Reina Beatrix International Airport
Aruba has the most movements of aircrafts in the Curacao FIR. The official name of the airport is Reina Beatrix International, which is dedicated to
the Queen of the Netherlands. Aruba belongs to Cat 1 according to FAA rules. The name of the tower is also "Beatrix". Aruba has only one runway
(11/29). The runway length is about 9000 feet and is equipped with an ILS-DME approach and a VOR-DME approach which is available from the
Beatrix (BEA) VOR. Aruba has a small control zone, which is 25 nautical miles in radius from the Aerodrome Reference Point and goes from
surface up to Flight Level 65, the rest is from Curacao Control who provides Area Control Service. The Control zone classification is D. We also
have a very small traffic zone, that is from surface up to 2000 feet and 3 nautical miles in radius from the Aerodrome Reference Point. That small
airspace is B. All Air Traffic Services are given according to the ICAO Regulations
The renovation and expansion project named "Beatrix 2000" began in July 1996. The project which was completed in December 2000 was
designed to cope with traffic up to the year 2010 was valued at US$90 Million. Two new terminal buildings for departures and holding rooms and
the renovation of the existing terminal building for arrivals have raised passenger capacity by a third to 2.6 million, 1470 departing passengers
(800 USA pre-clearance and 670 non-USA) and 1260 arriving passengers can be accommodated at peak hours and 16 aircraft positions (13 with
a new automated aircraft parking system) and eight air bridges have been added. This has given Aruba a similar capacity to Barbados's Grantley
Adams International, which is one of the Caribbeans major airports. Other main improvements include the electronic Friends of Aruba ID card to
expedite repeat visitors through immigration and an expanded USA Department of Homeland Security. This latter upgrade has enabled Aruba to
provide a value added service for all US bound passengers by clearing in Aruba rather than standing in long lines when arriving at the US airports.
In total there are 16 peak hour positions for aircraft parking as follows:
3 - Boeing 747 - MD11 Types
4 - Airbus 310 Types
4 - Airbus 320 Types
2 - Boeing 757 Types
3 - Dash 8 - ATR 42 or DC9 Types
TOTAL: 16
8 via Jetways - 8 via remote transportation by Apron Bus
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Furthermore, air conditioned areas have been greatly increased, the baggage claim area has been expanded by installing more conveyor belts
and a new flight information display system (FIDS). Shopping, public areas and holding rooms have been expanded as well. Outside, road
improvements, including a new terminal access road, and a bus and taxi feeder system have been added, as well as an upgrade of the control
tower. These improvements should enable the airport to meet its overall objective of getting people to the beach in as little time as possible. The
left terminal is for international, NON-US bound passengers. It contains 24 check in positions, airline offices, an outbound baggage area and a
make up area behind the airline offices. The right terminal (first from access road) is for US bound passengers. It includes 42 check in positions,
airline offices and US DHS services for US pre-clearance, meaning that passengers flying to the US will be departing Aruba as a domestic flight
into the US. The existing terminal building has been remodelled to form a new arrivals-only hall with Aruba Immigration and Customs, airport
administrative offices and external ticket sales offices for the airlines. The new airport consist of three floor levels. The first floor has all the
check-in facilities for US and non US bound passengers and a walkway to the concessions area situated also on the first floor. The arrival
hall/baggage claim area is located in the center of the whole building on the first floor. The second floor consists of the holding rooms for US and
non US bound passengers and the Aruban Immigration which arriving passengers will have to pass before entering the arrival hall. This floor has
corridors with glass walls for the arriving passengers. They will then go on to the third floor (arrival corridor) and down again to the second floor by
escalator or elevator to go through the Aruban Immigration on the second floor. The arriving and departing passengers will therefore not
intermingle during their flow through the airport.
The Radar
The Radar antenna consists of a PRIMARY and a SECONDARY (SSR) antenna. The SSR can be upgraded to MODE-S, so that in the future it may
be used for Data Link Communication. The optimal Radar range for the Primary Radar is 60 nautical miles and for the Secondary Radar it's 250
nautical miles. A product of Westinghouse, nowadays known as Northdrop Gruman. together with the Radar Data Processing System (RDP),
there is a flight Data Processing System (FDP). The FDP is connected to the Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (AFTN), so that all flight
plan information is transmitted and received via that system. The FDP also works in conjunction with the Automatic Strip Printer (FSP), thus all
strips will be printed automatically to the Control Office where here are two 25 inch radar monitors and one 19 inch monitor. There are also two
positions for the Flight Data Processing Systems and two Flight Strip Printers. In the Tower, there is a bright display, 14' and a 19' Radar monitor,
one Flight Data Processing System and two Flight strip printers.
U.S. DHS
U.S. Immigration and Nat. Services (INS) pre-clearance in Aruba has been in effect since February 1, 2001. The US has pre-clearance stations
located in Canada, Bermuda, Freeport and Nassau Bahamas. Aruba the fourth Caribbean pre-clearance station, began operations on April 17th
2000 with US INS and in 2001 expanded into a full pre-clearance station providing US Immigration, US Customs and US DA services.
Recently (in late 2004) these services have been combined into the US DHS. The purpose of pre-clearance is to facilitate travelers entering the
United States and to relieve congestion at U.S. airports.
Some of the benefits to the traveler utilizing pre-clearance operations are:
1. Long lines in the Federal Inspection Service (FIS) facility at the U.S. ports of arrival will be avoided.
2. Travelers changing planes in the United States no longer need to claim their luggage at the first U.S. port, then recheck it to their final destination.
3. Travelers pre-clearing in Aruba will be considered domestic passengers upon arrival in the United States.
The U.S. Immigration service is responsible for admitting persons into the United States. U.S. citizens must present a valid passport or a birth
certificate and picture ID card to verify proof of citizenship. Visitors must have a valid passport and visa. Several countries are on the "Visa Waiver"
program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is also present at the airport. The only drawback to pre-clearance in Aruba may be the departure
concourse. After checking in at the airline counters, passengers walk through a shopping mall in the airport. This is the last chance to buy gifts and
souvenirs before entering the FIS area. The gate area in the U.S. departure terminal has no gift shops, as all purchases in Aruba must have been
declared when clearing U.S. customs. Eating facilities are limited due to restrictions imposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Fire Department
Reina Beatrix airport is also protected by a well equipped Fire Department Station called "Oscar" which meets ICAO Cat 9 requirements
for ARFF services and airport rescue and fire fighting.
For more information go to: www.arubafiredepartment.com
Airport Medical Services
The Aruba Airport Authority had the vision to incorporate Medical Services to the extensive array of services available at the airport.
In 1995 they started the Airport Medical Services (AMS) with the acquisition of Mr. Franklin Kock. Franklin worked enthusiastically
under the supervision of Mr. Mauricio Boekhoudt, business unit manager Air-Side, who supplied the aviation related knowledge to complement
the procedures that were necessary for the proper functioning of Medical Services at an international airport. The AMS operates
from the Airport Medical Center (AMC) that is located at the air side area of the airport, to be exact at ground level of building-D right under
Departure Gate (lounge) 8. The AMC is a fully equipped medical center with all the necessary equiment, medical materials, medications and
textual medical information that give contents to the AMS function of providing preventive medicine and emergency clinic services.
Some extra information
The Director of the Aruba Airport Authority can be contacted at Tel.: 297 582 4800
The Department of Civil Aviation of Aruba Tel: 297 5832 665 or aua-dca@setarnet.aw
The Chef Tower: 297 583 2665
ArubaAviation.com
