Operation

Founded in 1998, Firstco are control and communication systems engineers, specialising in the transportation sector.  Working predominately in airports, railways and intermodal operations our clients include infrastructure owners, operators, engineering consultancies, construction contractors and systems solution providers. Our experience includes the technologies and solutions commonly grouped as Communications, Security, Operational and Control & Monitoring systems, and often referred to as IT, ICT, SAS or ELV systems.

Based in London, we now employ over 80 staff and work extensively across the UK. We have grown into an international consultancy and system integrator with projects in Europe, Middle East and Africa, and we are currently exploring expansion into Asia and America.

As systems engineers we work throughout the asset lifecycle; consulting, delivering and supporting the growing number of technologies used to automate operational people and process.

Working from strategy to operations, Firstco specify, design, deliver, commission, integrate, trial, transition, support and maintain systems. We also specialise in stakeholder, interface, requirements and assurance management which are an increasingly complex and critical part of any infrastructure programme.

By remaining product-independent, we can help our customers to select the right solutions then ensure that they are configured to achieve effective and efficient operations. Our Technical Innovation Group work with emerging technologies and solution/product suppliers to identify opportunities and business benefits for introducing new solutions into high integrity environments.

Airport Technologies

A modern airport will have more than 150 systems with constantly developing and converging technologies, which are critical to safety, security and operation. In the world of ‘big data’, airport operators require increasing interoperability to efficiently manage their sites, and their stakeholders, regulators and passengers expect and demand easy access to a greater level of real-time data. However, with increasing global security issues and the advent of cyber threats, the need for secure, robust and resilient solutions has never been greater.

As existing airports continue to expand and new airports are constructed, it is imperative that the technology systems are considered from the outset and delivered as an integral part of the overall programme. The prerequisites and interfaces with the architecture, civil engineering, baggage and M&E solutions must be managed throughout to avoid costly delays at the point when the project hands over into the live operational environment.

Firstco’s broad experience over all these technologies, and throughout the entire asset lifecycle allows for a Value Assured Engineering approach to oversee the end-to-end solution, engaging the right specialist contractors at the right time in the process, to ensure quality on-time, on-budget delivery.

Firstco’s Aviation Experience

Firstco have worked at London Heathrow Airport for 20 years and have been involved throughout the major airport development programmes and in day-to-day operations.

Development programmes include:

•       Terminal 2 and Eastern Campus – Information and Control Systems (ICS)

-       ICS Design Leadership – strategy, scope, requirements, concept

-       ICS Scheme Design – Master Systems Integrator

-       DMI (Design, Manage, Integrate) – ICS technical assurance through delivery

•       Terminal 5

-       T5 Rail & Tunnels Guidance Team – design & commissioning leadership

-       T5 Rail & Tunnels Comms and Controls – design, delivery and integration

-       Airside Road Tunnel – control systems design and project management

-       Energy Centre and Control Tower – commissioning management

•       Heathrow Express

-       Station systems, original design and build, into operation

-       Extension of systems to Terminal 5 subsurface station and tunnels      -    Support and maintenance for 15 years

Engineering and operational solutions include:

Firstco are framework suppliers for SCADA across the airport

•       HEART – utilities control and monitoring

•       Heathrow Pods – automated people movers

•       APOC – airport centralised command and control facility

•       FAMS – centralised fire alarm monitoring across all terminals

•       Campus-wide metering and energy management

•       Baggage Handling Systems (BHS)

Support and maintenance of Heathrow’s systems, including:

•       Heathrow Rail

•       Heathrow Pods

•       FAMS

EMS

In addition to our work at London Heathrow Airport, Firstco have worked on UK aviation projects including:

•       Gatwick Airport – North Terminal redevelopment, Pier 3 expansion options, airfield utilities control & monitoring

•       Manchester Airports Group – London Stansted Airport Tracked Transit System (TTS) / Automated People Mover (APM) control system, utilities monitoring

•       Birmingham Airport – Airport Operation Systems specifications

Middle East airports including:

•       UAE – Dubai International, Dubai World Central and Abu Dhabi International

•       Oman – Muscat International and Salalah airports

•       Qatar – New Doha International Airport

•       Saudi Arabia – Jeddah, Madinah and Riyadh airports

•      Other GCC – Kuwait and Bahrain airports

I-S-Solutions (UK) Ltd is a Project Management company with considerable experience in a broad range of sectors, mainly focusing on Aviation, Materials Handling and Facilities Management industries. Based in the UK, we are an independent company and frequently form part of international multi-disciplinary design teams and have particular strength within the procurement and installation of major Hold Baggage Screening and Baggage Handling Systems; we also offer Facilities Management and Aftersales Maintenance Services. We pride ourselves in offering a “one stop solution” to our clients needs; offering improved solutions to all engineering challenges.

Founded in 1969, ICF is a global advisory and digital services provider. We are a company of 7,000 business analysts and policy specialists working alongside digital strategists, data scientists, and creatives, united by a culture that values diversity and opportunity in over 70 global cities.

