A new, faster, simpler and more cost-effective system to prepare and maintain aircraft prior to take-off was given a Middle East debut at the third Airport Build & Supply Exhibition and Conference held in Dubai recently.

Second-time exhibitor Cavotec Middle East, part of the Cavotec Group, a leading electrification systems supplier to the aviation, mining and tunnelling, automation and marine propulsion industries, sought to make a major impact on the region's airport developers by introducing its new concept for aircraft ground support supply.

The Cavotec Ground Support System, designed to deliver 400Hz power, air conditioning and water to aircrafts, offers a number of advantages such as greatly reduced turnaround time, cost-effective and simple civil construction work, low maintenance costs and reduced labour, while also being 100 per cent environmentally friendly, the company claims.

Organised by event management and marketing specialists Streamline Marketing, the Airport Build & Supply Exhibition and Conference was a vital platform for airport suppliers from around the world, and companies like Cavotec had high hopes of capitalising on $10 billion worth of regional airport developments currently under way in the Middle East.

"Airports around the world use various types of equipment to deliver 400Hz-power, water, and air conditioning to the aircraft," said Thomas Widegren, managing director Cavotec Middle East FZE. "Those traditional systems have many drawbacks and often lead to extended down times, while cables lying across the tarmac apron impede free movement of essential airport traffic and make the servicing and maintenance of the aircraft unnecessarily difficult and costly."

The Cavotec Ground Support System uses self-propelled Caddy units, generating power, water and air onboard. The Caddy units operate under the aircraft, guaranteeing the free movement of traffic along the apron and removing the necessity for costly infrastructure such as underground tunnels to be built.

Each exhibitor had private meetings with DDCA project managers, engineers or architects to discuss Dubai International Airport's $4.1 billion expansion. DCA officials from neighbouring countries were also encouraged to schedule private meetings with exhibitors.