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Ticketing Hall Expansion Adds Much-Needed Space at Reno-Tahoe Int’l
Ticketing Hall Expansion Adds Much-Needed Space at Reno-Tahoe Int’l
Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) opened a newly expanded Ticketing Hall in April. The Nevada airport also remodeled and upgraded its existing 35,000-square-foot hall with new public restrooms, ticketing kiosks, wayfinding signage and space for oversized baggage.
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New Rail Service Enhances Multimodal Connectivity at Orlando Int’l
New Rail Service Enhances Multimodal Connectivity at Orlando Int’l
A long-time regional transportation plan became reality when Orlando and Miami were connected with high-speed rail service. The new route provides an attractive new option for airline travelers throughout the state, and Orlando International (MCO) staked its claim as the first U.S.
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Alaska Airlines Installs Self-Service Bag Tag Stations
Alaska Airlines Installs Self-Service Bag Tag Stations
Airports with significant service from Alaska Airlines are now dotted with new self-serve machines for passengers. The Seattle-based carrier recently removed ticketing kiosks and replaced them with stations solely dedicated to printing tags for checked baggage.
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New Engine-Testing Facility Enhances Safety, Functionality and Efficiency at Michigan Airport
New Engine-Testing Facility Enhances Safety, Functionality and Efficiency at Michigan Airport
A new $7 million ground run-up enclosure is boosting safety and operating efficiency at Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport (OSC), a general aviation airport in northeastern Michigan, along the Lake Huron shoreline.
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Safety Management Systems at Airports
Safety Management Systems at Airports
Following the FAA Safety Organization’s final rule for Part 121 airline operators in 2015, the agency published its final ruling on Safety Management Systems (SMS) for some Part 139 airports in February 2023.
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Atlanta Int’l Combines Modular and Traditional Build Methods for Concourse D Expansion
Atlanta Int’l Combines Modular and Traditional Build Methods for Concourse D Expansion
Serving more than 100 million passengers annually, it’s no secret that Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is a critical piece of the worldwide aviation network.
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Daytona Beach Int’l Implements State-of-the-Art Security Measures
Daytona Beach Int’l Implements State-of-the-Art Security Measures
Passengers tend to think of airport security as TSA checkpoints and police K9s, but much more goes into keeping the public safe.
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Boise Airport Expands Parking for Growing Local Population
Boise Airport Expands Parking for Growing Local Population
Nicknamed Treasure Valley for its vast natural resources, Boise, ID, is having a moment. The Boise metro area consistently shows up on lists of the fastest-growing areas in the U.S., and Boise Airport (BOI) is making investments to handle the associated traffic increases.
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Sarasota Int’l Gets Creative Introducing Local Students to Aviation
Sarasota Int’l Gets Creative Introducing Local Students to Aviation
It can be tough finding time to build relationships with the greater community.
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Newark-Heath Airport Makes Major Upgrades
Newark-Heath Airport Makes Major Upgrades
Located about 40 miles east of Columbus, OH, Newark-Heath Airport (VTA) is in one of the fastest-growing areas in that state. Currently, the general aviation airfield logs about 13,000 operations a year, but traffic is expected to escalate based on Intel’s plans to invest $20 billion in the area.
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Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Int’l Builds New Quick-Turn Facility for Rental Car Operations
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Int’l Builds New Quick-Turn Facility for Rental Car Operations
After a long time coming, an updated quick turnaround facility for consolidated rental car operations at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP) became fully operational last fall.
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Time for a Touch Up - Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Time for a Touch Up - Orlando International Airport (MCO)
The Traveler has been amazing and amusing visitors at Orlando International Airport (MCO) ever since it was installed in 1985.
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New Satellite Concourse Provides Efficient Gate Expansion at Nashville Int’l
New Satellite Concourse Provides Efficient Gate Expansion at Nashville Int’l
To accommodate increased passenger demand, Nashville International Airport® (BNA®) recently constructed a standalone Satellite Concourse adjacent to its main terminal. The 89,000-square-foot structure opened in October 2023 and now houses operations primarily for Allegiant Air and Spirit Airlines.
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Dallas Fort Worth Int’l Bolsters Employee Security Screening Program
Dallas Fort Worth Int’l Bolsters Employee Security Screening Program
Efficiency and efficacy are the watchwords for employee security screening at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
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Denver Int’l Completes State-of-the-Art West Security Checkpoint
Denver Int’l Completes State-of-the-Art West Security Checkpoint
In the last two decades, passenger volume has nearly doubled at DEN, and security technology has changed considerably. As part of the airport’s Great Hall Program, a $2.1 billion capital improvement project, all checkpoints are moving up a level—both physically and technologically.
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Critical Runway at Dallas Fort Worth Int’l Receives New Life

Critical Runway at Dallas Fort Worth Int’l Receives New Life
It’s not an exaggeration to say that airfield operations at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) impact the entire global aviation system. It is, the fourth-busiest airport in the world. When officials determined it was time to rehabilitate one of the critical hub’s seven runways, care was given to the design, planning and phasing of the project.

