Goats, Horses & Tents
Just another day at the airport. What, you may ask, do goats, horses and tents have to do with running an airport? The answer is everything. Everything creative that is.
The topic came up at this year's Airport Consultants International-North America meeting in Austin when a participant asked what airport executives need from consultants and suppliers. The answer was somewhat surprising. It wasn't cheaper products or lower consulting fees. It was innovation and creativity.
The consensus was that airport managers have contained costs as much as possible without compromising safety and customer service. What's needed, they said, is help finding fresh ideas to operate and grow.
This issue of Airport Improvement is brimming with what airport executives are looking for. It has a great lineup of articles with innovative, even unusual, solutions to problems that need to be addressed. Solutions like using a herd of goats to clear pampas grass off of a fuel farm site. (See Page 22.) The solution avoided disrupting an endangered species of mouse and saved thousands of dollars over the next-best idea.
On Page 14, there's an article about volunteer horseback security patrols that keep an eye on the vast land surrounding Houston's Bush Intercontinental. Again, incredibly creative.
And the tents? They housed passenger check-in and baggage screening at Reno-Tahoe International while its new check-in lobby was under construction. The approach saved the airport $7 million and 16 to 18 months of time. See Page 8 for more details.
These three stories are only the tip of the iceberg. There's a sneak preview of Atlanta's automated people mover, an inside look at a new parking garage in Grand Rapids and plenty of other articles with take-home value for airports of all sizes.
As we wrap up 2009, I would like to thank all of you for your support. This magazine truly is a reflection of your ideas and creativity. With that, I invite you to enjoy this issue and continue sharing your thoughts with us throughout 2010.
Cheers! Paul
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Project Nominations
Know of a project that should be covered in a future issue of Airport Improvement?
Artscapes
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Airport Industry Headlines
- KC-46 to Appear at Air & Water Show As 128th Air Refueling Wing Works to Secure New Aircraft
- Rapid City Regional Airport Appoints Brian Bishop as New Deputy Director
- SEA Moves to All Reusable or Compostable Food Service Materials
- FAA Ensures D-Fend Solutions' EnforceAir2 Safe with Airport Operations, Navigation, Air Traffic Services, and the Efficient Operation of the NAS
- Colorado Springs Airport Sees Surge in Traffic for June
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Airside Projects
- New Apron Lighting Resolves Glaring Issues at Dallas Love Field
- Florida’s Statewide Markings Program Evolves
- Lincoln Airport Takes Creative Route to Adding New Leisure Service
- New Taxiway at Myrtle Beach Int’l Improves Airfield Safety, Frees Space for Terminal Expansion
- Tampa Int’l Plots New Course to Enhance Airfield Safety
Baggage Projects
- Alaska Airlines Installs Self-Service Bag Tag Stations
- Rapidly Growing Volume of Oversized Baggage Prompts System Redesign at Salt Lake City Int’l
- Columbia Metropolitan Upgrades Baggage System and Ticketing Lobby
- Long Beach Airport Adds Permanent Checked Baggage Inspection System and Improves Ticketing Building
- New Concourse at Phoenix Sky Harbor Features Advanced Baggage Handling System
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Cargo Projects
- Spokane Int’l Builds Rail-Truck Facility on Surplus Land
- Halifax Stanfield Builds Cargo Park With Cold Chain Capabilities
- Extensive Cargo Growth at Cincinnati Int’l Boosts Revenues, Diversifies Business Base
- FedEx Expands at Ontario Int’l to Support Growing E-Commerce Demand
- Winnipeg Int’l Adds Multiuse Facility to Enhance Cargo Operations
Concessions/Retail Projects
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Int’l Builds New Quick-Turn Facility for Rental Car Operations
