Qantas widebody jet maintenance bay

Designed by Woolacotts, the new Qantas widebody jet maintenance bay is now up and running.

Woolacotts was engaged to design hardstand areas for the maintenance and washing of 747 and smaller aircraft at the Qantas Jet Base in Mascot.

"The runoff from washing planes cannot simply flow into stormwater," explains Clare Woods, Principal Hydraulic Engineer. "Using a diversion valve allowed us to drain the runoff into a collection tank."

To allow for the wingspans of 747 aircraft, a nearby roadway and security gates - used by catering trucks to access aircraft - had to be relocated.

"Access and timing for catering trucks is critical to ongoing operations," says Clare. "It was imperative that the existing roadway remained functional throughout the project."

The project also involved changes to the fuel area, including a special stormwater treatment system to detect fuel, oil or major spills.

Other portions of the project involved the design of new awnings, a prefabricated engineers' office, amending a new security fence, the reorganisation of car parks, and relocation of bike lockers.

Woolacotts has a long standing relationship with Qantas dating back to 1957.