Stefan Schulte prefers to take a “Mo? Tion Ride” ride through the 80-kilometer-long baggage conveyor system at Frankfurt Airport.
The CEO of Fraport AG confessed on Friday when the new visitor center in Hall C of Terminal 1 was presented. but also takes a seat on seats that actually understand all the movements of this “roller coaster ride” that are played through the glasses.
Jochen Remmert
Airport editor and correspondent Rhein-Main-Süd.
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According to Anke Giesen, Fraport's board member responsible for retail and real estate, “The Globe” is unique in the world. Behind it is an LCD wall of around 25 square meters on which the globe can be seen in 3D - including all flight movements that are taking place somewhere in the world above the globe at the moment of the visit to Frankfurt Airport. From the control panel, for example, you can go to any airport in the world and zoom in to see what's going on.
According to the information, Fraport receives the flight data from the American company FlightAware. The cooperation between Fraport and the US company is not limited to this attraction of the visitor center. According to Fraport, the data can actually be used to better plan flight operations processes at the Frankfurt air traffic hub. Visitors to the center can also practice directing an Airbus A320neo on the apron to the parking position as a “Flight Line Marshaller”. The guests stand in front of another LCD wall equipped with orange bars. This hides technology that transfers the movement in front of the screen wall exactly to the aircraft in the simulation.A huge model of the entire airport including Terminal 3, which is currently under construction - with the three fingers that have been planned for the time being - is at the beginning of the tour.
5.7 million euros invested
The exhibition area itself was ready as planned in autumn last year.
But here, too, the corona pandemic showed its fatal effect, the opening of the 5.7 million euro center had to be postponed several times, according to the information.
With historical photos, the center also traces all the steps in the development of the airport up to its current format as the largest German air traffic hub, including the disputes surrounding the construction of the West Runway.
But the focus is on conveying the fascination of flying and airport operations.
The visitor center is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., admission is twelve euros, children younger than four pay nothing.
During the summer vacation in Hessen, one hour of parking in one of the multi-storey car parks is included. Tickets can currently only be booked in advance online at www.fra-tours.com.