News and Events
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Workshop
Attention Vendors! You're invited to attend the 2012 "The Year of Opportunity" Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Workshop on February 15, 2012, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at the Tallahassee Regional Airport. Please view the flyer (PDF) for further details.
Airport Receives Federal Safety Award
The Tallahassee Regional Airport is pleased to announce that it has received an award from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its participation in the FAA's Safety Management System (SMS) Implementation Study. The Tallahassee Regional Airport was one of only 14 airports in the United States selected for participation in this pilot program, which utilized federal Airport Improvement Program funds.
SMS is a process which enables airports to detect, evaluate and correct safety deficiencies before they contribute to aircraft incidents or accidents. The intent of this Implementation Study was to help the FAA evaluate how airports can implement the SMS components of Safety Risk Management and Safety Assurance throughout their airfield environment. Results of the Implementation Study will directly assist the FAA in the development of regulations, standards and guidance related to SMS for airports throughout the nation in the near future.
"Being recognized for our participation in this federal Implementation Study demonstrates the nationally recognized commitment of our Airport staff and tenants to operate a safe, secure, efficient and customer friendly airport," said Sunil Harman, director of Aviation.
Tallahassee Airport to Begin Construction of Runway Projects
Next week, the Tallahassee Regional Airport will begin a massive $43 million construction project to enhance the safety and operational capacity of its runways. The project is expected to create or maintain 160 construction jobs as both runways, north-south runway 18-36 and east-west runway 9 -27, will be reconstructed. The project will be done in two phases to ensure continuous commercial and general aviation operation.
The first phase, which will begin on January 20, will include the lengthening of runway 18-36 from 6,070 feet to 7,000 feet requiring the runway to be closed for a period of 10 - 11 months. Additional construction will include pavement rehabilitation and relocation of ground based navigation systems. Lengthening of runway 18-36 must first take place to accommodate the current and anticipated fleet of airplanes while the airport's primary runway 9-27 is closed for 15 months for reconstruction to meet new design standards.
"While this is a needed project to comply with certification standards, its implementation has been carefully phased to maintain our level of service and when completed will result in the most operationally efficient airfield system for our customers," said director of Aviation, Sunil Harman.
Due to the extreme variability in weather during this time of year consisting of low temperatures and morning fog, construction crews will perform operationally critical work in the runways safety areas during a weekend closure period of 11 p.m. on Friday, January 20, to 6 a.m. on Monday, January 23. During this time, flights could potentially be delayed or diverted to other airports should some unanticipated weather or condition resulting from construction occurs.
The second phase of construction, which will begin in late 2012, will include the total reconstruction of runway 19-27 to correct design deficiencies in the runway's longitudinal profile which obstruct line-of-sight.
"The runway lengthening and restoration project is another step to attracting more flights and destinations," said City Commissioner Gil Ziffer, lead commissioner on airport issues. "As we ask the airlines to invest in our airport with more flights we need to show them were investing in our airport as well."
This project is mandated and primarily funded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at 95 percent with the remaining 5 percent funded by Florida Department of Transportation and the Airport's capital funds.
ArtPort Gallery Presents: Photofest 2011
The Council on Culture & Arts (COCA), in conjunction with the City of Tallahassee's Art in Public Places Program, presents Photofest 2011, an annual exhibition at the Tallahassee Regional Airport ArtPort Gallery November 30th 2011 - January 30th, 2012. From breathtaking landscapes to the mind-bending use of extreme close ups, Photofest 2011 exhibition features photographs by twenty five local artists. The artists were selected by this year's Arts Advisory Panel. Photofest 2011 opened November 30th, with a free public reception and awards ceremony on Thursday, December 8th from 6:00 - 7:30 pm. Awards will be announced at 6:30 pm. Guests are asked to park in long-term parking and present parking tickets at the gallery for complimentary validation. The ArtPort Gallery is located in the Tallahassee Regional Airport, 3300 Capital Circle SW, and is open daily from 8:00 am until 11:30 pm. The exhibition is curated by the Council on Culture & Arts' Arts in Public Places program on behalf of the City of Tallahassee.
