Airport Slots

[joyseng]

Dear Sami and fellow players:

Can I check are the number of airport slots of each airport in this game based on real-life scenario?

Being an airline based in Myanmar, I am surprised to note that the Yangon International airport only have 4 slots per hour. While I am not exactly sure the actual capacity of the real Yangon International airport, I just thought there should be more slots since it is the main international airport of Myanmar and serving up to 20 airlines in real life.

So I just wonder how were the figures derived, and can it be adjusted to reflect the actual capacity of the real airport?

Thank you.

Yours sincerely
Chan Joy Seng

[Zombie Slayer]

Hi Chan,

As of the Dawn of the Millennium 2 game world, slots are calculated a bit differently. Basically, an airport will start with ~45% of the available movements for that time period and grow to ~150% of the capacity over about 5 game years. An airport like Myanmar should end up with about 20-22 slots an hour based on how slots have been added in the past couple game worlds. So, never fear, you will have more slots soon!

Don

[Sami]

You have to take into account the game world year naturally.

[joyseng]

Sami and Don:

I forgot to add that I am playing The Modern Times # 5, and the date now is 27th December 2011 which is even after our real-life date.

So do both of you agree there is something weird that there is only 4 slots per hour for Yangon International airport in 2011?

Thank you.

Yours sincerely
Chan Joy Seng

[joyseng]

Dear Sami and fellow players:

As I did not receive a reply after my last posting, I just want to post this message again to check if it is legitamate for me to request for more than 4 slots per hour for Yangon International Airport in the year 2012?

I really feel that there is something wrong with only 4 slots per hour .

Thank you.

Yours sincerely
Chan Joy Seng

[Sami]

To make any corrections I would need to have some data that would point otherwise on the capacity level.

[joyseng]

Sami:

Can I check where did you get the capacity data of other airports in this game, e.g. 18 slots per hour for Mandalay International Airport?

I have done a search on the internet, and these 2 sites are all that I can find:

http://www.ide.go.jp/English/Publish/Download/Brc/pdf/06_chapter1.pdf - Page 20 shows that Yangon International Airport has an average of 3.4 landing and take off per hour in 2009, but it does not show the maximum capacity it can handle

http://www.aseatrips.com/Myanmar/Travel%20Information/Flights%20in%20Myanmar.html - States that Yangon International Airport can handle 5 planes per hour, but I doubt this figure is accurate

If you can help to point me somewhere to look for information, I will try to see if I can find some more information.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely
Chan Joy Seng

[Zombie Slayer]

A good place to start is the number of gates/hard stands the airport has. Obviously, a single runway airport should be able to handle at least 30 operations an hour (15 arrivals, 15 departures) so the limiting factor here may be a simple lack of gate space.

Don

[joyseng]

Don:

Thanks for the information. I have done further research and found this site that may give more details:

http://ourairports.mobi/airports/VYYY/notams.html

Under the portion of NOTAM B0045/07, it is stated:

YANGON INTL AP NEW TERMINAL BLDG OPR FOR INTL ARR AND DEP 
ASSOCIATED WITH REALLOCATION OF ACFT STAND NUMBERS INCLUDING 4 FIX
GATES ATTACHED TO NEW TERMINAL BLDG AND 8 REMOTE STANDS. NUMBERING
OF ACFT STANDS COMMENCED FM STAND NR.1(FIXED GATE) TO STAND NR.11
(REMOTE STAND) IN SOUTH TO NORTH DIRECTION ON THE APRON AND STAND
NR.12A/12B/12C IN DIRECTION OF EAST TO WEST BEYOND THE STAND NR.11.
NEW ACFT STAND AND TAXI ROUTE MARKINGS PROVIDED.

What are hard stands/ remote stands? Does this shows that Yangon International Airport only really have 4 gates for the aircrafts?

Thank you.

Yours sincerely
Chan Joy Seng

[Zombie Slayer]

Hi Chan,

Looking through those notams, it does look like only 4 boarding gates are available. The 8 Remote Stands would then be used to park planes that are not immediately departing so other aircraft can use the boarding gates. I can not find any info that would suggest that the 8 stands are "Hard Stands", or basically boarding gates that would require a bus ride from the terminal to the plane to board.

Don

[joyseng]

Don:

Thanks alot for all the information. I really appreciate your help, and my knowledge on the airport operations has increased through your sharing.

For the boarding gates, can I assume that each gate handles on average one flight per hour?

Actually with Yangon International Airport most probably only having 4 gates in their International Terminal, I am keen to explore more on the number of boarding gates at their Domestic Terminal. I have managed to take a look at the airport's  flight arrivals and departures today, and no more than 3 international flights depart within the same hour. However, there are 7 domestic flights departing between 6.15am to 6.30am!

Despite that, my airline is not doing well financially so I do plan to declare bankrupt and restart somewhere else. So I think I will give up on this pursue although my original plan was to open another base airport at Yangon International Airport if more slots are available.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely
Chan Joy Seng