be confirmed.According to these studies, unacceptable noise blight is notexpected in the neighboring residential areas. In this connection, Prof. Schölch further indicated thatFraport, in the procedure on Frankfurt Airport's capacityexpansion, has carefully made space provisions to accommodate anoise abatement structure for engine test-runs. The site of thecurrent taxiway to the A380 maintenance base has been earmarkedfor this purpose. The taxiway will be relocated westward. In the proceedings involving BUND (Bund für Umwelt undNaturschutz Deutschland), the VGH court has not recognized someof the environmental offset measures under the nature protectionlaw and has ordered the State of Hesse to supplement the zoningdecision accordingly. Fraport AG does not expect that this willresult in any difficulties for the A380 maintenance baseproject. Fact Sheet: Frankfurt Airport's Planned A380 MaintenanceBase By 2007, a new maintenance base will be built at the southside of Frankfurt Airport (FRA) for Fraport AG's key customerLufthansa. This new facility will accommodate Lufthansa's A380superjumbos. Here is a summary of facts concerning thisinteresting and vital construction project : - The planned maintenance base must be seen independently ofFRA's planned Northwest Landing Runway. Therefore, Fraportinitiated a separate zoning procedure to obtain approval forthis facility (application submitted in January 2003). - Amount of forested area to be cleared for the project:approximately 21 hectares, including about 13.5 hectares of"protection" forest. - As an environmental offset, Fraport has already reforestedsome 23 hectares (thereof: 20 hectares at Hof Schönau and 3hectares at Hohenau) in the Rüsselsheim and Trebur districts. - In the opinion of the VGH court, the zoning authority hasto issue new orders for further environmental offset measuresunder the nature protection law. This will not present anyproblems for realizing the project. - Fraport has concluded a long-term contract with theLufthansa group for utilization of the site for the maintenancebase. - Maintenance Hangar: The hangar (approximately 350 meterslong, 140 meters wide, and 45 meters high) will be capable ofaccommodating up to four A380 aircraft simultaneously. - Warehouse: 140 meters long, more than 62 meters wide,about 10 meters high. - Site: No alternative site was available within theexisting airport boundary. - Utilization: The new maintenance facility will be used forroutine maintenance of Lufthansa's A380 superjumbos, as well asB747 jumbos. - Design: The new hangar to be built on the south side ofFRA was designed by Gerkan, Marg & Partner Architects ofHamburg, Germany. For More Information, Please Contact: Fraport AG, Robert A.Payne, B.A.A, Press Office (Dept. UKM-PS), CorporateCommunications (UKM), 60547 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Tel.: +4969.690.78547; Fax: +49.69.690.60548; E-mail: r.payne@fraport.de;Internet: www.fraport.de
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