Doctor and the medics

Georges Hannouche admits he is no ordinary doctor. The Lebanese businessman is known for launching several companies across the Middle East and not his ‘surgical skills'. Nevertheless, the founder of IT company Data Processing Systems considers himself a medical expert. "We do sophisticated things and like a doctor deal with the human heart," he says.

It's an unusual spin for a company that provides integrated IT systems to the region's airports. But Hannouche believes hubs in the Middle East would struggle to function without Data Processing's technology. "The heart is a small part but also the most important - if it stops then everything else stops," he says. "Our systems work the same way for airports."

The region's hubs appear to agree, with several enlisting Data Processing in recent years. Abu Dhabi International Airport was the first to come on board following negotiations between Hannouche and the emirate's aviation authority. Hannouche reckons the company's "complete" service was crucial to securing the work ahead of rival bidders. Indeed, Data Processing develops integrated systems for all airport operations, from air traffic control, navigation and security to check-in counters and baggage handling. Its expertise includes telecoms, electrics and software.

While the heads of Abu Dhabi's Department of Civil Aviation were impressed with Data Processing's services they still needed convincing. To raise interest, Hannouche outlined the company's credentials, his engineering background and IT expertise during several meetings.

"One of the questions we were asked by the civil aviation authority was ‘what makes you qualified for airports?' I told them ‘we know about IT and I am an aeronautical engineer who understands aviation and airport problems.' It put us in a strong position and the client realised we were the most knowledgeable company. The other bidders were talking about air traffic control, power and elevators but they didn't have a clue about aviation."

Since securing the contract in 1999, Data Processing has carried out several other projects for Abu Dhabi International Airport. Most recently, the company upgraded flight information display systems in Terminal 1 and installed UHF/VHF radio equipment.

In 2001, Dubai International Airport enlisted Data Processing to install radar simulators. The company later worked as a subcontractor for a project involving ground radar movement systems. According to Hannouche, it was a complex assignment that required meticulous planning. "That was a very tough contract because of the environment," he says. "Dubai Airport is always changing, with all the works taking place, so it was a big challenge to have a successful project."

Other contracts in Dubai include installing a foreign object radar detection system, upgrading and expanding its air traffic control simulator and introducing an instrument landing system for the south runway. Aside from Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Data Processing has also worked in Fujairah, Sharjah, Doha and Al Ain. General projects across the airports include supplying digital recording and playback systems for Al Ain hub's air traffic control tower, and installing ground movement guidance technology in Jebel Ali.

Despite completing several projects during the past eight years, Hannouche admits Data Processing operates on a small $US32.6 turnover. "The projects we do are prestigious but not very big in value," he says. "If you compare them to construction projects, which bring in between $500 million-$1 billion, it's nothing. But while ours may be $20 million-$30 million they are important assignments." This year, Hannouche expects the company's profit to reach some $2.28 million.

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