Improving environmental performance at Inverness Airport

Improving environmental performance | Mackenzie Construction’s growing Inverness team have been working on an exciting new project, which promises to improve environmental performance at Inverness Airport.

The works incorporate a phased water drainage project, working both inside and outside of the airport boundaries. Phase one of the project is focused on surface water drainage within the airport boundaries.

Throughout the project, the highly regulated and controlled aviation environment has required meticulous planning and procedural compliance in order to ensure exact airside standards and requirements were met.

This environment also requires high levels of collaboration, strong working relationships and consistency of communication in order to manage and meet the standards and regulations efficiently and effectively.

Throughout the first phase Mackenzie have worked closely with emergency services, air traffic control, operations staff at Inverness Airport and Highlands & Islands Airport Ltd (HIAL) to ensure safe, managed and compliant working practices airside.

Almost 1000m of drainage pipe work along the taxiways of the airport have been installed in close co-operation with Inverness Airport, working together to schedule work around clear airport operational restrictions and practices.

Sections of the project works have also been constructed near to Bristow’s Air Sea Rescue Operation. With strong communication and planning, Mackenzie Construction site teams have ensured compliant practices as they worked in proximity to the emergency operational requirements of their life saving work.

Other aspects of the project included installation of a new wastewater treatment plant and pump station and excavation of a new swale to allow the treatment of the de-icer that maintains the aircraft and runways during periods of cold weather.

Finally, a new oil interceptor will be installed which will entail excavation to a depth of around 5m in order to stop the flow of oils, and other hydrocarbons, reaching the existing swales.

Robert Farquhar of Mackenzie Construction’s Inverness team said,

“As this was the first project Mackenzie Construction have worked on in the aviation industry, it has been a fantastic introduction to the sector. We worked in very close collaboration with a lot of key stakeholders to ensure smooth operations and compliant, safe working practices in a challenging and exciting environment. Ensuring strong communication with all key members of the team was crucial to delivering a successful end result and this is something we look forward to building on for the future.”

Dan Mason, HIAL’s Airfield Operations Manager, Inverness Airport said of the project,

“Mackenzie have faced extremely challenging conditions since starting work at Inverness Airport. They’ve had to work around a 24 hour airfield operation while coping with snow, ice and whole host of legacy infrastructure stretching back to the Second World War.

“Mackenzie have worked closely with Inverness Airport and HIAL teams to ensure that the project is delivered to our specification while maintaining environmental compliance and without impacting on aircraft operations. This is a credit to the spirit of teamwork and co-operation they’ve shown throughout this phase of the project.”