Current Issue...

Expanded Fuel Station Meets Heavy Demand at Greenville-Spartanburg Int’l
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.
New Centralized Deicing Facility Keeps Passengers and Packages Moving at Memphis Int’l
Christmas came a little early at Memphis International (MEM) in Tennessee. The nation’s busiest cargo handling airport opened a centralized deicing facility (CDF) on Nov. 15, 2022, just in time for the busy holiday shipping and travel season.
Snow Ops Team at Buffalo Int’l Tended to Pavement and People During Brutal Christmas Blizzard
The snow removal team at Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) is nationally recognized as one of the best in the business, with impressive credentials including 10 Balchen/Post Awards for excellence in snow and ice control.
To keep pace with growth, SEA is investing more than $4.6 billion over the next five years on projects designed to upgrade facilities and elevate the passenger experience. It’s all part of a long-term capital campaign called Upgrade SEA. The challenge, however, is space.
Philadelphia Int’l Installs Biometric Facial Recognition at 25 Gates
While biometrics initiatives had already emerged in the 1990s, the COVID-19 pandemic spurred more passengers to want additional low-touch and touch-free options. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) took this to heart and commissioned facial recognition technology at 25 boarding gates.
Luxe Common-Use Lounge is Becoming a Fixture at Fort Lauderdale Int’l
When Mark Gale took the reins at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) in early 2016, the newly inaugurated chief executive officer began presiding over a facility that was home to several airlines, yet hub to none.
Winnipeg Int’l Launches Self-Driving Wheelchair Service
After nearly three years of testing, Winnipeg Richardson International Airport (YWG) in Manitoba formally launched free autonomous wheelchair service to passengers in early December 2022, marking a first for North American airports.
Southwest Builds Maintenance Hangar at Denver Int’l
In aviation and architecture, the horizon is ever distant. At Denver International Airport (DEN), sightlines are clear, and the future looks bright. Southwest Airlines’ new hangar, which opened on the eastern edge of the airfield in March 2022, represents a $100 million investment of permanence.
Onsite Lab at Toronto Pearson Int’l Tests Early Warning System for Infectious Diseases
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) is taking a new industry-leading step by piloting a new kind of testing strategy—one that doesn’t involve swabbing the noses of passengers or airport workers.
El Paso Int’l Invests in On-Airport Research and Manufacturing
El Paso, TX, is mounting a comeback as a key U.S. manufacturing hub, and El Paso International Airport (ELP) is leading the charge.
Sacramento Int’l Builds Bigger, Better Fire and Rescue Station
The new 20,865-square-foot, single-story ARFF facility at Sacramento International Airport (SMF) is about three times larger than its predecessor. The station it replaced was more than 50 years old and not designed to be staffed around-the-clock.
Flight 123 on UtopiAir Now Boarding for Shangri-La - Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
The magic of air travel is alive and well at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) in Texas.
Vancouver Int’l Expands Int’l Pier to Accommodate More Passengers
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) opened its Pier D expansion in June 2022, adding eight new international wide-body departure gates. From a practical standpoint, the project was Vancouver Airport Authority’s way of keeping pace with growth in international traffic.

Massport Takes a Multi-Faceted Approach to Airfield Safety

Officials at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) take what they call a "multi-faceted" approach to airfield safety. Flavio Leo, manager of aviation planning, identifies six main facets: a heavy emphasis on partnerships, promoting a learning culture, testing and/or implementing new technology, enhanced markings, physical improvements and extensive, regular coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration and air carriers.

Southwest Florida Cleans Up Baggage Loading Process

When its state-of-the-art terminal opened in September 2005, Southwest Florida International Airport was one of the first airports in the nation to operate an inline baggage handling system with fully automated explosives detection. As such, the Lee County facility was one of the first airports in the nation to fully realize the complexities of such a system.

Indy Raises the Bar for Airport Command Centers

The new $11 million Airport Operations Center/Emergency Operations Center (AOC/EOC) at Indianapolis International is bound to become the envy of airport operators throughout the country and abroad. It's already the pride and joy of the staff working there.

Digital Upgrades at Sanford

Known as Central Florida's "Gateway to the Sun," Sanford International Airport (SFB) near Orlando is one of the busiest airports in the country. With the daunting responsibility of accommodating approximately two million travelers each year, SFB had good reason to step up its interest in the latest security technologies.

IT Achieves Master Plan Status

Typical airport master plans provide conceptual structure for future growth and improvements, with an emphasis on physical infrastructure like buildings and runways. The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority is taking a more progressive approach by supplementing the master plan for San Diego International Airport (SAN) with a companion information technology (IT) master plan.