- LaGuardia’s New Chase Sapphire Lounge is a Rare Gem
- Can-Do Concession at San Francisco Int’l Comes Through for Customers in a Pinch
- Digital Storefronts Drum Up Support for Airports
- New Beauty Concept Store at JFK Int’l Caters to Style-Conscious Passengers
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Emergency Operations Projects
- New ARFF Facility Boosts Efficiency, Paves Way for New Terminal at Monterey Regional
- Decatur Airport Builds New Facility for Firefighting and Maintenance Teams
- Naples Airport Recovers After Hurricane Ian’s Saltwater Storm Surge
- Sacramento Int’l Builds Bigger, Better Fire and Rescue Station
- Hybrid Fire Station at San José Int’l Provides Emergency Services for Airport and Surrounding Area
Environment/Sustainability Projects
- Toronto City Airport Leads the Move to Fluorine-Free Firefighting Foam
- New Noise Technology System at Minneapolis-St. Paul Int’l Earns Patent
- Martha’s Vineyard Airport Tests Underground Filtration for PFAS Contamination
- Santa Maria Airport Takes Common Sense Approach to PFAS Testing
- Philadelphia Int’l Follows Envision Program for Major Taxiway Rehab
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Fuel Operations Projects
General Aviation Projects
Ground Support Projects
- Montgomery Regional Leaps Into the Future With Electric Aircraft Chargers
- Exterior Jet Bridge Coating Saves Energy, Increases Passenger Comfort at Harry Reid Int’l
- O’Hare Moves Aircraft Deicing From Gates to High-Tech Centralized Facility
- Ground Power Upgrades in the Works at Newark Int’l
- Long Beach Airport & Airline Partners Phase Out Fossil Fuels for Ground Support Equipment
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Hangar Projects
IT/Communications Projects
- Hawaii Provides State-Owned Airports with Online Platform for Environmental Systems Management
- Website Platform Helps Airports Attract More Customers
- Virtual Ramp System at Kansas City Int’l Provides 360-Degree View of Airfield
- Interactive Web Page Offers Planning Tools for Memphis Int’l Travelers
- Seattle-Tacoma Int’l Invests in Data Management Upgrade
Landside Development Projects
Operations Projects
- Safety Management Systems at Airports
- Sarasota Int’l Gets Creative Introducing Local Students to Aviation
- Safety Management Systems: Lessons from the Airline Sector
- Historic Wildfires Prompt Kelowna Int’l to Move Commercial Flights From Day to Night
- Terminal Expansion at Kansas City Int’l Prompts New Snow Removal Strategy and Equipment
Parking Projects
- Boise Airport Expands Parking for Growing Local Population
- Moving Walkways Replace Decades-Old Monorail at Tampa Int’l
- Sarasota-Bradenton Int’l Adds New Cellphone Lot With Improved Amenities
- Flagstaff Pulliam Implements Paid Parking Program
- New 7-Level Garage Increases Parking Capacity and Convenience for Customers
Passenger Transport Projects
Runway/Ramp Projects
- New Engine-Testing Facility Enhances Safety, Functionality and Efficiency at Michigan Airport
- Punta Gorda Closes Runway, Powers Through Rebuild Project
- Vancouver Int’l Turns Untimely Winter Storms Into Opportunity for Improvement
- Airports Apply Heavy Surface Treatment to Increase Service Life of Asphalt Runways
- Round-the-Clock Work Helps Cheyenne Regional Finish Paving Project On Time
Security Projects
- Daytona Beach Int’l Implements State-of-the-Art Security Measures
- Dallas Fort Worth Int’l Bolsters Employee Security Screening Program
- Denver Int’l Completes State-of-the-Art West Security Checkpoint
- Harry Reid Int’l Tests Self-Service Checkpoint
- Automated Exit Safeguards and Welcomes Passengers Arriving at Oakland Int’l
Terminal Projects
- Ticketing Hall Expansion Adds Much-Needed Space at Reno-Tahoe Int’l
- Atlanta Int’l Combines Modular and Traditional Build Methods for Concourse D Expansion
- New Satellite Concourse Provides Efficient Gate Expansion at Nashville Int’l
- Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Completes Five-Gate Addition
- New Outdoor Deck Relieves Passenger Congestion at Charlottetown Airport
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