Alpena County Regional Airport (APN) collaborated with the Michigan Air National Guard on a $58 million runway reconstruction project, blending civilian and military needs.
Centennial Airport (APA) just outside Denver added a new strategy to its existing foreign object debris (FOD) program that is getting great reviews from the maintenance staff.
Amid the angst, upheaval and tragedy that COVID-19 unleashed, there were also isolated slivers of opportunity. One of those rare instances occurred at Bismarck Airport (BIS) in North Dakota.
Once the COVID-19 pandemic eased, travelers started surging back in record numbers to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston. In 2023, the Texas airfield handled more than 46 million passengers—a 12.7% increase from 2022. And traffic this year is expected to easily top that.
Located about 40 miles east of Columbus, OH, Newark-Heath Airport (VTA) is in one of the fastest-growing areas in that state. Currently, the general aviation airfield logs about 13,000 operations a year, but traffic is expected to escalate based on Intel’s plans to invest $20 billion in the area.
Truckee Tahoe Airport (TRK) in California recently made a bold environmental move by changing from standard Jet A to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The general aviation airport started offering SAF several years ago, with a goal of gradually increasing the percentage sold to 100% by the end of 2023. However, airport officials decided to accelerate the process and completed the transition by June instead.
A new Caesars casino and hotel scheduled to open later this year near Danville Regional (DAN) has created a good news/bad news situation for the southern Virginia airport. The good news is that it will undoubtedly attract more traffic to the general aviation facility, boosting both DAN’s bottom line and the overall regional economy. The bad news…
Leaders at Sedona Airport (SEZ) in Arizona knew they were on the clock to build a new fuel farm. The decades-old facility at SEZ had a hard time keeping up with customer demand. And, even worse, the fuel tanks themselves were rapidly deteriorating. A long-term solution was needed in the near term.
A major rehabilitation of the main runway at St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) is nearing completion. Runway 12R-30L, which handles about 40% of the airport’s flight operations, is scheduled to reopen sometime in November after being closed for the last two construction seasons.
When St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) opened its new $50 million jet fuel storage facility and updated hydrant system in August 2021, the project was widely acclaimed. After all, it doubled the airport’s fuel storage capacity to 3 million gallons, added the latest technology and made fueling operations at STL more efficient and environmentally friendly.
While accommodating diverted aircraft is a steady income producer, airport officials are also working to encourage commercial, corporate and general aviation operators to use AVP as their permanent base. Until recently, however, the airport did not have enough hangars to attract new corporate and general aviation clients. To alleviate this problem, AVP has initiated two large hangar projects in the last two years.
When it comes to airfield safety, lengthening runways is often the answer. At Quad Cities International Airport (MLI) in Moline, IL, the opposite was true. The Midwestern airport recently resolved a long-standing safety issue by shortening its general aviation runway.
Three years ago, officials at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) had a big challenge that needed to be addressed relatively quickly. The South Carolina airport had an ever-increasing demand for fuel, and its existing storage tanks could no longer meet that demand.
Nueces County Airport (RBO), is a small general aviation airport located in Robstown, TX – about 30 miles west of Corpus Christi and the Gulf of Mexico. RBO doesn’t have to deal with snow or ice. However, occasional hurricanes and tropical storms coming off the Gulf do pose a real threat.
When it becomes necessary to shut down one of your two main runways for reconstruction, careful planning is critical. The stakes are even higher when you manage one of the busiest general aviation airports in the United States. That was the challenge Justin Erbacci, chief executive officer of Los Angeles World Airports, faced earlier this year regarding Van Nuys Airport (VNY).
Sooner or later, most single-runway airports have to bite the bullet and shut down to rehab their airstrip. For Jackson Hole Airport (JAC), that time came this spring. When the Wyoming airfield reopened in late June, it had a reconstructed runway designed to last for many decades and improvements in and around the terminal, to boot.
A major expansion project catering to the needs of general aviation traffic is well underway at Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) in southwestern Florida. By relocating existing general aviation and FBO activities away from the main terminal area, the airport also will relieve congestion and create more room for commercial airliners.
A previous investment in an automated aircraft identification and billing system is paying new dividends at Dallas Love Field (DAL). The technology, PlanePass by Vector Airport Systems, was initially installed in 2016 to detect and bill Customs operations. DAL executives expanded its use in January 2019 to cover all general aviation and nonsignatory commercial operations.
Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is enjoying the benefits of rehabilitating Runway 14-32, its main crosswind runway that also happened to be one of its oldest. Associated connector taxiways were upgraded with new pavement and lighting as well.
When it’s time to update or replace an aging jet fuel facility, financing can be a big challenge. At Tucson International Airport (TUS), the local airline consortium worked with airport officials and an outside engineering consulting firm to find a creative way to ensure a steady fuel supply for all airport users.
The six general aviation airports operated by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) are called relievers for a good reason: They significantly reduce traffic pressure that would otherwise congest Minneapolis-St. Paul International (MSP), the major airport of the system.
When corporate customers expressed a desire to operate larger, longer-range jets at Huntingburg Regional (HNB) Airport, Manager Travis McQueen found a way to provide the extra runway length they would need.
Turning perception into reality can be tricky, especially when it involves multimillion-dollar budgets. The decision-makers who oversee Detroit Lakes-Becker County Airport (DTL) in northwestern Minnesota faced this classic challenge when building support and securing funds for an approximately $25 million runway expansion and airfield renovation.
A renaissance is underway at Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Airport (RWI) in Elm City, NC. And master plan improvements are propelling it forward. Airport Director Dion Viventi reports that several infrastructure projects executed in 2019 and 2020 are already boosting RWI’s bottom line.
Airports throughout the world face many of the same challenges, but Grant County International (MWH) in Moses Lake, WA, recently tackled an unusual airfield issue. It leveled a gradual, but pronounced, hump in the middle of its main runway.
