The development of the enlarged Muscat International Airport is expected to be the largest construction project ever undertaken in Oman.

Muscat International Airport has seen incredible rates of growth since it opened in 1973. Today, the airport has reached its maximum capacity and a series of new buildings have been designed to accommodate the nation’s passenger growth numbers, including the construction of an air traffic control tower.

Central to this development is the new Muscat airport Control Tower. This tower, which would oversee operations across the entire 12-million capacity airport, was completed in 2014, with three subsequent expansions planned to boost capacity to a total of 48-million passengers per annum.

Carillion Alawi has utilised the RMD Kwikform self-climbing wall formwork system, Tru-Lift, on the 100-metre tall Air Traffic Control Tower construction.

Commenting on the project, Steve Phillips from RMD Kwikform said: “This was an interesting project that was unusual in that there were additional challenges. We had to get approval from civil aviation and airport authorities that would allow us to cross height zones. This required a greater level of input and focussed the need for a fast, safe solution to the construction of the tower. This is why we opted for the Tru-Lift system, which requires a minimal number of components, ensuring quick and easy assembly while maximising construction cycle times. This allowed the contractor to meet its deadline, despite the organisational hurdles that they faced.

“The design of the tower consisted of two elevator shafts running parallel to the top of the 100 m Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, on which the control station will be built. Eight Tru-Lift cylinders were used, and with the systems capability to be raised 3.6 m in one jack stroke during the lifting cycle, no additional crane was required to lift the forms.”

Project Manager from Carillion Alawi, Blair Anderson, said: “This was the first time we have worked on the construction of a tower this size, making the selection of the wall formwork system essential. When RMD Kwikform introduced us to the Tru-Lift system, we quickly recognised that it was the best solution for the job. It was safe, quick and easy to erect and efficient, helping us to overcome the timescale challenges imposed when crossing height zones. We are already familiar with the level of on-site assistance and technical support RMD Kwikform provides, so once we had seen the Tru-Lift system, the decision to select them as the supplier was easy.

“The Tru-Lift solution also utilises a reusable tapered form tie system, eliminating the use of sacrificial hardware and ultimately driving down construction costs. Lifting cycle times are further reduced due to unique internal corners allowing fast and easy striking, with accessible connection points from the Tru-Lift system to the reusable anchor screws cast into the previous pour improving set up speed for subsequent pours. Both these features were important at the Muscat International Airport project, allowing construction to be completed to budget and to schedule.”

Steve Phillips from RMD Kwikform continued: “We have a good relationship with Carillion Alawi, having worked with them on numerous projects in the past, including the Majilis Oman. We understand the priority they place on safety, and we knew this was an even greater concern given that the Air Traffic Control tower would be the tallest structure ever built in Oman. That’s why when they approached us to supply a formwork solution for the ATC, we recommended Tru-Lift.

This was the first time we have worked on the construction of a tower this size, making the selection of the wall formwork system essential. When RMD Kwikform introduced us to the Tru-Lift system, we quickly recognised that it was the best solution for the job. It was safe, quick and easy to erect and efficient, helping us to overcome the timescale challenges imposed when crossing height zones.