Smart Runway at Hill Air Force Base Could Change the Future of Airfield Pavement Design

Smart Runway at Hill Air Force Base Could Change the Future of Airfield Pavement Design
Every time an aircraft lands on the runway at Hill Air Force Base (HIF) in northern Utah, a mountain of data is captured. More than 80 sensors collect information about pressure, temperature, moisture and other key factors for pavement engineers to parse and dissect. There are even wireless sensors shaped like pebbles mixed into the pavement that transmit data about pressure and slight movements within the pavement system. The goal of this project is to learn more about the way environmental factors and various aircraft affect runway pavements.

Daytona Beach Int’l Rehabilitates Its Longest, Busiest Taxiway

Daytona Beach Int’l Rehabilitates Its Longest, Busiest Taxiway
After decades of continuous use by commercial and student aircraft, the taxiway parallel to the primary runway at Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB) was exhibiting multiple pavement distresses. The most prominent issues were weathering and longitudinal and transverse cracking. Pavement cores revealed that many of the cracks extended completely through the asphalt.

When Funding Became Available, Harrisburg Int’l Was Ready to Go With Levee Project

When Funding Became Available, Harrisburg Int’l Was Ready to Go With Levee Project
The recent rehabilitation of an aging levee will help protect Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) from flooding for decades to come. In the meantime, the $22 million project also offers a valuable lesson about the benefits of planning ahead.

O’Hare Nearing End of Monumental Airfield Initiative

O’Hare Nearing End of Monumental Airfield Initiative
O’Hare International Airport (ORD) is in the final leg of a long journey to completely reconfigure its airfield. Soon, Chicago’s primary airport will have six east-west parallel runways and two crosswind runways—with far fewer intersections. Last November, ORD moved one step closer to an improved configuration when officials opened the airport’s first new runway since fall 2015.

St. Pete-Clearwater Int’l Expedites Rehab Project by Shifting Commercial Traffic to Crosswind Runway

St. Pete-Clearwater Int’l Expedites Rehab Project by Shifting Commercial Traffic to Crosswind Runway
When it came time for St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) to rehab its primary air carrier runway, closing the airfield was not an option. Officials needed a plan to keep commercial aircraft flying in and out of the Florida airport. Airport officials brainstormed with consulting engineer Kimley-Horn and other project partners to devise a way to complete most of the work during daytime hours.

San Diego Int’l Installs New Engineered Material Arresting System

San Diego Int’l Installs New Engineered Material Arresting System
SAN was nearing the end of a $10 million project to replace the aging engineered material arresting system (EMAS) at the departures end of its runway with a brand new model. The safety feature is a bed of crushable materials to help stop aircraft overruns. If a plane enters the bed, its tires will sink into the crushable materials to help decelerate the aircraft. The original EMAS was “aging out” right on schedule, and airport officials were thrilled that an aircraft had never entered it.

Huntingburg Airport Builds Highway Tunnel to Prepare for Next Runway Extension

Huntingburg Airport Builds Highway Tunnel to Prepare for Next Runway Extension
When corporate customers expressed a desire to operate larger, longer-range jets at Huntingburg Regional (HNB) Airport, Manager Travis McQueen found a way to provide the extra runway length they would need.

Runway Replica - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl. Airport (AVP)

Runway Replica - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl. Airport (AVP)
One of the most popular paintings at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl. strays far from the predictable fare of regional landscapes and local landmarks.

Homegrown Talent - Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL)

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is putting the spotlight on homegrown talent with an exhibit that features artwork by its employees and others who work at the South Florida airport.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is putting the spotlight on homegrown talent with an exhibit that features artwork by its employees and others who work at the South Florida airport.

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2022 Charlotte Douglas International Airport Report of Achievement

Giving back to the community is central to what Charlotte Douglas International Airport and its operator, the City of Charlotte Aviation Department, is about, and last year was no different. 

Throughout 2022, while recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, we continued our efforts to have a positive impact on the Charlotte community. Of particular note, we spent the year sharing stories of how Connections Don't Just Happen at the Terminal - from creating homeownership and employment opportunities to supporting economic growth through small-business development and offering outreach programs to help residents understand the Airport better.

This whitepaper highlights the construction projects, initiatives, programs and events that validate Charlotte Douglas as a premier airport.

