Category - Environmental/Sustainability

Toronto City Airport Leads the Move to Fluorine-Free Firefighting Foam

Toronto City Airport Leads the Move to Fluorine-Free Firefighting Foam
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) has wrestled an issue to the ground that other airports throughout the world are still grappling with—the use of fire suppressant foam that contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are linked to harmful effects for humans and the environment.

New Noise Technology System at Minneapolis-St. Paul Int’l Earns Patent

New Noise Technology System at Minneapolis-St. Paul Int’l Earns Patent
Effective strategies to reduce aircraft noise must be based on accurate information. Whatever the strategy, precise information is always the starting point. To collect the best possible noise data about Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), the Metropolitan Airports Commission developed a machine learning technology that received a U.S. patent in late February 2023.

Martha’s Vineyard Airport Tests Underground Filtration for PFAS Contamination

Martha’s Vineyard Airport Tests Underground Filtration for PFAS Contamination
When officials at Martha’s Vineyard Airport (MVY) became aware that groundwater in and around the airfield may have been contaminated with toxic chemicals from firefighting foam, they took action—even though federal or state regulations did not require it.

Santa Maria Airport Takes Common Sense Approach to PFAS Testing

Santa Maria Airport Takes Common Sense Approach to PFAS Testing
A few short years ago, Chris Hastert had heard about PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) but didn’t know much about them. By March 2019, he was fully embroiled in the topic. That’s when the California Water Board began sending letters to all commercial airports in the state as part of its larger initiative about PFAS contamination in groundwater.

Philadelphia Int’l Follows Envision Program for Major Taxiway Rehab

Philadelphia Int’l Follows Envision Program for Major Taxiway Rehab
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) has embarked on an initiative to calibrate and quantify the impacts of sustainable design and construction throughout its facilities. Using a formalized framework for assessing sustainability, resiliency and equity in civil infrastructure, PHL is contributing to a sea change in the way infrastructure is understood by the people who understand it best.

Airport Apiaries Foster Crop Pollination, Support Land Stewardship

Airport Apiaries Foster Crop Pollination, Support Land Stewardship
Hosting managed bees on or near airport land can help bring awareness to the importance of pollinators and highlight an airport’s commitment to supporting local agriculture. On a very literal basis, airport beekeeping is a grass roots initiative that promotes healthy communities from the inside out.

Sanford Seacoast Regional Provides Airfield Land for Large Solar Farm

Sanford Seacoast Regional Provides Airfield Land for Large Solar Farm
A concerted, collaborative effort has turned empty land at Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport (SFM) in rural Maine into a privately financed 50-megawatt solar farm. The $120 million array, which went live in November 2020, is one of the largest airport-based solar energy farms in the United States, as measured by annual megawatt, alternating current (MWac) production.

When Funding Became Available, Harrisburg Int’l Was Ready to Go With Levee Project

When Funding Became Available, Harrisburg Int’l Was Ready to Go With Levee Project
The recent rehabilitation of an aging levee will help protect Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) from flooding for decades to come. In the meantime, the $22 million project also offers a valuable lesson about the benefits of planning ahead.

Mitigating the Negative Effects of Firefighting Foam is Personal for Nantucket Memorial

Mitigating the Negative Effects of Firefighting Foam is Personal for Nantucket Memorial
Amid all the turmoil that COVID-19 has wrought, the only public airport on the small island of Nantucket, MA, is taking on a big issue: potential environmental contamination associated with common components in FAA-mandated firefighting foam.

High Seas, High Stakes: Coastal Airports Respond to Climate Change

High Seas, High Stakes: Coastal Airports Respond to Climate Change
As U.S. airports prepare to turn the corner on the pandemic and the harsh winter of 2020-2021, some still face a significant long-term challenge: the rise in sea levels resulting from climate change. Although the biggest risk is to airports located along the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts, experts predict secondary effects for inland airports as well.

San Diego Int’l Captures Stormwater Runoff for Reuse at Rental Car Center

San Diego Int’l Captures Stormwater Runoff for Reuse at Rental Car Center
San Diego International Airport (SAN) recently raised its lofty sustainability bar a few notches higher by adding a new, award-winning element to its stormwater management system. The $38 million project, completed in November 2020, features a large concrete cistern that collects runoff from the northside airfield.

Ocean City Municipal Installs Artificial Turf

Ocean City Municipal Installs Artificial Turf
The Ocean City, NJ, area is known for beaches, boardwalks and unspoiled hiking areas. But some of the very features that make it attractive for tourists and outdoor enthusiasts make it difficult for the local general aviation airport. Located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Great Egg Harbor Bay, Ocean City Municipal (26N) is prone to erosion problems from high tides and safety hazards from birds.

New Addition at Tallahassee Int’l Creates World’s Largest On-Airport Solar Farm

New Addition at Tallahassee Int’l Creates World’s Largest On-Airport Solar Farm
Building the world’s largest airport-based solar farm doesn’t come without challenges. But the team developing the new 320-acre, 42-megawatt (MWac) solar farm at Tallahassee International Airport (TLH) prevailed—and also shattered previous records for renewable energy production for airport sited solar farms. When the new facility became operational in January 2020, it joined TLH’s other solar farm that came online in 2018. Together, the two solar farms span 400 acres and produce 62 MWac per year, vaulting the Florida airport well ahead of other industry standouts.

