b'6 PUBLISHERS COLUMNI Guess It Was Meant to Be In mid-January, a good story we were working on suddenly hit theIt took me all of a nanosecond to pick up wall. Interviews were cancelled and the airport told us the articlethe phone to find out more. We knew a few wasnt going to happen. Ouch! It was frustrating for us, but thebig airports were experimenting with autono-airports legal beagles were simply (and understandably) being cau- mous lawn mowing equipment, but none tious. Fortunately, well be able to share the story with you oncehave been implementing it like SGR. For Ken the legal issues are resolved. and his crew, its not just a trial, but an ear-In the meantime, we had a hole in our lineup for this editionnest launch. Sometimes you really do have that needed to be filled. And quick! to tip your hat to the GA airports for comingPAUL BOWERS, PUBLISHERup with super-innovative ideas and acting on A couple days later, I received an email out of the blue fromthem. Hope you enjoy the article, which begins on Page 56. Ken Durbin, assistant director of Aviation at Sugar Land Regional Airport (SGR). We think we have a pretty cool story to share inThis innovative story from SGR reminded me, and I hopean upcoming Airport Improvement issue, he wrote.reminds all of you, that suggesting a story idea for AirportImprovement is open to everyone in our airport industry. His idea? We landed on a way to make the business case and define what it was we were looking for in an autonomous (mower)Hope to hear from you soon.capability. Not tugs or other ground service equipment, and notCheers!snowplows, but lawn mowers! Hmmm.Reliable Lighting for Unreliable WeatherElevated airfield lighting built to perform in extreme winter conditionsAXON EQ Elevated Light with Smart Arctic KitSMARTER. BETTER. NOW.www.adbsafegate.comMarch | April 2025AirportImprovement.com'