Download the whitepaper: 2022 Charlotte Douglas International Airport Report of Achievement.

 

 

Featured Video

St. Pete-Clearwater Int’l Expedites Rehab Project by Shifting Commercial Traffic to Crosswind Runway

St. Pete-Clearwater Int’l Expedites Rehab Project by Shifting Commercial Traffic to Crosswind Runway
When it came time for St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) to rehab its primary air carrier runway, closing the airfield was not an option. Officials needed a plan to keep commercial aircraft flying in and out of the Florida airport. Airport officials brainstormed with consulting engineer Kimley-Horn and other project partners to devise a way to complete most of the work during daytime hours.

San Diego Int’l Installs New Engineered Material Arresting System

San Diego Int’l Installs New Engineered Material Arresting System
SAN was nearing the end of a $10 million project to replace the aging engineered material arresting system (EMAS) at the departures end of its runway with a brand new model. The safety feature is a bed of crushable materials to help stop aircraft overruns. If a plane enters the bed, its tires will sink into the crushable materials to help decelerate the aircraft. The original EMAS was “aging out” right on schedule, and airport officials were thrilled that an aircraft had never entered it.

Huntingburg Airport Builds Highway Tunnel to Prepare for Next Runway Extension

Huntingburg Airport Builds Highway Tunnel to Prepare for Next Runway Extension
When corporate customers expressed a desire to operate larger, longer-range jets at Huntingburg Regional (HNB) Airport, Manager Travis McQueen found a way to provide the extra runway length they would need.

Runway Replica - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl. Airport (AVP)

Runway Replica - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl. Airport (AVP)
One of the most popular paintings at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl. strays far from the predictable fare of regional landscapes and local landmarks.

Homegrown Talent - Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL)

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is putting the spotlight on homegrown talent with an exhibit that features artwork by its employees and others who work at the South Florida airport.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is putting the spotlight on homegrown talent with an exhibit that features artwork by its employees and others who work at the South Florida airport.

Lincoln Airport Reaps Long-Term Benefits From Temporary Relocation of Air Force Base Operations

Lincoln Airport Reaps Long-Term Benefits From Temporary Relocation of Air Force Base Operations
The original runway at Offutt Air Force Base just south of Omaha, NE, was built back in 1941 and extended to its current 11,700-foot length in the mid-1950s. It received repairs in fits and starts during the intervening 80 years, and the Air Force finally decided it was time for a total overhaul four years ago. That set in motion a complex plan to temporarily relocate operations of the Air Force’s 55th Wing...

Airports Throughout Maine Roll Out New System to Record Aircraft Data

Airports Throughout Maine Roll Out New System to Record Aircraft Data
When an aircraft is involved in a crash, finding the “black box” flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder is imperative to subsequent investigations. If an accident takes place at a general aviation airport without a control tower, or when personnel are not on duty, it is much harder to analyze the communications and conditions that preceded the accident.

Raleigh-Durham Int’l Partners With Data Analytics Leader to Improve Passenger Forecasting

Raleigh-Durham Int’l Partners With Data Analytics Leader to Improve Passenger Forecasting
Widespread uncertainty was understandable given the unprecedented circumstances presented by the global pandemic. But passenger forecasts impact nearly every area of operations, from parking lot closures and law enforcement schedules to concession hours and capital improvement projects. So Kenneth Strickland pressed on for clearer answers.

New Receiving & Distribution Center Improves the Way Goods Move Through Salt Lake City Int’l

New Receiving & Distribution Center Improves the Way Goods Move Through Salt Lake City Int’l
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) is changing the way people and goods travel through its facilities. A multiphase effort to address its changing operational needs began with an airport redevelopment program that focused on passenger flow, and a $5.6 million Central Receiving and Distribution Center (CRDC) that opened last August.

Fredericton Int’l Updates & Expands its Terminal

Fredericton Int’l Updates & Expands its Terminal
Fredericton International Airport (YFC), in Canada’s far northeast corner, was built more than a half century ago to accommodate 200,000 passengers annually. The original building and facilities served their purpose aptly until about 10 years ago, when the New Brunswick airport began experiencing steady growth.

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Publisher's Blog

Let’s Be Clear
With more passengers being screened by TSA than ever before, checkpoint wait times are increasing accordingly.
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Industry Insider

A Bittersweet Goodbye
I look forward to July 1, 2024, with a profound sense of achievement.
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Project Nominations

Know of a project that should be covered in a future issue of Airport Improvement?

Artscapes

Time for a Touch Up - Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Time for a Touch Up - Orlando International Airport (MCO)
The Traveler has been amazing and amusing visitors at Orlando International Airport (MCO) ever since it was installed...
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