Member Spotlights

After a DUT (French Associate Degree in Technology) in Civil Engineering and one year spent in the United Kingdom in 1992, Vincent Hornain worked for a couple of years with a design firm in petroleum engineering. He then became a construction manager. He joined Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) in 1997.

Vincent worked his way up step by step, starting as a construction supervisor, being promoted construction manager, and finally becoming a project specialist for building and parking projects. In 2010, he was offered the opportunity to join the world of airfield facilities as project manager. He embraced this change with enthusiasm, learning the job through his first airside project: the construction of a new taxiway designed for the Airbus A380. Other projects followed: infrastructure maintenance, extension and redevelopment of aircraft stands, management of the aeronautical information, etc.

Contributing to the conversion of the aerodrome certificate to the EASA framework in 2016 helped Vincent strengthening his aviation skills. But it was also a great experience that widened his network and intensified his participation to the Infra WG and beyond!

Since last year, Vincent has been working full-time on one of the key development projects of Marseille Provence Airport: the expansion of Terminal 1. This project will centralize the passenger terminal facilities. The main focus is on the building, but it is not totally disconnected from the airside… "When you get the airside infrastructure virus, you can't get rid of it!"

What are the major projects right now at MRS?

One of the new projects is the implementation of an ILS CAT I approach on Runway 31R. The RFP of this project is in "final approach" and the completion of work is expected at the end of 2020. Contractors have been proactive with COVID-19 and did include provisions based on the OPPBTP guidance in their proposal… Aviation projects are always ahead! The next projects are the creation of Taxiways C5 et C6 beyond the existing Taxiway C4.

What is the main strength of the Infrastructure WG?

In my opinion, the main strength of the Infra WG is the amazing relationship between its members that are committed to the success of the group. The WG community is mainly made of experienced experts, and this facilitates the discussions and understanding. The topic that are tackled by the group are always addressed with the function and the client in mind. I believe that this is the strength of the Infra WG: addressing problems for serving the community... Maybe that should be its motto?

What is the publication of the Infra WG that you use the most?

I actively contributed to two publications: the guidebook on markings for the traffic area, and the one on temporary airside markings. I might have a preference for the latter... It was developed by the experts for the experts. Consequently, it is a pragmatic document that is made for being directly applicable in the field. It was a timely document because it was prepared during the RFP of an ongoing project at MRS. The best practices of the guidebook were applied on this project even before its "official" release!

Do you have a practical example of application of this guidebook?

I applied it on the redevelopment of an apron located along an active taxiway. The recommendations of the guidebook, especially the orange construction signage, were implemented on the taxiway and described in the AIP SUP. The information was well-received, aviation safety was kept at its highest level, and the pilots positively welcomed this initiative. The overall feedback was excellent, and these practices should be disseminated and adopted on future projects!

A last word... I would like to thank Marc [Huault], Gaël [Le Bris], and of course all the members of the WG. Without them, the WG would not exist and prosper year after year. I appreciate the emails with information requests and the advices, as well as all the replies to the questions asked by the members. I believe that it is through these communications straight-to-the-point that this group is so STRONG. Big kudos to everyone, for the participation, the discussions, and the commitment.... Long life the Infrastructure WG! I am looking forward to attending a session in the future, as soon as possible.

Interview conducted in September 2020

Marion Dewilde joined the French CAA (DGAC) when she graduated in engineering in 2016.

After the Classes Préparatoires (CPGE), she chose the « Transport » track of the Graduate School of Civil, Environmental and Urban Engineering (École Nationale des Travaux Publics de l’État or ENTPE) as a future public worker. She discovered aviation and fell in love with it, and decided to pursue the Advanced Master in Airport Management (Mastère Spécialisé en Management Aéroportuaire or MSAM) of the National University of Civil Aviation (ENAC). She felt confident about her choice when she did her internship at the DSAC-Sud (DGAC Safety Oversight/South) and then her master's thesis with Groupe ADP at Paris-Charles de Gaulle International Airport. Based on this positive experience, she accepted the opportunity to join the French Civil Aviation Technical Center (STAC).

Within the STAC, she leads the laboratory in charge of tests and expertise on aviation pavement. She manages a team of 15 passionate and highly skilled researchers and experts. On this position, she ensure the quality of the operational missions covered by 2 COFRAC certifications, but also contributes to the development of the technical activities and the management of the network of partnerships that make the strength of her department.

How important is the participation of the STAC to the Infrastructure Workgroup?

We are very grateful to The French-Speaking Airports (UAF&FA) and its members for allowing us to participate to the Infrastructure Workgroup. This workgroup is first and foremost a unique platform where we can have contacts with the airport operators and share information with them.

