June 2, 2020
For the 45th consecutive year, the Northeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives recognized snow crews’ superlative efforts to keep their airports open and operating safely during the nation’s most brutal snowstorms with the Balchen/Post Award.
Centennial Airport (APA) in Englewood, CO, earned the 2019-2020 Balchen/Post Award for large general aviation airports (more than 50,000 annual operations).
“We recognize a quality snow removal program as a core component of the level of service that we aim to achieve and that our tenants and customers have come to expect,” said Director of Operations Brian Lewis. The airport earned its previous Balchen/Post Award in 2016.
Honorable mentions went to Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC) in Broomfield, CO, Willow Run Airport (YIP) in Ypsilanti, MI and Teterboro Airport (TEB) in Teterboro, NJ.
Niagara Fall’s International Airport (IAG) in Niagara Falls, NY, earned the Balchen/Post Award for small general aviation airports (less than 50,000 annual operations), and Gary/Chicago International Airport (GYY) in Gary, IN, received an honorable mention.
A frequent general aviation destination, Aspen Pitkin County Airport (ASE) in Aspen, CO, received the Balchen/Post Award for small commercial airports (less than 100,000 annual operations). Buffalo Niagara International Airport in Buffalo, NY, received the medium commercial award and Denver International Airport received the large commercial (more than 200,000 annual operations) award. Misawa Air Base in Japan was the winner in the military category.
NBAA is part of the 10-member committee that evaluated submissions from commercial, general aviation and military airports, assessing factors that contribute to the airport’s operational and readiness status during the storms, capabilities of the snow fleet, planning, training and preparedness of the staff, the specifics of the winter season impacting the region and airport’s consideration of GA operations.
“We are grateful for the efforts airport snow fighters put forward, battling the most furious storms to keep airports operating safely and proudly supporting business aviation in fulfilling its mission,” said Alex Gertsen, NBAA director of airports and ground infrastructure, congratulating the winners.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.