Construction work has begun on 11 buildings designed by UK-based architects TPS for Muscat International Airport, with the air traffic control (ATC) tower expected to be completed by April 2012.

Standing at just under 100m in height, the control tower will be the tallest-occupied building in Oman when it is finished early next year. The remaining ten buildings, which include an air transport management complex, a contingency and training centre and fire and sea rescue buildings, will be completed by October 2012.

Hanif Macci, the Dubai-based regional director for TPS, told Muscat Daily that the company's designs are 'off the drawing board' with all the buildings currently under construction. "The works are progressing. TPS is undertaking the detailed design work. The construction of the air traffic control tower, contingency and training centre and air transportation management complex is all progressing and the structural work is being done.

"We envision that the tower will be completed around April 2012. Completion of all the facilities is scheduled for around October 2012." Macci added that a key challenge has been meeting a strict series of requirements on a very tight schedule. "The main challenge for us is delivering the design to a very tight programme, going through various approval processes. We have met all the technical challenges."

The tower, which will require a series of dampers in order to minimise the effect of wind, will provide the essential air traffic control services and has been designed to satisfy all operational and regulatory requirements.

Working with Oman-based construction company Carillion Alawi, TPS and its sub-consultants are overseeing their design being implemented during the construction process which will include the installation of 'tuned mass dampers' to allow the air traffic controllers to work normally at that height.

The contingency and training centre will house classrooms, meeting rooms, simulators and a 100-seat auditorium, with the air transportation management complex consisting of gyms, laboratories, workshops, an area to watch air traffic controllers and a studio to broadcast weather forecasts.

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PILOTS of Glasgow-bound planes have been targeted by Kilmarnock yobs shining green laser pens at their aircraft.

There have been at least four incidents over the last few weeks and police believe they have pinpointed the source of the ‘dazzling’ to the Shortlees area.
In each case the pilots immediately reported the dangerous practice to ATC Air Traffic Control..
Fortunately there have been no serious outcomes so far, but ATC air traffic control has passed on the details to police in Kilmarnock, who are now investigating all of the incidents.
Inspector Gordon Bruce confirmed this week they are also launching a public awareness programme specifically targeting local schools.
Said Inspector Bruce: “We are taking this matter very seriously and will be sending community officers into local schools, both primary and secondary, to point out the horrific consequence such behaviour could have.”
At Glasgow Airport, a spokesman said: “We have been in touch with police in Kilmarnock after complaints from several pilots of laser lights being aimed at them as they flew over Kilmarnock on their approach to the airport.

“We welcome the police involvement in this as it is potentially putting a lot of people at risk.”

A spokesman for the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) told the Standard on Tuesday that ‘dazzling’ was an increasing problem, with green laser pens – up to 50 times more powerful than their red counterparts – easily available via the internet.
He added: “There were 93 ‘laser’ incidents reported at Glasgow Airport in 2010, the second highest total in the UK. Only Birmingham reported more similar incidents.”

He said that a new law, making shining the pens at aircraft etc. a criminal offence, had been introduced last year.
But the number of ‘dazzling’ incidents continues to rise and is expected to double in 2011.
“There is no doubt this is a big problem,” said the CAA spokesman.
“We would appeal to residents in your area who witness this practice to get in touch with police immediately.”
Green laser pens or ‘pointers’ are far more distinctive than red ones when used in the sky.
Unlike a red laser, the green beam itself is so bright that it can be seen mid-air during dark conditions, and can be tracked from much greater distance, making it easier to pinpoint the source.

“We believe the instances reported to us could involve laser pens being used in or near Shortlees,” said Inspector Bruce.
“We obviously back the CAA’s call for support from members of the public in identifying those responsible.”