When the Mobile Airport Authority gave the go-ahead to begin moving commercial operations from Mobile Regional Airport (MOB) to Mobile Downtown Airport (BFM), it then had to build a terminal and find a way to provide ground support at what was strictly a general aviation facility.
Known for its ability to resist damage from spilled fuel and oil, P-404 asphalt mix has been used throughout the world for at least three decades. In the U.S., it emerged as the mix of choice for a major repaving project at LaGuardia Airport about 17 years ago, and the supplier reports that it is still holding strong with years of life remaining.
After decades serving business and general aviation traffic, Paine Field-Snohomish County Airport (PAE) is adding scheduled passenger service out of a polished new terminal owned and operated by a private operator. The Everett, WA, airport will have 24 daily roundtrip flights to nine western U.S. markets when its schedule is in full swing this spring.
Removing foreign object debris (FOD) from its four runways, 18 major taxiways, ramps and other airfield areas is a constant priority for the Tennessee airport. Last year alone, crews removed nearly 400 pieces of FOD, thus preventing the items from being ingested into aircraft engines and causing costly damage.
If Tom Petty is right and waiting really is the hardest part, winters just got easier at O'Hare International Airport (ORD). A new aircraft deicing facility is helping carriers cycle gates more quickly by moving the crucial pre-flight process away from the terminal to the west side of the airport. As a result, passengers should spend less time waiting on the tarmac and in holdrooms.
It took a decade, but Albert J. Ellis Airport (OAJ) finally has its own air traffic control tower'a six-story, $6 million structure that officials hope will increase airspace efficiency and bring more air service to the small airport on the eastern coast of North Carolina.
Roger Moats, airfield maintenance manager at Tulsa International Airport (TUL), understands that flight safety begins and ends on the ground. It's why he regularly emphasizes to his crew the importance of their work.
Worcester Regional Airport in Worcester, MA, is perched on a hill 1,000 feet above sea level, which is high elevation in that area. It's also one of the snowiest cities in the United States, regularly receiving over 100 inches of white fluff per winter. And although Boston is only about 40 miles away, Worcester experiences significantly different weather patterns. On average, Worcester reports 42 more days of fog per year than Boston. That's four times the fog occurrence rate.
Completely rebuilding a terminal is a massive undertaking in and of itself. But Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) recently doubled down when it replaced the adjoining airside apron and trench drain system during its comprehensive five-year terminal renovation.
When it comes to partners for airfield projects, the recent match between Cape May Airport (WWD) and the FAA seems straight out of an eHarmony commercial. FAA needed somewhere to conduct field research about airfield pavement and lighting, and the New Jersey airport had a decommissioned taxiway waiting for a new purpose.
Last year, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) served 2.7 million travelers-quite a jump from just 25,000 passengers in 2005. PortsToronto, which owns and operates the Ontario airport, has invested in several upgrades to meet the growing demand. Improvement projects began on the landside and are now migrating to the airfield.
In May, Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) received a giant shot in the arm when it was named the best-connected medium-sized airport in the United States. Industry analyst William S. Swelbar cited 47 nonstop routes and a diverse group of carriers as major factors in the North Carolina airport's top ranking. (See sidebar on Page 62 for more details.)