Detroit Metro Installs New Recycling Bins to Boost Use

Detroit Metro Installs New Recycling Bins to Boost Use
Travelers have their minds on many things, but separating their trash and recyclables is not always among them. To get more customers participating in its recycling program, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) is trying to make the process almost automatic.

Phoenix Sky Harbor Saves Water & Money by Switching to Native Landscaping

Phoenix Sky Harbor Saves Water & Money by Switching to Native Landscaping
Over the last two years, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) has transformed its lush green landscape into an eye-catching desert environment that requires less water and reflects the region’s natural beauty. The move from grass and deciduous shrubs to rocks and native flora is expected to reduce the Arizona airport’s annual water usage by 5.375 million gallons and save about $425,000 per year.

Punta Gorda Airport Takes Holistic Approach to Development

Punta Gorda Airport Takes Holistic Approach to Development
Commercial growth, safe aircraft operations and environmental sensitivity go hand-in-hand at Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Toward that end, the airport’s 2018 master plan update dovetails with its wildlife hazard management program. A big part of the equation is environmental stewardship and managing wildlife hazards to enhance airfield safety.

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Int’l Uses Green Products to Address Common Airfield Challenges

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Int’l Uses Green Products to Address Common Airfield Challenges
Weather in the Midwest may be unpredictable, but the commitment to environmental safety at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) is not. The evolving Midwestern airport is proactively tackling airfield challenges with a duo of environmentally friendly products - a liquid concentrate that reduces silica exposure from pavement dust, and a deicing fluid that minimizes harmful effects to the nearby ecosystem.

Ford Int’l Takes Action to Manage Potential Environmental Impacts of Firefighting Foam

Ford Int’l Takes Action to Manage Potential Environmental Impacts of Firefighting Foam
In 2016, dozens of U.S. communities were hit with alarming news: Harmful chemicals from a large family of man-made compounds known as PFAS (short for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) had been found in their drinking water. In fact, a nationwide groundwater study detected PFAS-contaminated drinking water in 43 states.

Tallahassee Int’l Adds Second Solar Farm & Creates Sustainability Master Plan

Tallahassee Int’l Adds Second Solar Farm & Creates Sustainability Master Plan
Tallahassee International Airport (TLH) is always looking for ways to incorporate “green” elements into its infrastructure development projects and daily operations. It was home to the first solar farm in Tallahassee, and airport officials are redoubling their efforts with another, even larger, farm.

Vancouver Int’l & Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister Field Share Tips for Managing Wildlife

Like oil and water, wildlife and aircraft just don’t mix. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that civilian aircraft suffered 13,000 wildlife strikes at 662 U.S. airports in 2016 alone. While many incidents are minor, some have devastating consequences. Between 1990 and 2016, wildlife strikes resulted in 262 human fatalities at U.S. airports, and 247 civil aircraft were destroyed or damaged beyond repair.

New York State Earmarks $200 Million for Airport Development, Holds Project Competition to Disperse Funds

New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has put the state’s money where its airports are. Recognizing and emphasizing the importance of air transportation to general economic prosperity, the governor launched the $200 million Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition in 2016.

Merritt Island Airport Builds Seagrass Island, Restores Saltwater Marsh to Add New Runway Safety Area

Merritt Island Airport Builds Seagrass Island, Restores Saltwater Marsh to Add New Runway Safety Area
In the course of meeting FAA design standards for runway safety areas, Merritt Island Airport (COI) upgraded its previous grass safety zone and completed four associated environmental mitigation projects in 2016. Apparently, management’s above-and-beyond philosophy also extends to construction administration, as crews finished the $4.8 million initiative $700,000 under budget and one month ahead of schedule.

Workshops by Florida Airports Council Provide In-Class & On-Field Lessons

Florida is not just filled with beaches and tourist attractions. Thanks to the Florida Airports Council, it's also brimming with free professional development opportunities for maintenance and airfield personnel.

T.F. Green Airport Combines Science & Nature for Green Deicing Treatment

As manager of environmental programs for the authority that operates T.F. Green Airport (PVD), Jay Brolin is intimately familiar with all things, well, "green." Broadly versed in a wide variety of sustainability methods, his vast knowledge base recently expanded to include a thorough understanding of-and unique alliance with-bugs.

Dallas/Fort Worth Int'l Achieves Carbon Neutrality With Holistic Environmental Practices & Partnerships

Dallas/Fort Worth Int'l Achieves Carbon Neutrality With Holistic Environmental Practices & Partnerships
During the last decade, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) has amassed a host of awards for its eco-friendly programs. One recent accolade both punctuates and encompasses the entire lot: carbon neutrality, as recognized by the Airport Carbon Accreditation program of Airports Council International.

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2022 Charlotte Douglas International Airport Report of Achievement

Giving back to the community is central to what Charlotte Douglas International Airport and its operator, the City of Charlotte Aviation Department, is about, and last year was no different. 

Throughout 2022, while recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, we continued our efforts to have a positive impact on the Charlotte community. Of particular note, we spent the year sharing stories of how Connections Don't Just Happen at the Terminal - from creating homeownership and employment opportunities to supporting economic growth through small-business development and offering outreach programs to help residents understand the Airport better.

This whitepaper highlights the construction projects, initiatives, programs and events that validate Charlotte Douglas as a premier airport.

Download the whitepaper: 2022 Charlotte Douglas International Airport Report of Achievement.

 

 




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