A glimpse behind the curtain at Airport Weeze

Ten undergraduates from the Alternative Tourism programme of the Faculty of Society and Economics got the unique chance to take an inside look at airport operations in Weeze.

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Rhine-Waal students pose in front of the fire engine of the Airport Weeze’s fire and rescue service.
Rhine-Waal students pose in front of the fire engine of the Airport Weeze’s fire and rescue service.

Kleve/Kamp-Lintfort, June 30, 2015: As part of a class excursion led by Prof. Dr. Dirk Reiser, Professor of Sustainable Tourism Management, and Eva Neis, Researcher in Tourism Management, ten undergraduate students of the Alternative Tourism programme got a unique look behind the curtains of the international airport in Weeze.

The students got the chance to see airport operations at Weeze from an entirely different perspective. They were able to follow the entire handling process from the perspectives of both employees and customers, as well as discover the complex interactions that occur daily between the various personnel and services at an airport, for example the airlines, the tower, air traffic control, refueling personnel, traffic directors, and ramp agents, as well as officials from the German federal police, customs and regional administration.

After formally registering upon arrival at the airport, the Marketing Manager of the Airport Weeze, Holger Terhorst, led the students through airport security. Students were escorted around the airfield in a shuttle bus and given the opportunity to watch aircraft starting and landing up close. Afterwards, the group visited the airport’s fire and rescue service, which is on alert for emergencies at any time of day. Here the students were treated to an impressive demonstration of the fire-fighting capabilities of the airport’s fire engine.

Another highlight of the excursion was the trip inside the control tower, which gave students the unique opportunity to watch air traffic controllers in their element and ask them questions about their tasks and responsibilities. “Visitors seldom get the chance to visit the tower, so I was very pleased that students were given this rare opportunity”, explained Prof. Dr. Dirk Reiser.

The tour concluded with a presentation about the history and development of the Airport Weeze.

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