One thing we strive for at Reid Middleton is working with clients for the long haul. It’s such a part of our DNA that we put it into our mission statement some time back.
Long Lasting Client Relationships
What are the key components to an engineering firm keeping long-lasting relationships with their clients? You can find that answer by looking at one of our most valued partnerships with Jefferson County International Airport (JCIA), owned and operated by the Port of Port Townsend. Reid Middleton has been working with JCIA for 10 years, resulting in the completion of half a dozen airfield projects.
As for JCIA, we have the pleasure of working with owners who fully recognize the value of effective teaming and who have the wisdom to make common sense judgments throughout the course of a project. We’ve also had the good fortune of dealing with contractors who perform quality work and understand the critical nature of minimizing disruption to airport operations during construction.
Some of our projects at JCIA are highlighted below.
2004 – 2008 Taxi lane Construction, Hangar Site Development & Expanded Detention Facilities
The primary objective of this project was to expand the facility in order to accommodate additional based aircraft. This expansion included construction of new taxilanes, plus associated earthwork and drainage to serve eight future hangars. In order to manage the drainage generated by the new hangar site, we expanded the airport’s original detention facility near the runway’s east end.
2009 – 2010 Rotating Beacon Relocation
The original airport beacon, located on the north side of the airport, was situated near a large stand of mature evergreen trees and was not visible to aircraft through a significant portion of the beacon’s sweep. The primary objective of this JCIA project was to install a new rotating beacon with a 40-foot ‘tip down’ pole that would be visible to approaching aircraft.
Completed Beacon Site
Following thorough evaluation, Reid Middleton positioned the new airport-rotating beacon in the southwest vicinity of the runway. The new location is compatible with both airspace clearances and future airport development on the south side of the runway.
2010 – 2014 Master Plan Update
Reid Middleton and sub consultant Mead & Hunt have worked closely with the Port of Port Townsend, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to develop a Master Plan Update that truly reflects the needs of future JCIA development. The final planning document recently underwent review within the FAA, and the project was finalized in July 2014.
2013 Runway and Taxiway Rehabilitation
JCIA’s pavement rehabilitation project was the Airport’s first major work on the runways, taxiways, and aircraft aprons since their original construction in the early 1990s.
Airfield improvements consisted of pavement joint repairs, crack repairs, overall fog seal coat applications, and new pavement markings.
To accommodate routine facility operations, Reid Middleton developed a construction phasing plan for this project. The plan established construction access, routing, all phases of construction activities, airfield area closures, and temporary runway threshold displacements per FAA criteria.
2013 PAPI Siting Adjustments
Following an FAA Flight Check of the approach to JCIA’s Runway 9, it was reported that tree obstructions existed within the outer portion of the PAPI System’s (navigational aid for visual landings) lateral beam flare (10-degree flare from runway centerline ‘extended’). Due to this condition, the FAA recommended modifying the PAPI equipment by some means to block the visual approach beam within the vicinity of tree obstructions.
The engineering effort for this project identified the obstructing trees and approximated the vertical extent of conflict. Reid Middleton then worked with the Port of Port Townsend to design, properly position, and attach internal PAPI equipment baffles that effectively restricted the lateral limits of the PAPI beam.
2013 – 2015 AWOS System Installation
This project consists of acquisition and installation of an Automated Weather Observing System for JCIA. Engineering includes site evaluation to secure the functional efficiency of the system once in place. Following physical installation, the process will include formal commissioning of the system which is anticipated for early 2015.
The Personal Benefits of Effective Teaming
What it comes down to for us, on a day-to-day basis, is that we like working with practical people, with ’real’ personalities who recognize that project work can be an enjoyable experience. The airport community that we work with, from FAA to airport staff, make this business special. In looking back at a decade of successful projects, we also look forward to working with JCIA into the future, continuing to meet their airport development needs.
