Aviation businesses must balance demand and global growth with the need to decarbonise, become more energy and operationally efficient and address climate change. Arup helps clients across the industry to understand how to make their operations and services more sustainable, efficient and resilient, designing for lower energy use and operating costs at the same time. We are working with our aviation clients to help them rethink their business models and operations to maximise social value, ensure supply chains are resilient, develop circular business models, reduce emissions, generate electricity, harvest water and eliminate waste. 

Arup is the creative force behind many of the world’s most innovative and sustainable building, transport and civil engineering projects and design technologies. We offer a broad range of professional services that combine to make a real difference to our clients and the communities in which we work.

We have advised the majority of the world’s leading airports and are recognised globally as a leader in airport masterplanning, delivering airport terminal and support facility designs and specialist aviation services.

We support operators, owners, investors and users to develop safe, secure and sustainable solutions that deliver customer service excellence on a sound commercial basis. We add value to our clients’ business through close stakeholder collaboration and draw on in-depth knowledge to deliver robust, resilient and efficient solutions.

Arup has been involved in aviation development for over 60 years, with experience gained through a wide range of assignments at more than 100 airports worldwide.  Dedicated to sustainable development, the firm is a collective of 16,000 planners, designers, engineers and business advisors working across 140 countries. Founded to be both humane and excellent, we collaborate with our clients and partners using imagination, technology and rigour to shape a better world.  Through strong internal networks we benchmark and share the learning from our global aviation and other sector experience to deliver better solutions for our clients by balancing the needs of people, processes, technology and environment.

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.

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 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

Ricardo is a global consultancy, delivering strategic, environmental and engineering solutions that are at the intersection of transport, energy and global climate agendas.

Ricardo has been working with the aviation sector for more than 30 years to support them to understand and reduce their environmental impacts. We are proud that our clients include many UK and international airports, airlines, airside operators, concessionaires and aircraft manufacturers. This experience means we have an in-depth understanding of the challenges faced by the sector and how organisations are approaching them.

We have expert teams focused on sustainability, net zero strategy development, waste management, sustainable transport, air quality and carbon emissions reduction, water and biodiversity management, sustainable procurement, engineering solutions and energy efficiency. This expertise, coupled with our aviation industry knowledge and policy insight, ensures we provide our clients with impartial strategic and practical support to accelerate and optimise their sustainability journeys.

We support clients across the value chain, from strategy development to implementation and reporting. We provide robust evidence and advice to inform decision making, and help to build business resilience to future climate, market and reputational pressures.  We accelerate progress and efficiency as our clients improve the sustainability of their operations, services, products and investments.

Our consultants also work with policy makers giving them unique insight into the policy landscape. We have worked with the European Commission on the European Green Deal, Fit for 55 and ReFuelEU, including running the EU Sustainable Aviation Clearing House. Our teams of engineers are designing the next generation low carbon propulsion systems for aircraft engine OEMs and airframe manufacturers.

Ricardo plays a key role in improving the sustainability of the aviation sector. Our experts sit on the UK Jet Zero Council and are accelerating the uptake of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) with our leading role in running the SAF clearing houses in the UK and Europe. We are active members of the UK Airport Operators Association Sustainability Working Group and members of the British Aviation Group. We work closely with UK Sustainable Aviation on environmental issues and have been working with the UK Civil Aviation Authority to build their capacity in understanding the impacts of working with hydrogen. We are also designing the aircraft propulsion systems of the future, working with Cranfield Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney designing their next generation engines.

Please get in touch to discuss how we can help you to achieve your sustainability goals.

Saffron Star International Ltd is an Aviation Fuel Management Consultancy operated by experienced aviation fuel professionals, all of whom are from major oil company backgrounds/travel industry, where senior executive positions were held.

Services include:

Technical audit and compliance

Training

Commercial support

Fuel and equipment procurement for airlines and airport facilities

Organizational capability

Technical support to companies bidding for UN and government contracts