For more information about this exciting exhibition or upcoming exhibitions contact Amanda Karioth Thompson at (850) 224-2500 or Amanda@cocanet.org. For a schedule of other exhibitions and arts and culture programs throughout north Florida, visit www.morethanyouthought.com. Learn more about COCA and sign up to receive COCA's weekly email blast at www.cocanet.org.
Airport Installs Solar Energy System
As part of an on-going sustainability initiative to promote green technologies and reduce operating costs, the Tallahassee Regional Airport (TLH) announced today the installation of a 25,344 watt roof mounted solar photovoltaic system in the main terminal. The project will generate up to 20 kilowatts of AC power and was initiated as part of the airport's water intrusion project.
"The installation of the solar panel at the airport demonstrates the City's determination to reduce dependence on fossil fuels," said City Commissioner Nancy Miller, the lead commissioner on the Environmental and Energy Resources Target Issue Committee. "The airport management is to be commended for their efforts to cut energy costs and increase energy efficiency."
When flying into the airport, passengers will see 176 photovoltaic laminate solar panels (144 watts each) neatly affixed atop the northeast side of the terminal. The solar project is expected to generate an annual energy saving of 34,823 kilowatt hours and save approximately 28 tons of carbon dioxide per year. The system was designed and engineered by RS&H, and constructed by Renitta Knight Construction, LLC with Simpler Solar Systems providing recommended technical improvements to the system and Sperry and Associates along with Bass Electric were responsible for all permitting that was required for this pilot project.
Visitors to the main terminal are invited to visit the solar display cabinet located in the baggage claim area to watch system activity and monitor production and performance of the system in real time. Online monitoring of the system is also available by visiting the Selectria Renewables website.
"Our airport needs to be as cost effective and energy efficient as possible, and the solar installation is an initial step toward achieving that goal," said Sunil Harman, director of Aviation. "We continue to evaluate other cost-cutting energy efficiency projects that support the City's sustainability program."
New Coffee Shop Opens at Tallahassee Regional Airport
Locally-owned Tuscan Sun Coffee House opens daily at 5 a.m. - Tallahassee Regional Airport is pleased to announce today's opening of a new food and beverage concession, the Tuscan Sun Coffee House. A locally-owned business, the Tuscan Sun will offer travelers freshly brewed specialty coffee beverages, pastries, baked goods and fresh fruit. Located just past and to the right of the security checkpoint in the Airport's Ivan Munroe Terminal, the new coffee shop is open Sunday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The development of the new food and beverage facility is part of Aviation Director Sunil Harman's 120-Day Plan for implementing targeted customer service amenities. The specialty coffee shop was a much requested customer amenity and will be a welcome addition for travelers and employees. The new coffee house is decorated with the coffee lover in mind with earth-toned painted walls, pub tables and chairs and stone tile floors to create a warm, friendly atmosphere.
The Tallahassee Regional Airport is in negotiations to expand its retail and Food and Beverage Concession Plan with additional offerings of food (i.e., branded foods, healthy food choices, dairy products and candies) and retail concessions (i.e., electronic devices, one-stop shop business attire, jewelry and other personal necessities).
"I am extremely excited about the opportunity to bring a locally-owned and operated specialty coffee house to the Tallahassee Regional Airport," said Catherine Tune, co-owner of Tuscan Sun, which also qualifies as a minority-owned business as certified by the City's Minority Business Enterprise. "Our goal at the Tuscan Sun Coffee House is to provide a comfortable environment, where all can gather to enjoy conversation with family and friends while waiting to depart or after just arriving at the Tallahassee Regional Airport."
"Our loyal customers are extremely important to us and when they identified a need for specialty coffee post security, we made it a priority to deliver," said Harman. He added, "this new concession will provide our customers with a high-quality coffee experience. Customers will be able to select from a variety of fresh coffee beverages and baked goods to bring on their flights. The Airport is extremely pleased to offer quality coffee products for its customers." A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the grand opening of the new coffee shop will be scheduled in the near future.
Tallahassee Regional Airport Receives Stellar Ratings on Federal Inspections
Airport Receives no Citations from TSA and FAA - Exemplary performance by the Tallahassee Regional Airport's operations and maintenance units has allowed it to receive the highest possible acclaim during recent federal inspections. Both the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) completed inspections August 22-26, with the Airport receiving no citations from either agency. As a result of these inspections, the TSA and FAA both confirmed that the Airport continues to meet standards necessary to maintain its federal Airport Operating Certificate.
