b'60 AZAOPERATIONSThe lifts occurred over a six-day span in August 2021.Draperwhich ended Sept. 30. The airports 260,038 operations were likened the process to threading a massive needle. There was anonly 267 fewer than the year-end total of top-ranked North Perry extreme amount of nervousness and tension, he recalls. EveryAirport (HWO) in Broward County, FL. little piece had to work together. When it was finished, I went andStill, less than 5% of AZAs operations involve commercial laid down. It was like finishing a big race or sporting event. operations. Its 10 gates have historically been most active in The project was executed under a construction managermornings and late evenings, due to primary tenant Allegiant Airs at risk agreement, and major subcontractors tailored theirpractice of starting and ending crewmembers days at their origin designs onsite, which helped workers more easily match pre- bases. But recently, it and other carriers have begun scheduling cast concrete base pieces with structural steel. From design tomore midday, afternoon and early evening flights, somewhat completion, the project took three years and finished on budgetleveling out the operational peaks.and on schedule. Draper notes that the teams focus on precisionLooking ahead, ONeill is far from content. He hopes to paid off. The final photos are so close to the original renderings,augment AZAs current leisure-heavy schedule with select you can hardly tell the difference, he remarks. business routes to western hubs operated by network carriers. Improvements inside the cab are also noteworthy. FrequentisWe have done a good job of proving to the airlines that this is USA, a Maryland-based communications firm, outfitted the towera market that is outside the shadow of Phoenix Sky Harbor, and with an integrated digital platform the company describes as theits a market we think theyll be successful serving, he says. If nations first controller-to-pilot IP voice communication setup.you get a reliable, daily business productfor example, United To improve controller efficiency, the system features integratedto Denver and beyondthen you could get the growing number recording tools, plus digital terminal information and weatherof business travelers who live in the East Valley to fly out of this services. airport and avoid having to go to PHX. We have a real opportunity With the new tower online, AZA narrowly missed ranking as theto take this airport to the next level. nations busiest federal contract tower in FAAs 2022 fiscal year, January | February 2023AirportImprovement.com'