General planning in the aviation industry
The aviation industry is growing: revenue in the German aerospace industry has increased to over EUR 50 billion over the past ten years, with further growth expected*. Accordingly, demand is rising for new buildings, building extensions and conversions in aircraft, helicopter and component production and maintenance.
The aviation industry places particularly high demands on buildings, workflows and processes. Production facilities, maintenance areas and testing facilities for aircraft components and engines must not only be functional, but also fully compliant in every respect. Technical standards, safety regulations, operational cycles and complex approval procedures make aviation projects highly demanding and require future-oriented, process-driven building planning.
The foundation of every building design is a thorough understanding of internal processes. Only those who understand exactly which workflows take place within a hall, what cycle times apply, which media, materials or hazardous substances are involved, and how safety zones are structured can design a building that functions reliably in the long term. This inside-out planning approach also applies to the aviation industry.
What special requirements do aviation buildings have?
Aviation projects are unique: they involve large components such as engine modules or helicopter fuselages. This requires halls with large column spans. High loads demand robust structural systems and floor slabs; large elevators and heavy-duty overhead crane systems are used, and traffic routes must be generously dimensioned.
Special safety and approval requirements in the aviation industry
Safety requirements such as FOD (Foreign Object Damage) prevention, fire protection regulations, the EU ATEX directive for explosion protection, and rules for handling hazardous substances must be considered during the design phase. In addition, industry-specific regulations issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) apply to manufacturing processes and MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operations) activities.
The approval environment is also more complex than for conventional industrial buildings. Proximity to airports, resulting building height restrictions, obstacle limitation surfaces on sites with airfield connections, and the structural involvement of aviation authorities must all be taken into account.
Experience with aviation projects
Metroplan is currently active in several aviation projects and covers a broad project portfolio within the aviation industry. Our scope of services includes not only the planning and realization of new MRO sites, but also support for suppliers in capacity expansion projects, as well as strategic consulting for the development of helicopter production capacities. In the past, we have supported feasibility studies and master planning projects for several well-known aviation companies. Our general planning services range from initial feasibility analysis through approval and execution planning to construction supervision.
View our general planning services here
Increasing space requirements in the aviation industry
The aviation industry continues to grow. Demand for aircraft is increasing, production and maintenance capacities must expand accordingly, and processes are becoming increasingly internationalized. As a result, many aviation companies are facing key strategic questions: new construction or conversion? Domestic or international locations? Efficiency improvements within existing facilities or expansion on greenfield sites? We develop individual, tailored answers and solutions—in close coordination with you and based on realistic assumptions regarding costs, approvals and implementation timelines.
Your aviation project deserves precise planning, experience and expertise. Together, we turn your vision into reality. Talk to us!
[BDLI. (2024). Branchendaten 2024: Deutsche Luft- und Raumfahrtindustrie im Aufwind. BDLI]
About the Author
Contact
Contact
Dr. Manuel Schrapers
Managing Partner - General Planning
Frederik Simonet
Business Development
Stefanie Deckarm // Leading architekt at Metroplan