The Operations Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) training programme for over 5,800 Bahrain International Airport stakeholders is going as per schedule as the kingdom gears up for launch of the new passenger terminal building, said a report.

Since the launch of the familiarisation and contractor training programmes three months ago, more than 1,300 employees have been trained, making up 27 per cent of the overall number of stakeholders set to participate in the lead up to the new terminal’s launch, reported BNA.

Team members from BAC, Bahrain Airport Services (BAS), the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), Hala Bahrain, Gulf Air, airlines operating out of BIA, and the Ministry of Interior’s (MoI), Airport Police Directorate, Customs Affairs, and National Passport & Residence Affairs have attended 170 familiarisation training sessions to date.

Over 500 key members of staff from BAC, BAS, and the MoI have participated in 70 contractor training sessions designed to test the new facility’s information and communication technology (ICT) and baggage handling systems (BHS), it added.

The sessions provide an excellent opportunity for BIA stakeholders to demonstrate their in-depth understanding of the new systems and highlight any potential issues to the respective contractors, said the report, citing a senior minister.

"In addition to the training plan developed by Fraport, the ORAT consultant, the programme is expected to accelerate over the next three months to include more staff and cover all required technical aspects," remarked Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications and Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) Chairman Engineer Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed.

"The new passenger terminal building’s advanced systems and state-of-the-art equipment requires considerable skill to operate, which is why these training sessions to test the readiness of systems, processes, and the familiarity of employees with the new building are so vitally important," he stated.

"When the new facility opens, employees should be fully prepared to ensure that passengers enjoy a transformed travel experience," explained Kamal bin Ahmed.

BAC chief executive officer Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah said: "Thanks to the hard work of the national ORAT training team and all the stakeholders involved in this comprehensive programme, we have achieved significant progress in a relatively short period of time."

"Of course, there is still much to be done in the coming months, but through our concerted efforts and  with continued coordination and support among our partners at the airport, I am confident that we will be able to overcome any challengesassociated with a project of this magnitude and complexity," he stated.

Al Binfalah said one of the major challenges for the team was to ensure the effective operation of the new passenger terminal building’s advanced equipment and communications networks and hence the training programme for getting an in-depth understanding of how these systems operate in an integrated manner.

"These contractors’ training sessions and programmes will help airport staff to make full use of the features provided by these advanced systems, ensuring passengers enjoy a travel experience of the highest standards," he added.

Thales SITA, the world leader in aviation, aerospace, and aerospace technology, is providing an advanced security system for the new facility that will ensure continuity of operations, further consolidating airport operations management.

With intelligent data processing features, the system will provide operators with a real security framework and full operational knowledge. It includes the latest technologies needed for airport management, such as intelligent video surveillance, access control, biometric measurements, and ICT infrastructure, said the BNA report.

To effectively prepare the huge number of stakeholders, a dedicated 13-member ORAT training team from BAC, the MoI, and BAS is conducting multiple familiarisation workshops, three days a week right up until the facility’s launch.

Sessions will cover a range of topics, including a general airport and terminal overview, staff and passenger flows, and baggage handling systems, among others.-TradeArabia News Service