From The Runway Up: An Airport and Aviation Podcast

This episode explores the vast amount of resources available to minority-owned businesses through airports and their local municipalities. Alan Jones, Director of Administration and DBE Liasion Officer with the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority, and Pamela Cotham, Assistant Purchasing Agent and Small Business & Diversity Outreach Manager for the City of Knoxville, share their passion for fostering relationships and opportunities for companies that qualify as a Disadvantage Business Enterprises (DBE). Through their wealth of experience, learn how to qualify as a DBE, become eligible for consideration for projects, and tap into a multitude of beneficial programs.

The post How TYS & Local Municipalities are ‘Leveling the Playing Field’ for Minority-Owned Businesses appeared first on From the Runway Up.

It’s a new year, and we’re diving into another year of aviation-related podcast topics for your listening and learning pleasure. From new flights launching soon to what to expect when you enter the airport terminal building, this 20 minute episode will get you up to speed with what has been happening at TYS and what you can expect the next time you travel.

The post Discussing What’s Upcoming and the Unknowns for 2021 at TYS appeared first on From the Runway Up.

Travelers have a lot of questions these days about what to expect at the airport and when onboard an airplane. In this episode, we answer 20+ of those frequently asked questions.  We don’t just answer them— we take a deep dive into the questions with six different airport experts. From new flights, to runway construction, the REAL ID deadline, and updated concessionaire hours, you’ll learn it all after listening to these quick interviews.

The post You Asked, Experts Answer: 20+ Q&As about Air Travel & TYS appeared first on From the Runway Up.

Along with airlines and airports across the country, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is having to adapt its security checkpoint procedures in order to comply with current pandemic protocols. TSA’s new campaign, ‘Stay Healthy. Stay Secure.’, ensures travelers’ safety and security continue to be the number one priority by enforcing additional policies, such as social distancing, contactless identification verification, plastic shielding, and more. In this episode, Mark Howell, the regional spokesperson for TSA, shares how you can best-prepare for air travel right now, as well as what you’ll need to know for traveling in the future (i.e. REAL ID).

Mark Howell is the Regional Spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration covering airports in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

The post TSA Update: ‘Stay Healthy. Stay Secure’ + REAL ID appeared first on From the Runway Up.

Airlines are taking major steps forward in preparing their aircraft for travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, we speak with Hilarie Grey, Managing Director of Corporate Communications for Allegiant Air, as she explains how her airline is ‘going the distance for health and safety’. After listening to her commentary, you will be an expert in all-things air filtration, antimicrobial protectant, and more. 

Hilarie Grey is the Managing Director of Corporate Communications for the Allegiant Travel Company.    

The post COVID-19 Safety Measures from an Airline’s Perspective: Air Filtration, Antimicrobial Protectant, and More appeared first on From the Runway Up.

Making the decision to travel by air during a pandemic can be stressful. You may be curious about the boarding process or interested in how airlines are handling food and beverage service onboard the airplane. What’s it like going through the security checkpoint or even customs? In this episode, your questions are answered by four different frequent flyers: a pilot, leisure traveler, international traveler, and airport employee. They provide you stories of their recent travel experiences in airports around the world while offering tips on how to prepare for your next flight. Listen to this episode so that when you’re ready to take to the skies, you know what to expect.

In this episode, we chat with four different people that traveled recently through McGhee Tyson Airport.

Interview One: Matt is a pilot for a legacy carrier and has flown frequently during the pandemic both for work and leisure.

Interview Two: Brooke is a leisure traveler who flew from TYS to LGA in March. 

Interview Three: Jacob flew to Germany in July to surprise his family (pictured: Jacob departing Berlin-Tegel Airport).

Interview Four: Tom is an Airport Authority employee and an avid aviation enthusiast. He has flown frequently during the pandemic.

The post Insight and Advice On Traveling During A Pandemic appeared first on From the Runway Up.

As aircraft return to the skies, McGhee Tyson Airport is beginning to see slow but positive increases in passenger traffic and air cargo operations. In this episode, we are joined by Jim Evans, the MKAA’s Vice President of Marketing & Air Service Development, who is closely monitoring even the slightest changes in aviation. In addition, listeners will learn about what TYS is doing to provide a safe airport travel environment.

In this episode, we are joined by Jim Evans, Vice President of Marketing and Air Service Development. He has been with the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority (MKAA) for 13 years and has been in the aviation industry for more than 40 years. 

The post Fluctuations of Passenger Travel and Air Cargo at TYS During COVID-19 appeared first on From the Runway Up.