This is also the opportunity to keep contact with the field and raise our awareness on the difficulties and issues that operators can face. This is also a source of information for us on specific discussions that we are not directly part of but for which we have a special interests in regard to our activities.

Finally, the discussions with the individual members of the Infra WG is an opportunity to initiate collaborations. For instance, we have benefited at multiple occasions of maintenance projects at airports for conducting trials with our technical means, including with innovative pavement testing methodology. The Infra WG helps us to advance our research projects!

What does the STAC bring to the airport community in return?

We always listen to the issues faced by airport operators in order to provide answers, when we can. For instance, we publish technical guidebooks, recommendations, and templates, and we also simply make our expertise available to the airport community especially when it comes to sharing best practices. Our role is primarily to provide a technical support in complement to the national oversight missions of the DSAC in France.

Thanks to our position at the interface with the operators, the regulator, and the oversight function, we are relevant for contributing to the rulemaking processes, from the drafting of the texts by groups of international experts to their practical implementation. We try to reconcile as far as practicable the technical, operational, and institutional visions to serve all the stakeholders and aviation safety.

Sometimes, it happens that some issues reported by the Infra WG require a more specialized expertise. If we consider our action relevant, we do not hesitate to make our resources and know-how available if the output can benefit to the entire aviation community.

Finally, our participation to the Infra WG is an opportunity for networking with operators, industries, and other experts who can bring practical or technological solutions to the difficulties or needs in the field. Consequently, the STAC is also a catalyst for innovation.

What are your current research topics?

My main research project right now is directly related to the Infra WG as it emerged from the sessions of the workgroup. Since 2018, I have led a working group aiming to accompany and facilitate the introduction of new technologies on automated pavement condition assessment for airports. Participants include the Laboratory of Groupe ADP, the Centre Référent Aéroportuaire (CR-Aéro) of the French Department of Defense, and EuroAirport (Bâle-Mulhouse International Airport).

Our work focuses on developing a methodology for assessing the surface course of aviation pavement based on the Pavement Condition Index (PCI). This methodology has been the reference since the 1990s but is not adapted to automated systems. We are now working on defining new specifications for performing and interpreting the damage surveys to allow operators to use these new technologies with confidence in the near future. This includes the calculation of the PCI itself.

These new systems have already proven their potential in roadway engineering. They have also a high interest for aviation pavements. They can make it possible to perform surveys more rapidly, with a higher objectivity, and with less manpower. They could be so performed more frequently than those based with the current PCI methodology with visual inspections. They could also be used very soon a precious tool for the regular monitoring of the infrastructure for assisting the airport operators in their decision-making process.

The first step of this project was completed recently with the elaboration of a new classification of the damages. We did actually ask their help to the French airport operations community and several experts in order to get their feedback on this work. We are expecting their answers in the coming weeks!

Our work continues with the definition of new general indicators of the surface condition of aviation pavement. Our ambitions for the next step is to define a quality assurance policy for the automated condition assessments that will be performed at French airports. It should be comparable to what is already done in other European countries for assessing roadway pavements. Here again we might ask the Infra WG for its contribution, because we want this effort to be collaborative. The ultimate goal is to make it accessible and understandable to everyone.

What is the publication of the Infra WG that you find the most significant or useful to the industry?

All the publications of the Infrastructure WG address an operational need expressed by the airport operators. So they are all useful! Beyond the publications, the major strength of the Infra WG is also the diversity of the direct exchanges between the participants.

Interview conducted in May 2020.

Maxime Dujardin love story with the world of airports started by accident. Then a construction engineer, he began his career within a multidisciplinary design bureau. He worked at the Infrastructure Department on various and different roadway and utility projects. He met his current employer in 2010 when he was preparing a feasibility study for the creation of a paved runway at a small airfield.

In 2012, Maxime joined the Société Wallonne des Aéroports (SOWAER) - one of the largest Belgium airport operator - as a project manager in charge of Liège Airport (LGG). SOWAER operates commercial service airports in Liège and Charleroi, and general aviation facilities in Spa, Saint Hubert, and Cerfontaine.

In 2014, Maxime attended a program at the National University of Civil Aviation (ENAC) in Toulouse, France. He met with some members of the Infrastructure Workgroup and developed an interest for this unique group that he joined the same year. In 2018, he became the Technical Director of SOWAER.

What are the Belgian specificities about the transition to the EASA regulatory framework?

In Belgium, the oversight authority is the Direction Générale du Transport Aérien (DGTA). This entity is responsible for the certification of airports, airfields and heliports. Belgium is a small country of the European Union that did not have national technical standards like France with the TAC and CHEA bylaws. It had applied the international documents of the ICAO for the certification of its aviation facilities. That includes the recommendations of the Annex 14. The transition to the European regulations (esp. Reg. EU No. 139/2014 and the CS-ADR-DSN) happened without significant issues with the oversight authority.

