Mongolia’s New Gateway

Challenge

The Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar is the main international gateway of Mongolia and the sole hub for domestic air transport. However, the runway is short with a steep gradient that can only be approached from one direction due to surrounding mountains. The airport also experiences frequent flight cancellations because of low visibility from smoke and occasional adverse wind direction, especially in winter. The usability factor of the airport (percent of time the runway is not closed due to excessive crosswind) can be as low as 75% in the worst months, compared with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standard of 95%.

With due recognition of the shortcomings of the current airport and inability to upgrade the existing site, the Mongolian government signed a contract for construction of the New Ulaanbaatar International Airport. The new airport site is near the town of Zuunmod, approximately 52 km south of Ulaanbaatar city. The contract is financed 90% by a JICA soft loan and 10% by the Mongolian government.

The new airport will replace the existing one and will be designed to secure safety, reliability and convenience for passengers and airport users and operators to accommodate the rapidly increasing demand for international and domestic air transportation.

OC Global conducted two of the earlier studies for the new airport, the Mongolia Civil Aviation Master Plan completed in 2003, funded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the Special Assistance for Project Formation (SAPROF) funded by Japan’s official development assistance in 2007.

OC Global was subsequently engaged to provide the conceptual and preliminary designs, detailed design, prequalification, and tender assistance. OC Global has been providing the construction supervision and defect liability services since May 2013. Following a number of adjustments to the scope of the construction, these services are expected to be completed in late 2018.

Runway: 3,600 m x 45 m, rigid pavement (rated for Boeing 747 class aircraft)

Taxiway: Parallel taxiway (3,339 m x 23 m), 2 rapid and 3 exit taxiways, rigid pavement

Passenger apron: 104,200 m², rigid and asphalt pavement
Passenger terminal building: 33,300 m², 3-story, reinforced concrete (RC) + steel structure

Control tower and operations: 1,086 m², 4-story, RC + steel structure

Other buildings: Fire station, heating plant, water and sewage plants, substations, sheds

Utility works: Telecommunication system, heating system and distribution, utility culvert, electrical power supply, sewage treatment system, water supply and distribution

Air navigation system: Aeronautical ground lighting systems, radio navigation systems, aeronautical telecommunication systems, aviation meteorological system

Others: Airport IT & security system, airport special equipment, fuel supply system