Leighton Asia, in joint venture with China State Construction Engineering, secured a US$80 million contract for the construction of an aircraft maintenance hangar at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). The contract, which has been awarded by Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (HAECO) will mark the construction of its third aircraft maintenance hangar at Chek Lap Kok International Airport in Hong Kong.
     The development will be a world-class 16,000 square-metre facility that can simultaneously accommodate two wide-bodied aircraft and one nose-in aircraft to provide a total of three Boeing 747 sized aircraft maintenance bays. It will allow a 33% increase in annual heavy maintenance capacity at HAECO.
     A key feature and challenge of the project is the roof of the hangar which upon completion will have a clear span in excess of 150 metres. It is a steel truss weighing over 2,000 tonnes and will be constructed at ground level and lifted into final position with strands jacks. The project also involves the installation of a foam deluge system and two full sets of docking systems comprising nose docks and fully suspended fuselage and tail docks to provide maintenance access to the entire aircraft.
     Construction has commenced in March and the project is due for completion in May 2009.