Our team brings practical experience from successfully delivering sustainability projects both within aviation and out-of-sector. Our sustainable aviation experience ranges from leading analysis on aviation carbon offsetting, to detailed advisory on airline sustainable fuel offtake contracts and decarbonisation strategies. Our experts can draw on best-practice developed while successfully delivering sustainability initiatives for over 75 Global FT500 leading companies, and we supported the first US greenhouse gas inventory, the first mandatory greenhouse gas reporting program, the first federal agency climate adaptation program, and are currently supporting the development of China’s emissions trading scheme.

Formed in 1982, JSA developed into a specialist Agricultural and Landscape maintenance Company providing specialist works including:

- Airfield Landscape Maintenance to CAP 772

- Airfield High Blast Reinstatement Solutions to CAP 168/772 using Flex-Terra

-Landscape Maintenance

-Supply of Overaasen snow clearance equipment as UK agents

-Conservation, Ecology and Biodiversity

-Arboricultural works and woodland Management

- Fine Turf Management

-Agricultural Operations

Although the Company has expanded since the early days, the goal has not changed – that goal being: Innovation, professionalism and safety

Keltbray is a specialist engineering and construction solutions group.  Our purpose is to redefine the way sustainable development is delivered.  Based on our collective experience, we collaborate at the earliest stage to design and self-deliver innovative customer solutions across technically demanding built environment and infrastructure sectors.  Working in partnership with our customers and key stakeholders, we are actively contributing to economic growth, social advancement and environmental protection.  By drawing on our specialist in-house delivery businesses and directly employed workforce, we have greater control over quality and productivity.  This brings an operational focus and intensity to project delivery that is very different to the traditional contracting model.

LMS Security are a fiercely independent, privately owned Security Technical Advisor.  Our purpose is simple; to protect our clients, their critical assets and investments whilst pioneering innovation and driving quality and industry standards. 

With experience across the team in aviation environments, including airside logistics, we add value to aviation security functions by offering technical expertise, assurance and compliance - delivered by highly qualified and experienced security professionals.

We are steadfast in our commitment to values that form the cornerstone of our indentity; respect, integrity, collaboration, excellence.  Integrity rules everything we do, form acting in the customer's best interest, to giving back to communities and the industry in which we work.

Logika Consultants helps aviation clients navigate often-complex legislation, policy and regulation required to gain consent for development, providing environmental advice and strategy.  Furthermore, Logika works with airport architects and engineers, to support the development of proposals to ensure that they have environmental design measures fully embedded within them.  These measures cover all environmental and sustainability issues at airports including (with our sister organisations Air Quality Consultants and Noise Consultants) carbon, climate change, air quality, noise, biodiversity, flood etc.  We are able to advise on expansion, plans, airspace design and all other matters where airport operations could affect the environment.

Logplan Europe Ltd. is an independent aviation consulting firm specialising in the planning, design and specification of airport related systems, principally baggage handling, cargo handling, and automated people mover systems. We provide services from master planning and strategy development, through design, simulation and engineering to management of testing, commissioning and operational readiness. We also provide ongoing operations and maintenance support to clients when requested.

We are a consultancy that cover many industries, we are a diverse group and have a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience within this sector.​ We have assembled a dynamic team that shares our values and vision and have the experience behind them to drive innovation across many different environments

Our combined experience is gained over many years  to many customers on a range of business areas, across varying disciplines, including Strategic review, business development, transformational change, project management and training and  commercial review. At MAD4 we always ensure our range of services is tailored to client's specific requirements to make a difference for their business. 

Millar Management provide airport design services specialising in baggage system, baggage concept designs and baggage facility design. Services include: Definition of user requirements, data modelling, facility and system design including Std3 HBS Check-in (including bag drop) sortation systems, early bag stores, flight make up, off-loads, arrivals carousels, customs screening, technical specifications, 3D CAD/BIM design, testing and commissioning and operational readiness.

Mott MacDonald is one of the world’s most experienced aviation consultancies, providing global expertise for over 40 years. With over 16,000 staff, we have principal offices in 50 countries and projects in 140. We have provided project finance, technical, business planning and transaction advice for >$75 billion of airport assets in over 100 countries. Our truly global project portfolio includes Heathrow, Gatwick, St. Petersburg, Istanbul, Cyprus, Cairo, Cape Town, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sydney, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Toronto, New York, Costa Rica, Columbia and Ecuador.

At Norder we plan, design and advise on airfield infrastructure. Norder’s professional award-winning team provides expertise to end users, the professional services and contracting sectors and Expert Witness services.

This includes:Airfield planning;Airfield civil and structural engineering;Airfield capacity analysis;Airfield drainage and environmental;Airport pavement engineering and management;Hangar, MRO, FBO and cargo centre airside planning;Heliports; Military airfields and

Smaller aerodrome infrastructure advice.

Norder provides designs and assessments in accordance with ICAO, EASA and FAA standards for infrastructure in all environments. Norder also utilises advanced software for aircraft tracking, fillet design and blast analysis (AviPlan), airfield pavement design and evaluation (AirPave, FAARFIELD, COMFAA), airfield drainage (MicroDrainage), airfield capacity (CAST), BIM (Revit), structural design (Tekla Tedds) and project quality (Deltek).

Having acquired Fjori Limited in 2022, Norder has strengthened its client base and airport project portfolio, including projects at over 50 airports in the last 11 years, in UK, Brazil, France, Canada, Italy, India, Japan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, South Atlantic Islands and Ireland.