Xiamen Xiang'an International Airport Drops Major Update

On the morning of May 8,

with the final pour of concrete in place,

the main structure of the air traffic control (ATC) tower

at Xiamen Xiang'an International Airport

was successfully topped out.

Serving as a future command hub for the Airport, the ATC complex spans a total construction area of 27,600 square meters, consisting of a control tower and its associated podium structure.

Specifically,

the newly topped-out ATC tower

features a structural design

combining a "dual-tube" cast-in-place structure reinforced with steel.

It stands 99 meters tall

with 21 floors.

It is understood that the tower is a tall coastal structure. Its outer tube has a design that tapers inwards before flaring outwards, creating complex spatial relationships between the structure and the curtain wall. Additionally, the construction process required resistance against strong winds. To overcome these challenges, the construction team introduced China's first intelligent tower-building machine, significantly improving construction efficiency.

Li Zhi, Deputy Director of the CAAC Xiamen ATC Station, explains:

This approach has resolved the previous issue where main structure construction and curtain wall installation couldn't proceed simultaneously. Traditional methods requiring suspended platforms and scaffolding posed high safety risks and construction challenges. By implementing the tower-building machine technology, we've shortened the overall timeline by approximately 30 days.

As the new tower plays a crucial role in managing aircraft takeoffs and landings, it stands 31 meters taller than the current 68-meter tower at Gaoqi International Airport. This increased height will provide air traffic controllers with a broader field of vision, better serving the multi-runway operations of Xiang'an International Airport.

n the future, the tower will also incorporate a series of internationally leading technologies and equipment to further optimize airport operational efficiency.

Unlike Gaoqi Airport, which uses a Category I Instrument Landing System (ILS), after relocating to Xiang'an International Airport, we'll upgrade to a Category III Instrument Landing System, ensuring safe aircraft takeoffs and landings under much lower visibility conditions. On the ground, we've also implemented an Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System, effectively guiding aircraft from landing to their parking stands, thereby enhancing ground operation safety and efficiency.

According to reports, the civil engineering work on the ATC tower is scheduled for completion this September, after which the project will move into the process installation, equipment debugging, and flight calibration support, setting the stage for its synchronized opening with Xiang'an International Airport by the end of 2026.