Business View Magazine | December 2019

198 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019 replaced its main electrical substation. “We have two incoming powerlines that power most of the buildings on the Airport and the airfield, itself,” Brewer explains. “Should one of those lines go down, the other line will pick up that load within a one-second timeframe. If both of those lines go down, we have a generator backup that will power everything up within 30 seconds. It’s a triple redundant system.” Other upgrades falling under the banner of what Brewer calls “Airport Improvements 1.0” include 4,500 feet of new security fencing and a new aerodrome beacon. Next steps for Northeast Philadelphia in terms of facility development and traffic growth will consist of further runway rehabilitation and ongoing support to the two flight schools based at the Airport. “In the next few years, we’ll seek further funding from the FAA for the design, mill, and overlay of Runway 15/33,” says Brewer. At 5,000 feet, Runway 15/33 is the shorter of the two existing runways. “With the rehabilitation of 6/24, that runway will be in good shape for the next 25 years. We’d like to follow 15/33 up right behind that. While it’s been a strain on the users of our facilities, they understand the benefit is for the long-term continuance of the Airport. What’s surprising is that we’re going to end the year with close to 80,000 operations, which will have made the Airport the busiest it’s been in the past 11 years.” Brewer says the number of aircraft movements has continued to climb despite the Airport’s closure of its main instrument, Runway 6/24. “We’re seeing an upsurge in air traffic because of our flight schools,” Brewer says. “They’re both seeing growth, which is good with the pilot and mechanic shortage that’s going to happen over the next 20 years. Our newest flight school, Tailwinds Flight Education, opened just last year and they’ve partnered up with Frankford Aviation High School. A lot of high schools in Philadelphia have magnet programs. The magnet program at this one is aviation. They’re just getting it up and running. They have flight operations, global logistics, drones, air traffic control. We’ve been AECOM proudly serves the aviation market throughout North America. Our ability to plan comprehensively, design sustainably, construct efficiently and manage resourcefully helps airports — large and small — stay competitive in today’s dynamic marketplace. aecom.com Imagine it. Delivered.