Last week, inspectors from the TSA reviewed several aspects of the Airport's overall security posture as part of a periodic Special Emphasis Inspection. Additionally, an inspector with the FAA conducted the Airport's annual Federal Aviation Regulation Part 139 Airport Certification Inspection. Each year the FAA inspects every commercial service airport over a two to three day period. Airport safety, training, Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF), airfield pavement conditions, marking, lighting and signs standards, various emergency management and inspection documentation issues are examined. With such intensive inspections, it is rare that no citations are discovered.
The FAA inspector described Tallahassee Regional Airport's operational readiness as "outstanding." He noted that the Airport is well-maintained and managed, and the staff was extremely professional. Additionally, due to the outstanding manner in which all certification requirements are being met, the Airport is being nominated for the Medallion Award, an annual safety award given by the FAA Southern Region Airports Office.
"Special thanks go to our very capable operations and maintenance staff who assisted in preparations for these inspections and their continuing vigilance ensuring that Tallahassee Regional Airport is operationally ready at all times. This demonstrates the Airport's commitment to providing the highest levels of customer service, safety and security for all passengers and visitors," said Sunil Harman, director of Aviation.
Tallahassee Regional Airport Goes Green
Sustainable practices include safe and healthy cleaning products - Tallahassee Regional Airport (TLH) has implemented a "Green Cleaning" program to improve indoor air quality and mitigate long-term health risks and allergies associated with indoor air pollutants. This new program introduces safe cleaning practices and products for custodial use to improve the overall health and well-being of Airport staff and customers.
As a part of this initiative, the Tallahassee Regional Airport has partnered with State Industrial Products (SIP), a Cleveland-based chemical manufacturer, to create a safer and healthier environment for workers and passengers. The newly introduced cleaning products, provided by SIP, are less toxic, contain no cancer causing carcinogens, have low and/or no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), and are non-irritating.
"All products are Green Seal GS-37 certified, non-toxic, biodegradable, hypoallergenic, and contain no perfume," said Sunil Harman, Director of Aviation. "On top of that, all packaging is made from recyclable materials, which helps to achieve a more sustainable world by promoting environmentally responsible products."
The Green Seal status of these products ensures credible, science-based environmental certification standards. Green Seal is a non-profit third party certifier founded in 1989. The agency utilizes a life-cycle approach, in that they evaluate a product or service beginning with material extraction, continuing with manufacturing, and ending with recycling and disposal. If a product meets rigorous testing standards and proves high levels of quality and performance, it will be certified as a Green Seal product.
In addition to being designated as a Gold Certified Green City by the Florida Green Building Coalition, the City of Tallahassee is known for introducing environmentally friendly programs, focused on sustainable practices and procedures. The City has initiated a myriad of innovative programs including, recycling, energy conservation, Idle Free, employee sustainability training, paperless payroll, reusable bags, and City Smart Meters, just to mention a few.
Adding Local Flavor To The Mix Equals A Recipe For Success
Tallahassee Regional Airport Supports Locally Sourced Products - Tallahassee Regional Airport (TLH), in partnership with its airport concessionaires, announces a new initiative making locally manufactured products available to customers and visitors of the airport. TLH, which is owned by the City of Tallahassee, launched this initiative in an effort to help support locally owned businesses in the area.
"Supporting local businesses demonstrates the airport's commitment to its community. This initiative may have a limited impact on the local economy, but as a collaborative effort, it is instrumental in demonstrating the importance of thinking locally to our entire community," said Sunil Harman, Director of Aviation.
SSP America Inc., TLH's food and beverage operator, recently added Bradley's Sausage Dogs to its food court menu. Bradley's Country Store, located on Centerville Road, is a family owned, local business that has been producing smoked sausage for the past 100 years and has made its mark on the National Register of Historic Places. Bradley's, true to its roots, allows shoppers to experience food shopping as it was back in 1910, when Mrs. Bradley began selling sausage from her kitchen to the local community. Now, hungry travelers will have the opportunity to experience local flavor in our hometown airport.
