b'PHOTO: KIMLEY-HORN OPERATIONSBVU 69salaries. Interestingly, about half of airThe standard FAA air traffic control traffic control towers in the United Statestower siting process, called Airport operate under the contract program, andFacilities Terminal Integration Laboratory, BVU hopes to join the ranks soon.includes the use of cranes on airport Other forces have also driven BVUsgrounds to test and assess potential sites, effort throughout the years. For one, thepositions and heights for towers. Officials COVID-19 pandemic increased generalat BVU were eager to forge ahead with aviation traffic at the airport when morethe process, but there was one major travelers began opting out of commercialproblem: an 18- to 24-month backlog airline travel in favor of private flights.for FAA tower siting studies. Given that Considerable amounts of that traffic aredaunting delay, and the possibility that associated with major league football andcranes could need to be on the airfield hockey franchises, games and events.for weeks, BVU and its consultant opted The Las Vegas Grand Prix Formula Oneto use drones instead. We chose to do car race in 2023 and Super Bowl LVIII,that because we could get it done more held this year at Allegiant Stadium nearquickly, Adou explains.the Vegas Strip, both caused significantWhile FAA approval was not required for upticks in private and commercial trafficdrone operations, the airport and Kimley-at BVU. And helicopter tours operated byHorn proceeded with due diligence. The two airfield tenants continue to be popularconsultant obtained a filming permit from with tourists who want birds-eye views ofthe city Parks and Recreation office and the Grand Canyon, Lake Mead, Hoovercompleted an Unmanned Aircraft Systems Dam and other local attractions.operators compliance statement as After BVU was accepted into therequired by BVU. We worked directly Contract Tower Program in 2018, airportwith the airport manager [Adou] on a flight officials quickly approached Kimley-Hornschedule that had the least impact to for insight about what it would take tothe airport and its air traffic, Hildebrandt build a tower. The engineering, planningrecalls. Based on these conversations, and design firm has completed a numbershe issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) of airport projects around the Unitedand was on hand during the drone flights.States, including seven in Nevada in recent years and two at BVU in additionThe Processto the siting study. Hildebrandt notes thatFAAs standard Airport Facilities Terminal the firms work includes several air trafficIntegration Laboratory process uses control tower siting reports, but none havesimulators, virtual reality and 3D modeling passenger volumebeen constructed yet or are to final design. technologies, goggles and more. They was up to almostare used, in part, to assess proposed 63,250 in 2022, andNew Tech, New Tower control tower siting, interior design/the airport loggedLike other consultants, Kimley-Horn regularlylayout orientation and height, as well as about 46,660 flightuses high-tech visualization tools to showoperational and procedural concepts. operations last year.clients what proposed projects could lookThe imagery and simulations, however, Heath Hildebrandt,like. Around 2020, it also started usingare based on photos taken from cranes Aviation PracticeHEATH HILDEBRANDT more cutting-edge technology for roadwaypositioned at airports. BVU took an lead for Kimley-Horn,projects, specifically drones and virtualalternative approach and used drones notes that air traffic at the airport is steadilyreality headsets to provide comprehensiveto capture initial on-site imagery. In that growing since the COVID-19 pandemic.aerial views and 3-D virtual reality modeling.sense, this was a new experience for Given the increases in air trafficplusBut at that time, it had not yet applied theofficials and technicians.BVUs small size and the big costs oftechnology to an airport project.In September 2021, two FAA Part building and operating a towertheIn early 2020, BVU hired Kimley-Horn to107-certified technicians from Kimley-airport applied in 2011 and was acceptedconduct a $60,000 tower siting study, andHorns Denver office arrived at BVU and into the FAAs Contract Tower programlater the associated $150,000 environmentalflew two drones: a DJI Mavic 2 Pro for in 2018. Towers in the federal programassessment. Airport Improvement Programpanoramas, and a DJI Matrice 210 for are staffed with contract controllers, all ofgrants are funding 93.75% of both projects,photogrammetry to support surveying and whom meet the same qualifications andwith BVU providing the rest through rentmapping. They flew 24 flights that lasted training requirements as FAA air trafficrevenue and fees.seven hours over the course of two days, controllers, but the program pays theirand the two drones scanned the entire AirportImprovement.comMarch | April 2024'