New taxiway boosts Schiphol freighters’ safety and efficiency

A new taxiway, linking Amsterdam Airport Schiphol’s ‘Kaag’ runway with the airport’s Sierra cargo zone, has halved live runway crossings for the many freighter aircraft that visit Schiphol every week. The new link is also reducing taxi distances saving fuel, CO2 emissions and time.

The ‘Kaag’ runway and Sierra cargo zone are used increasingly by the many freighter flights operating into and out of Schiphol every week. The new taxiway enables landing aircraft to taxi direct to the Sierra cargo area from the end of the runway, rather than routing back along the original taxiway stretching the entire length of the runway, and then waiting for clearance to cross the live runway. Subject to wind direction, the same benefits can apply to departing flights.

Since the new taxiway began limited operations last November, it has already halved the number of live runway crossings.

Even in the taxiway’s construction, sustainability was the keyword. By reusing recycled concrete rubble from other current airport infrastructure projects, as part of the 46,000 tonnes of construction material needed in building the new taxiway, less new materials were used, and the amount of materials transportation was dramatically reduced. This has contributed to Schiphol’s continuing drive to lead the way in airport efficiency and sustainability.

Says Schiphol Cargo Snr VP Enno Osinga: “The new Sierra taxiway has streamlined and improved our handling of freighter flights, saving time and money for our airline customers and improving safety. In addition, it has been an environmental success right from its inception, and will make a long-term contribution to our emissions targets.

“Once again, Schiphol is proving that cargo processes can always be improved, and that investments and innovation in cargo do provide real returns.”

This brief film explains how the new runway streamlines Schiphol’s freighter operations: http://www.schiphol.nl/B2B/Cargo/NewsPublications/CargoNews5/NewSierraTaxiway.htm