What is the value added brought by the Infrastructure Workgroup to the community of the French-speaking airports?

We all share the same difficulties when it comes to airport maintenance and construction projects. In my opinion, the Infra WG is a good way to check what we are doing with other practictioners, and share together our good and bad lessons learned. Also, the Infra WG is an opportunity for meeting foreign airports that speak the same language. This is important in a country like ours that features three different linguistic regions (Walloon, Flamish, and German-speaking). This helps solving various issues.

What is the most significant publication of the Infra WG?

This is a difficult choice! All of them brings a lot to the community and our airports. However, I have a particular preference for the Tables of taxiway minimum separation distances. This little tool fits in the wallet. It has saved my day several times! Many people are positively surprised to discover these tables. This is a great "business card" to promote the Infrastructure Workgroup of The French-Speaking Airports (UAF&FA) within the industry.

Interview conducted in January 2020.

Maryne Floch-Le Goff decided to work in aviation when she passed the French Certificate of Initiation to Aviation (Brevet d'Initiation Aéronautique or BIA) in High School. After the Classes Préparatoires (CPGE), this dream came true when she was admitted to the National University of Civil Aviation (ENAC) in Toulouse, France for a Master’s degree in Aviation Engineering, and then to Cranfield University, UK for another Master’s degree in Airport Planning and Management. She joined Groupe ADP in April 2015 as part of a Graduate Program in operations management. Maryne is a member of the Infrastructure Workgroup since 2016.

What does the Infrastructure Workgroup bring to the community of the Fench-speaking airports?

"The Infra WG is a great place to share best practices and discuss issues faced by different airports. We learn a lot in participating in this organization. The sessions are the opportunity to meet all together, and we are very excited when the time of the next meeting is getting closer!

The fact that this workgroup is recognized within the airport industry gives us a voice at the national, regional, and international levels. For the French airports, the participation of the Civil Aviation Technical Service (STAC) of the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) facilitates the evolution of some national recommendations with regard to the constraints of the operators. "

How does Paris-CDG utilize the publications of the WG?

"The guides on markings and signage – traffic area and construction – are very useful products that are documents of reference for us. However, the tool that the teams use all the time – in the field and during meetings as well – is the tables of taxiway minimum separation distances. The sheets are very handy as they can be plotted in large format and pinned on the walls at the office, or printed in wallet size. They provide all the most important separation distances at a glance – this is a must-have when you are checking a taxiway closure for instance."

Can you describe a specific application?

"We apply the guide on markings and signage for airfield construction to all our projects. In particular, we implement orange construction signs. When we conduct construction projects with specificities – for instance an excavation along the bearing portion of the taxiway or a temporary dead end, these signs are very straightforward to convey information to the pilots who can compare what is on their ground movement charts and the reality of the field. These signs are efficient mitigation that we have adopted as a standard for our Safety Risk Mitigation (SRM) plans."

Interview conducted in October 2019.

Note: Maryne Floch-Le Goff left Groupe ADP in December 2019.

Gérard Marque was admitted at the Air France Technical Academy (Ecole Technique) in Septembre 1977 to attend a training program in aviation maintenance. After 9 years with this airline, he joined the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) of Pau, in Nouvelle-Aquitaine (France). He became a member of the Infrastructure WG in June 2013 when he attended a session held at Toulouse-Blagnac (TLS). He hosted the Workgroup in November 2015 in Pau, with for the first time a remote participation via visioconference of the Ministry of Transportation of Québec (Transports Québec).

What does the Infrastructure WG bring to our industry?

"The Infrastructure WG is a platform that has allowed the industry to address several issues, as well as to share experience between operators and experts, and harmonize practices with templates for the Special Technical Specifications (CCTP) and the guides on best practices. It is a priceless help to airports of the size of Pau that do not have specialists covering all the topics in infrastructures."

What is the value added of the Infra WG to your daily work?

"The answer can seem surprising, but I would say that the Workgroup brought me kind of a serenity. Indeed, I realized that we were all facing the same technical issues. Also, the Infra WG provides a broad network and expertise... that I did not have at my level since my background was not in infrastructure."

What is the publication that you consider as the most significant?

"The most significant for me are the guides on markings and signage for the traffic area, and its counterpart for airfield construction. These are nice summaries of the applicable regulations, and they harmonize practices in terms of markings at airports."

Can you provide us with an example of application in the Field at PUF?

"On the daily basis, I use the guide on temporary markings for airfield construction as a book of reference. This little guide is very handy for small projects on the maneuvering area. Also, I make reference to this publication when preparing the Aviation Safety Risk Assessment (SRA) of more complex construction projects."

Interview conducted in October 2019.

Note: Gérard Marque left Pau Pyrénées Airport in March 2021.