Transforming Dublin Airport

Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) is the internationally-recognised term for the process involved in the preparation for, and operational launch of a significant new airport facility, or of a new airport itself.

The DAA’s ORAT process for T2 commenced in late 2008 when a small, dedicated team was assembled under the direction of Brendan Daly, one of Dublin Airport’s most senior and experienced operations managers.

In the period up to May 2010, the ORAT team was focussed principally on working with the construction team to ensure a timely move into T2; with airlines and other key stakeholders to deliver a comprehensive staff familiarisation and training programme; and with other relevant airport authorities to learn from their ORAT experiences and ensure an effective trialling schedule for T2’s systems, equipment and processes.

The ORAT team moved its operations into T2 in May and has commenced its planned familiarisation and trialling programmes.  The familiarisation process will involve initial tours of T2 and its facilities for the thousands of DAA and other employees who will work there from November. These initial tours will be followed bymore detailed training schedules throughout the summer.

ORAT’s trialling programme commenced with a series of individual process trials in May and will build through the summer to advanced trials in late September and October.  The advanced trials will involve full simulated journeys for arriving and departing passengers.  The DAA plans to invite thousands of members of the public to participate in these trials by volunteering to assume various passenger roles and replicate various real-life airport scenarios.