Over the course of two months, daily operations in the aviation industry quickly ground to a halt due to the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. The effects were felt in airports around the globe. In this episode, we discuss the impact COVID-19 has had on McGhee Tyson Airport as well as other US airports from the perspective of industry experts. 

In this episode, we are joined by Patrick Wilson, President of the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority (MKAA); Trevis Gardner, MKAA Vice President of Operations; and Gwen Basaria, Vice President of Member Experience for the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE).

Patrick Wilson, A.A.E., is president of the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority (MKAA), which owns and operates both McGhee Tyson and Downtown Island Airports in Knoxville, TN. In his role, Wilson leads a team of employees whose primary focus is to provide East Tennessee pilots and travelers with a safe, convenient and affordable air travel experience. As a leader in aviation for over 27 years, Wilson is an expert at promoting positive relationships with all airport, airline, government and community leaders. 

Trevis Gardner, Vice President of Operations, has been with MKAA for 29 years. Gardner is directly responsible for an operations and maintenance organization division of nearly 100 staff members, and also serves in a leadership role as a senior organization officer as Chief Information Officer and Chief Personnel Officer. Trevis has even served multiple terms in local elected office as member and chairman of the Blount County Board of Education. 

As AAAE’s Vice President of Member Experience and the AAAE Foundation, Gwen does more than just delight members (though that’s in her job description!).  Gwen passionately serves as chief member advocate at AAAE; identifying their priorities, developing new benefits and services to meet those needs, and elevating member service standards and satisfaction metrics across the association. She also manages the day-to-day operations of the AAAE Foundation, which has awarded over 3,000 scholarships totaling more than $5 million since 1989.

(Credit for bios and photos: MKAA  and AAAE)

The post Special Edition: COVID-19- The Pandemic’s Impact on TYS and the Aviation Industry appeared first on From the Runway Up.

Airport websites have to meet the informational expectations of a lot of user groups. From novice travelers to seasoned frequent fliers, the website has to be easy to use and function for all parties. This episode explores the meticulous process McGhee Tyson Airport went through to develop their brand new website. Listen as Moxley Carmichael’s Charley Sexton, Creative Director, John McCulley, Senior Web Developer, and Katrina Roberts, Graphic & Digital Media Designer, share their expertise in how to design an effective website, especially one with a multitude of user groups.  

In this episode, we are joined by three employees from Moxley Carmichael, a full-service communication agency located right here in East Tennessee.

  (Credit for bios and photos: Moxley Carmichael)

The post Designing a Website for ALL Audiences appeared first on From the Runway Up.

Not only does McGhee Tyson Airport see constant commercial and general aviation traffic, military aviation plays a large role in the overall operations at TYS as well.  In this episode, we speak with the Wing Commander of the 134th Air Refueling Wing, Colonel M. Lee Harley, Jr. and learn about their global, state, and local missions. From talking about the 134th Air Refueling Wing’s history and its $246 million annual economic impact, to hearing about how they operate their ‘flying gas station’, this episode introduces you to military aviation and the people and aircraft that make each mission successful.

Colonel M. Lee Hartley, Jr. is the Commander of the 134th Air Refueling Wing, Tennessee Air National Guard. A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, Colonel Hartley graduated from Doyle High School in 1987 and received a congressional appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. Following graduation and commissioning in 1991, he attended Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laughlin Air Force Base, TX and earned his wings in October 1992.

Colonel Hartley has flown aerial refueling missions supporting Operations Northern Watch, Deliberate Forge, Icelandic Air Defense and over 60 combat missions supporting for Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Freedom Sentinel, and Inherent Resolve. Additionally,  Colonel  Hartley has  deployed  to  locations including: Incirlik AB, Turkey, Istres, France, Rhein Mein AB, Germany, RAF Mildenhall AB, England, Manas AB, Kyrgyzic Republic, Al Udeid AB, Qatar, and Camp Marmal, Afghanistan. From June 2006 – April 2007, Colonel Hartley was an initial cadre Instructor Pilot for the 134th ARW conversion to the KC-135R.

(Credit for bio and photo: 134th ARW)

The Mission of the 134th Air Refueling Wing:

Federal: Support Rapid Global Mobility and Sustainment by providing world class personnel, vital Air Refueling and Airlift capabilities for contingency response and sustained combat operations

State: Provide personnel and equipment to protect life and property during emergency response operations as directed by the Governor of Tennessee and the Adjutant General

The post 134th Air Refueling Wing: Delivering ‘Beans, Beds, & Bullets’ appeared first on From the Runway Up.