Monroe County Creates Out-of-the Box Hangar Leases

Monroe County Airport (BMG), a Part 139 Class IV airport serving the Bloomington, IN, area, knows how to turn challenges into opportunities. Management and board members at this corporate class general aviation airport focus on their facility's strengths and, in so doing, find creative ways to meet new challenges and grow operations.

AVI Improves Taxi Operations at Dulles

Inspired by improvements to taxi operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA) applied similar technology down the pike at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) last spring.

Soft Drinks & Coffee Carry "Experiential Marketing" into Airport Industry

January brings not only a new year at Cleveland Hopkins International (CLE), but also a new source of revenue. The airport has signed a five-year agreement valued at $2 million, which grants exclusive pouring rights throughout the terminal to Pepsi Americas.

Solar Farm at Fresno Yosemite Sets Shining Example of Energy Efficiency

What began as a small idea to improve the rental car facility at Fresno Yosemite International Airport has blossomed into a much larger project that's expected to save the California airport millions of dollars in the coming years.

Here's to the Survivors

This issue of Airport Improvement provides you with great examples of airports leveraging resources already at hand or in other cases saving money by using new technologies or outside resources.

Pages

FREE Whitepaper

Fairbanks International Airport Baggage Transport Conveyor Enhanced With Mod Drive™ System


Fairbanks International Airport Baggage Transport Conveyor Enhanced With Mod Drive™ System

Airports face a host of unique industry challenges, such as meeting efficiency regulations and seeking out the best maintenance practices to reduce costs and keep operations flowing. In today’s current economic climate, any potential cost savings can go a long way. 

In 2019, Alaska’s Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) sought to modernize its equipment and operations. They were dissatisfied with the performance of the gearmotors on their baggage transport conveyors and began searching for new suppliers. Regal approached FAI with a solution that could improve equipment performance and simplify maintenance, with the added benefit of energy cost savings: the Hub City® MOD Drive™ system.

This white paper discusses the hardware deployed, the test results and the annualized expectations for ROI.

 

Featured Video

Indy Raises the Bar for Airport Command Centers

The new $11 million Airport Operations Center/Emergency Operations Center (AOC/EOC) at Indianapolis International is bound to become the envy of airport operators throughout the country and abroad. It's already the pride and joy of the staff working there.

Digital Upgrades at Sanford

Known as Central Florida's "Gateway to the Sun," Sanford International Airport (SFB) near Orlando is one of the busiest airports in the country. With the daunting responsibility of accommodating approximately two million travelers each year, SFB had good reason to step up its interest in the latest security technologies.

IT Achieves Master Plan Status

Typical airport master plans provide conceptual structure for future growth and improvements, with an emphasis on physical infrastructure like buildings and runways. The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority is taking a more progressive approach by supplementing the master plan for San Diego International Airport (SAN) with a companion information technology (IT) master plan.

Monroe County Creates Out-of-the Box Hangar Leases

Monroe County Airport (BMG), a Part 139 Class IV airport serving the Bloomington, IN, area, knows how to turn challenges into opportunities. Management and board members at this corporate class general aviation airport focus on their facility's strengths and, in so doing, find creative ways to meet new challenges and grow operations.

AVI Improves Taxi Operations at Dulles

Inspired by improvements to taxi operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA) applied similar technology down the pike at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) last spring.

Soft Drinks & Coffee Carry "Experiential Marketing" into Airport Industry

January brings not only a new year at Cleveland Hopkins International (CLE), but also a new source of revenue. The airport has signed a five-year agreement valued at $2 million, which grants exclusive pouring rights throughout the terminal to Pepsi Americas.

Solar Farm at Fresno Yosemite Sets Shining Example of Energy Efficiency

What began as a small idea to improve the rental car facility at Fresno Yosemite International Airport has blossomed into a much larger project that's expected to save the California airport millions of dollars in the coming years.

Here's to the Survivors

This issue of Airport Improvement provides you with great examples of airports leveraging resources already at hand or in other cases saving money by using new technologies or outside resources.

Aviation Infrastructure: Don't Spend. Invest.

Oil priced over $150 a barrel? The number of airlines slashed by a third? Not too long ago, such statements would have made people laugh. No one is laughing anymore.

Five Management Challenges Facing Airports Amid Uncertainty

Due to high fuel prices, a slowing economy and airline service cutbacks, the always-difficult job of an airport director is even more challenging today than in the past.

Featured Video




# # #
 

# # #