Qantas Engineering makes old hangar new and multi-purpose

Commissioned by the Royal Australian Air Force to convert four A330 commercial jets to mid-air refuelers, Qantas Engineering chose to re-furbish an existing doorless Ansett Aviation hangar with fully weather-sealing doors, simultaneously ensuring that the hangar could accommodate other aircraft after the conversion project’s completion.

Benefits:

Access across entire hangar width, for full utilisation of hangar capacity.
Fast, reliable performance.
Long lifetime. Low operating cost.
Excellent air tightness and wind resistance.
Minimal maintenance need. Easy to repair.
No floor tracks. Practically no door footprint.
Extended warranties are available for up to 10 years on all components.

Challenge and solution

Challenges:

Fully containable interior environment, to accommodate the extensive overhaul work required.
Subsequent use plans to enable hangar to accommodate B747, B777 or two narrowbody aircraft side by side.
Tight seal needed to negate the undulating apron area in front of hangar.
Independent goalpost frame, to suspend doors on and convey load to existing structure.
Flexible use, as well as energy efficiency.
Ability for the door to withstand potential cyclonic conditions.

Megadoor provided:

Project and design collaboration with architects, engineers and contractor.
Megadoor® vertical lifting fabric door, total dimension 77 m wide, comprising five individually or jointly manoeuvrable leaves connected by swing-up mullions. Centre leaf 20 m high. Subsequent leaves each 14 m and 10 m high respectively.
Installation and commissioning.