In addition, another local product now available in the Airport can be found at Stress Busters Zone Inc. Tupelo Honey from Smiley Apiaries is produced from the Nyssa-Ogeche, better known as the White Tupelo Tree, which grows in the swampy terrain of the Apalachicola River Basin. For the convenience of the traveling public, 2 oz. jars are available allowing travelers to return home with a little taste of Northwest Florida.
The Tallahassee City Commission has implemented a number of other programs to focus on creating and maintaining jobs in Tallahassee including implementing a local business preference program that provides expanded incentives for businesses to compete for city projects, a fast tracking process that has infused over $302 million in projects into the local economy, and provided concurrency relief to stimulate private sector projects. Additionally, Mayor John Marks began a shop local campaign, with special offers from over 180 local businesses posted on www.localbusinesssaturday.com, which focuses on shopping local every second Saturday of month.
For more information on TLH's initiative or to recommend other locally sourced items for consideration, please contact Victoria Maleszewski at 891-7821.
Tallahassee Regional Airport Wins
Statewide Environmental Award
The City of Tallahassee Aviation Department today announced the receipt of a statewide environmental award. Tallahassee Regional Airport was selected as recipient of the Florida Airports Council (FAC) Environmental Excellence Award. The award was presented earlier this month at the FAC Annual Conference.
In keeping with the environmental theme, the award presented was manufactured using recycled glass. The FAC annually selects its Environmental Excellence Award recipient from applications submitted by airports throughout Florida. This year's award recognized Tallahassee Regional Airport for the use of Sustainable Construction Practices in the rehabilitation of its North General Aviation Apron.
This project consisted of removing existing pavement from the North General Aviation Apron area and replacing it with new asphalt. Materials for the project were obtained from the in-place recycling of concrete from the existing apron. These materials were then used as the base for the new asphalt, significantly reducing the amount of time and funding spent on the project. This sustainable practice mitigated the impact of greenhouse emissions that would have been expended through increased concrete demolition, transport and landfill disposal, had this conservation strategy not been employed.
Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. was the engineer for the project and C. W. Roberts, Inc. of Tallahassee was the construction contractor. The total cost of the North General Aviation Apron Rehabilitation Project was approximately $3.25 million.
"We applaud the Tallahassee Regional Airport on its use of sustainable practices in their construction program," said Clara Bennett, FAC President. "The use of sustainable practices during construction both enhanced the Airport and preserved natural resources for us and our posterity."
Airport's Regional Economic Impact
Provides $377.3 Million Annually
The Tallahassee Regional Airport (TLH) generates more than $377 million annually in total impact for the local economy, according to the results of a comprehensive study of the economic impacts of aviation in Florida. The study, conducted by Wilbur Smith Associates on behalf of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), indicates the Airport's economic activity supports over 3,960 jobs with a total annual payroll of $122,355,200. This study quantifies the value of the economic benefits generated at airports throughout Florida, both individually and collectively. The study is available online at www.dot.state.fl.us/aviation.
To support economic development efforts, the Airport also participates in the City's Fast Track Program, established to stimulate the local economy by creating jobs. The program also developed a streamlined process facilitating the construction of needed public sector projects. TLH has nine projects that have been accelerated under the Fast Track Program, five of which have already been completed including terminal and ground improvements, including enhancements to Capital Circle SW and general aviation access roads, terminal building signage improvements and upcoming improvements to terminal parking areas. These nine projects are collectively estimated to cost $12.2 million and create approximately 270 jobs.
TLH serves a mix of personal, leisure, and business-related travel. Approximately 800,000 commercial passengers flow through the Airport each year with more than 45 percent being visitors to Florida whose spending also helps contribute to the Airport's economic impact.
Tallahassee Regional Airport provides commercial air operations for a market service area within a 100-mile radius, including 32 counties in Florida, Georgia and Alabama. The Airport also facilitates general aviation services for business and individual customers. TLH is positioned for continued expansion, including terminal building, runway improvement and apron enhancements.
Commercial air carrier services available in the Tallahassee market include American Airlines/American Eagle, Delta Air Lines, Continental Airlines/Gulfstream and US Airways Express.