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.
I recently read about an airport failing an FAA runway inspection because the glass beads in its markings had worn off and were not providing enough reflectivity.
Four years of passionate perseverance, determination and hard work paid off on July 19, when Yeager Airport (CRW) finished the $25 million reconstruction of its runway safety area. Completing the project was an important milestone as the West Virginia airport continues to recover after a massive airfield landside that occurred on March 12, 2015.
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.
Small airports in the northern U.S. share one common trait with huge airports such as Chicago O'Hare and Kennedy International in New York: They have to keep their runways and taxiways clear of snow during winter. Most, however, don't have multimillion-dollar budgets for accomplishing this.
Sandwiched between two large bodies of water, the peninsula of Florida receives lots of warm, humid air. When combined with sunlight and ocean breezes, it's the perfect brew for thunderstorms'and operational challenges for airports like Southwest Florida International (RSW) in Fort Myers.
A new fuel farm at Great Falls International (GTF) is providing additional fuel capacity, faster delivery and peace of mind about protecting the pristine environment that surrounds the Montana airport. The aboveground facility, which was commissioned in January, replaces a series of underground tanks installed in 1974.
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.
In spring, Martha's Vineyard Airport (MVY) completed a $10.5 million reconstruction of its main runway two days early. Racing against time, crews laid asphalt daily'sometimes seven days a week'from late March until May 13. JetBlue Airways resumed its seasonal flights on May 17.
Chattanooga Metropolitan (CHA) has managed to turn unused land alongside its runways and taxiways into an environmentally sound source of electricity that powers the same amount of energy that CHA facilities at the Tennessee airport use each year.
At Edmonton International (YEG), strategic partnerships with technology companies are helping the airport tackle common industry challenges such as wildlife management, perimeter security and ground support services. One venture led to the development of a new portable diesel heater to keep jet bridges and parked aircraft warm during cold Canadian winters.
In Alaska, the days start to cool quickly in September, and by October, daily high temperatures struggle to reach 50 degrees. At Juneau International Airport (JNU), the ground maintenance team knows what's looming: cold, freezing rain in autumn, followed by an average snowfall of more than 85 inches during winter.
In September 2018, Hurricane Florence dumped 35 inches of rain on the Carolinas, with winds gusting up to 130 mph. The Category 4 storm created widespread flooding that closed major freeways and other roads for days after landfall, completely cutting off access for 120,000 people in Wilmington, NC, and many more in surrounding communities.
