b'RAMPSEAT 27A 2021 report by McKinsey & Company indicated that moreThe economy of EATs service area, which includes both Chelan than 250 entities are developing electric vertical takeoff and landingand Douglas counties, has long been driven by vast local apple (eVTOL) aircraft. As for market demand, major U.S. airlines suchorchards, as well as hydroelectric power generated at the nearby as American and United have preordered hundreds of electricRocky Reach Dam on the Columbia River. More recently, an aircraft designed to carry one pilot and four passengers more thanabundance of low-cost, renewable power has attracted investment 100 miles at speeds of nearly 200 miles per hour. Since 2018,from the technology sector, including a massive data center by businesses worldwide have ordered or optioned more than 6,700industry giant Sabey Corp. future air mobility units valued at $102 billion. Late last year, Microsoft opened the $400 million first phase of its With promises of low noise levels, zero emissions and thenew data center complex that may ultimately exceed $1 billion in chance to trim four-hour drives into flights lasting less than 60development costs, according to estimates last year in The Seattle minutes, its easy to see why EAT is preparing to accommodateTimes.electric aircraft. Moyers credits his board and Chief Executive Officer Jim Kuntz for their strong support of modernizing and future-proofing the airports infrastructure.A few years ago, I was fortunate enoughSCHIBECIto be a member of the Washington StatePP600 MICRO PLANERDepartment of Transportations Aviation Division Electric Aircraft Working Group,Stripe & Marking Removal SystemMoyers says. As a member of the group, I had more questions than answers, which, in turn, helped me see the need to prepare for aNO GHOST LINES | NO TRACEfuture that includes new types of aircraft. HIGH PRODUCTION RATES | LOW OPERATING COSTFortunately, we work with a great team of engineers who helped us develop systems that will hopefully prove to be the answers to all those questions.Jesse Hurst, president of Hurst Construction in East Wenatchee, appreciated the opportunity to turn the engineers designs into reality. He especially enjoyed working on an active apron. To keep the area operational, the general contractor and its 10 subcontractors only took down half of the asphalt at a time.There were no hiccups, Hurst reports. It was fun to provide that apron while keeping [flights] in service. Geographic Challenges and OpportunitiesEast Wenatchee sits dead center in Washington, a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Seattle to the west, Spokane to the east or the U.S./Canadian border to the north. Given the citys relative isolation, air service to Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) provides local residents a vital bridge to far-off places. Horizon Air, a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines, is currently EATs only commercial air carrier, with twice daily nonstops to SEA. Last year, the airport logged nearly 35,000 enplanements. AtSold by:the beginning of this year, Horizon Air changedMecom Equipment LLC | 209.466.5135 | mecomsales@aol.comequipment for its SEA route from the Q400 toFOR MORE INFORMATION: WWW.SCHIBECI.COMthe 76-seat Embraer 175. AirportImprovement.comOctober 2023'